Editorial: The Relevance of CBCHS’ Mission and Vision

The Good Book says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish" - Proverbs 29:18. The importance of mission and vision for the health of any Organization cannot be over-emphasized! More

A Mission statement defines the primary objective of an organization; the business, products or services, and customers. It provides detailed information about what the organization does, how it does, and who it does it for. So indeed, it helps focus the Organization on what really matters - to itself as well as to its stakeholders. Whereas, the Vision statement focuses on its goals and aspirations, which describes how the future will look if the organization achieves its mission. The mission and vision of any veritable organization should be timeless.

The vision and mission statements provide a focal point that helps to align everyone with the organization, thus ensuring that everyone is working towards a single purpose. This helps to increase efficiency and productivity in the organization. (From Blog Article by Colour Infusion, Cochrane AB - https://colourinfusion.ca)

Not having clear mission and vision statements would be like going on a journey without knowing the direction you are to follow or the destination.

The CBC Health Services is a Nonprofit, Faith-based, Humanitarian and Inclusive healthcare Organization that addresses both clinical, social, and public health problems affecting individuals and communities in Cameroon in particular and Africa at large. It is one of the departments of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC). CBC founded in 1954 is a living fellowship of churches growing in grace, strengthening one another in faith and working together in obedience to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through worship, preaching, teaching, healing and social ministries. (www.cbc-cm.org).

Quality care to all!

The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Service (CBCHS) has as mission to provide care to all who need it as an expression of Christian love and as a means of witness in order that, they might be brought to God through Jesus Christ. Thus, the CBCHB shall provide exemplary Health care with genuine compassion and with overriding purpose of evangelical witness. This is drawn from Matthew 9:35-36. Her vision is, “Quality care to all”.

The CBCHS since its establishment has been operating in Cameroon striving to further her mission and by no means deviating from it. They strive to PROVIDE CARE TO ALL WHO NEED IT AS AN EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIAN LOVE AND AS A MEANS OF WITNESS. If you go through the Scripture, Jesus ministered to all – those with leprosy, the prostitutes - I mean all who were rejected in the society; even those who hated Him. He had a goal in mind, His goal was the salvation of mankind. As the arm of the church, the CBC Health Services seeks to provide Care to all who need it as an expression of this Christian love and equally as a means of evangelical witness. Jesus fully aware that Judas Iscariot would later betray Him did not disown him but ministered to him as well.

Quality care to all!

The CBCHS has stood the test of time even in the current crisis situation; She has never deviated from providing care to all who need it. She has been seen in hard-to-reach areas. This is because, she developed a clear sense of her values even before the crisis. CBC Health Services' mission statement indicates a clear concern regarding a commitment to "quality and maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in its dealings with all stakeholders”.

We equally praise God for the transformational leaders in the CBC Health Services who inspire, energize, and intellectually stimulate and stir employees to look beyond their own self-interest for the benefit of individual work groups and the organization as a whole.

The CBC Health Services has used her mission statement as a constant guide for her actions. She is out to satisfy customers’ needs. The mission of the CBCHS is clear: equality ("the proposition that all men are created equal and in the image of God")

Persevering through tragedy is not easy. The CBCHS has not let her shortcomings to keep her from her work. Staying true to her mission and vision has kept her in focus to learn from any challenges and sailing through when and where many are failing!!!
“Professor Tih hailed as a legend in the fight against HIV and AIDS” in Cameroon

The US Ambassador-At-Large Dr John Nkengasong has commended the CBC Health Services for the work More

that they do in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Cameroon.
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Dr. Nkengasong, US Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Health Security and Diplomacy made his observations during his working visit to the EtougEbe Baptist Hospital on September 7, 2023. His visit aimed at witnessing the work done with PEPFAR-funded projects in the country. Dr. Nkengasong visited the hospital as one of the implementing PEPFAR (US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) funded Care and Treatment sites in Cameroon. He used this occasion to thank the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the implementing partners in Cameroon like the CBC Health Services and Georgetown University. He called on them to continue to move the program forward and create impact, bringing more hope and happiness to families in Cameroon.

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He reiterated the trust bestowed on CBC Health Services across decades in the implementation of HIV and AIDS programs intended to provide HIV epidemic control. He challenged Cameroon to be the first country in Central and West Africa to hit the first "95 95 95". That means 95% of the people who are living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of the people who know that they are living with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment and 95% of people who are on treatment being virally suppressed. It is worth noting that thanks to PEPFAR funding, 25 million lives have been saved, and 5.5 million children born free from HIV. PEPFAR funding started in Cameroon as a PMTCT program (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV). The results of the program have been visible.
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Dr. Nkengasong expressed a lot of happiness with the real-life stories of children who have been beneficiaries of PEPFAR funding. In his words “We just visited the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services where they are caring for HIV patients and preventing HIV infections. We saw many children who have been born free of HIV, we saw women who are HIV positive living healthy and have delivered several babies who are all healthy. We saw young people who were born with and living with HIV, but they are living a normal life. All of them are at the University. That is impact. That is saving humanity. I am very committed that we will continue to partner with the Baptist and the Government of Cameroon to advance the program.”
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The Ambassador-At-Large further acknowledged the fact that Cameroon is on the right path to reaching epidemic control. The situation today has greatly improved as compared to 20 years ago he recalled the precarious situation. However, a lot still needs to be done, he added. Resources according to Dr Nkengasong will be focused where there are needs. He announced that the Cameroon Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (CAMPHIA) had just been launched. This survey will enable stakeholders in the fight against HIV to focus resources where the needs are, with hopes to finally bringing HIV to an end as a public health threat in Cameroon. “Cameroon is on the right trajectory” he concluded.
Launching of CAMPHIA 2024 by the Minister of Public Health
The CAMPHIA project it should be noted was launched earlier on the same day at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center in Yaounde. The announcement of CAMPHIA II was done by the Minister of Health Dr. MANOUDA Malachie in the presence of the Ambassador-At-Large Dr. Nkengasong, the US Ambassador to Cameroon Christopher John Lamora, and a host of stakeholders in the public health domain. The launch was characterized by presentations on the Global Health Security Agenda Implementation in Cameroon, PEPFAR's impact, and investments in Cameroon marking the celebration of PEPFAR’s 20 years of implementation. Dr. Nkengasong during this event elaborated on the US Government’s support to Health Emergencies, PEPFAR’s new 5x3 strategy Sustainability, and future investment plans.
CBC Health Services Humanitarian Response Team commended

The CBC Health Services on August 19, 2023 joined other humanitarian organizations worldwide to commemorate World Humanitarian Day. More

On this occasion, the Deputy Director of Administration and Finance, Mr. Warri Denis called for all staff to put hands on deck to support the humanitarian response mission and to stand up to the challenges while serving the people in the context of the crisis. He was speaking during the event at the CBC Central Administration to launch activities to mark the day led by Mrs. Ful Morine, head of the CBC Health Services Humanitarian Response program.

In her presentation, Mrs. Ful thrilled the audience with the intervention of the CBC Health Services in responding to the humanitarian needs of the populations. She revealed that thanks to support from UNICEF, UNFPA and CBM, the CBC Health Services has been able to address the needs of women who had challenges with Fistula, create four Maternity Waiting homes at BBH, BHM, MBH, Kumba Baptist HC, and Mamfe Baptist HC. They have also been able to put smiles on the faces of persons with disabilities by providing them with wheelchairs, bringing back to live children who were suffering from severe malnutrition amongst other things.

DDAF Commending the Humanitarian Response Team

Moved by the success stories recorded by the Humanitarian Response Team, Mr. Warri noted, "You are real ambassadors of the CBC Health Services, for, you did not only bring care to them but you brought Christ to them, to the extent of being described by some beneficiaries as Disciples of Jesus". This tap on the back by the Deputy Director of Administration and Finance was crowned with a word of prayer as he called upon other staff members to pray and dedicate the team and their movements to God all Mighty.

According to Mrs. Ful Morine, the CBC Health Services has been actively involved at the front line in the humanitarian response situation since 2019 by providing health care, working with nutrition interventions where they manage children with malnutrition. The CBC has also provided activities in child protection and in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). They have been actively involved in sexual and reproductive health and rights with support from UNICEF, UNFPA, and in 2022 got support from UNHCR to work with refugees in the Centre and Littoral regions of Cameroon.

Presentation of CBC's Intervention in the Humanitarian Response

“Basically, those are the areas that we have intervened. It is worth noting that in the domain of WASH, we rehabilitated or provided new water sources in over 30 communities in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. Our work has mostly been community based, we go out to where the people are,” Mrs. Ful Morine added. The CBC has also been supported by CBM to provide disability inclusive health care and the Disability inclusive healthcare program has championed the inclusion of persons with disability in the response in the region. The program has also been extended to the Northern part of Cameroon.

[Before] 2-year old child with burkitts lymphoma unable to stand nor walk. [After] Happy mom helping child to walk after management
The Humanitarian Response Team from the CBC Health Services later joined their counterparts at Big Mankon in Bamenda to celebrate under the theme, "No Matter What". Participants during the celebrations received greetings from the leads of OCHA and WFP as well as from the WASH, Nutrition and Food Security Clusters that all gave a brief of the work they do for humanity. It was an opportunity for these organizations to know more about the work that local organizations in Bamenda are involved in via a visit to their stands. They also networked with the partner organizations for better response to the humanitarian crisis in the region and country at large.

On this World Humanitarian Day 2023, the CBC Health Services reaffirms her commitment to the value and humanitarian principles that guide us and show that “We stand shoulder to should with the communities we serve, no matter who, no matter where and #NoMatterWhat,” Mrs. Ful Morine remarked.
Hope and Healing International Staff, Stakeholders challenged to own Project

Project Investigator and Director of Health Services, DHS, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih has admonished the staff and stakeholders of the Hope and Healing International portfolio to serve faithfully and committed as actual owners of the project. More

The DHS’ declaration came through his greetings to CBR field workers, eye care and physiotherapy staff within the Hope and Healing International portfolio that met in a 2-day working session to review the last project year 2023 (FY23) and receive orientation for the new project year 2024 (FY24). Both workshops held at the Baptist Center in Bamenda from August 9-10, 2023.

Prof. Tih galvanizing project staff

Prof. Tih commended the project staff and stakeholders for their hard work, which is critical in moving the project forward. “We are proud of the work you’re doing. We demand hard work, be accountable in resources and time management, and be self-generating as a supervisor yourself,” he admonished. The DHS encouraged the stakeholders to document success stories and make suggestions to guide ‘us’ to develop ideas for new projects.

Speaking earlier on day one of the workshop, Awa Jacques Chirac, Program Manager of the Socio-Economic Empowerment of People with Disabilities, SEEPD, said he was amazed with the rapid growth of the Hope and Healing International projects that began in 2011 with only one project – Non Cash Resource, which has now grown into five other projects in 2023 and still counting. “The projects cannot survive without you in the field; you form the foundation of our success,” the Program Manager told the field workers.

SEEPD Program Manager coaching his team to redouble momentum

While congratulating the project staff for a job well done in the last project year, the Program Manager called on them to redouble their momentum in the new project year (FY24). He charged them not to grow weary but to be agents of change in the community.

In a brief devotional from Esther 2:21-26; 6:1-11, Rev. Fongoh Godwin, head chaplain at the CBC Health Services Central Administration challenged Hope and Healing International projects stakeholders to demonstrate thanksgiving for others just as the King recognized and showed love to Mordecai for good work he demonstrated to others in the community.

For two days, the Hope and Healing International Projects Coordinator, Rev. Ekwo Emmanuel and SEEPD Assistant Program Manager, Mr. Tamon James moderated the review of projects year 2023 and the orientation and implementation strategy for projects year 2024 (FY24) through the various presentations made by designated project officers.

Drilling through the M&E reporting checklist

The presentations included: Finance and Compliance issues, Tracking and Payment of Bills, Mainstreaming safeguarding and child protection, Roles of Field Workers and Social Workers, Home Visits and Post Intervention Follow-up, Communication Protocols and M&E Reporting Tools.

It should be noted that Hope and Healing International fortfolio focuses more on children with disabilities. This objective is promoted through the five sub projects namely: Muskuloskeletal (bone deformities), Healing Hugs Profiling, River Blindness, Socio Economic Empowerment of Females with Fistula (SEEFF) that ends in December 2023 and Non-Cash Resource that provides assistive devices to persons with disabilities through the hospitals.
CBC Health Services Upgrades Skills of 20 Resource Teachers

To overcome the challenge of shortage of resource teachers to meet the growing number of learners with disabilities requiring individual support, the CBC Health Services has trained 20 resource teachers made up of 10 sign language interpreters and 10 in Braille from some schools in the Northwest and West Regions. More

The training dubbed, "Improving Access and Participation of Learners with hearing impairments in mainstream classrooms" started ran from July 17 to August 12, 2023 at the Baptist Center Nkwen.

The training held within the context of the Comprehensive Program for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Inclusive Access to Basic Services of Health and Education in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. At the end of the training, CBC Health Services organized a closing ceremony, which was presided over by the Regional Delegate of Secondary Education and the Director of CBC Health Services.

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While commissioning the trainees, the Regional Delegate of Secondary Education, Mr. Yuven Roland implored them to champion the course for inclusion in their respective schools by ensuring the inclusion of learners in all school activities, teaching, and learning. He indicated that without sign language and braille services, learners with visual and hearing impairments would not be able to attend school sustainably. Mr. Yuven charged them to play the role of assessing the educational needs of learners to assist all stakeholders in providing the necessary support to learners with impairments.

The Director of CBC Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius, on his part, underlined that children with sensory impairments who use Braille or sign language continue to experience challenges in mainstream settings because the government approved school curriculum for basic education do not consider their learning needs. “The training was quality time to improve not only on the number of resource teachers but also on the quality of braille and sign language services,” Prof Tih emphasized. He expressed gratitude to the network of experienced resource teachers under the supervision of the CBC Health Services’ services for Persons with Disabilities that ensured that the training was skillfully facilitated with the desired result achieved. With the skills acquire, the Director hopes to see an improvement in the training of learners with visual and hearing impairments in the community through resource rooms, increase in the number of learners with disabilities in schools, improvement in the academic performance of learners with disabilities and generally, the promotion of braille and sign language practice in the communities.

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The trainers of Braille and Sign Language, Mr. Chambah Daniel and Mr. Che Manaseh respectively challenged the teachers to share the knowledge acquired with learners with impairments in their respective schools to improve their knowledge. Mr. Chambah disclosed that since 2016, the English-speaking countries all over the world moved from Standard English Braille to Unified English Braille (UEB). This shift created some limitations in the content that was thought to the learners. The training was thus to harmonize the content to have a unified content so that learners will not be confused with the difference and limitations that existed before in the content.

On his part, Mr. Che briefed those present on the Sign language content. At the end of the training, he said the trainees were able to produce a variety of didactic materials, which included visual libraries, songs, rhymes, and others, which will aid learning for the learners with hearing impairment.

The spokesperson of the trainees, Mr. Ngek James applauded CBC Health Services and CBM for funding the training program. They recommended that more teachers be included in subsequent training to meet the challenge of the growing number of learners with impairment in schools.

“As a mainstream teacher, I have gone through a lot of difficulties teaching children especially those with impairments because I did not know sign language and I had to struggle to see if the children could learn by writing; thanks to the training I have upgraded my skills in sign language and better understood the culture of learners with hearing impairment,” Dublia Patience, one of the trainees testified.

The training was carried out, thanks to funding from CBM.
Building Resilience, Empowering Youths with Disabilities in Remote Communities

Living in the outskirts of the Tubah subdivision in the Northwest Region of Cameroon are young people with disabilities who have never received education on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) despite their vulnerability. More

To address this knowledge gap, the Equality Project of the CBC Health Services in collaboration with the Coordinating Unit of Persons with Disabilities and the Tubah District Hospital facilitated a workshop on August 16, 2023 to educate 40 young people with disabilities and their caregivers most of whom were from the Muslim community.

Separate parent caregiver session with SRH expert

The education focused on HIV, Sexual and Reproductive, How to prevent Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs), and what to do in a rape situation. This was followed by free HIV and STI screening and testing for these young people.

According to an assessment carried out at the start of this activity, only 1 in 5 of these young people aged 10 – 24 years had any knowledge on HIV and STI prevention. This revealed the urgent need to scale up the provision of quality integrated and inclusive HIV and sexual and reproductive health services to this vulnerable population.

Preliminary assessment with Children with disabilities on HIV,SRH knowledge

Speaking with the President of the Association for Persons with Disabilities in Sabga, Mr. Vega Lawrence explained how important it was to get across this education to the young people in his association. Due to their disabilities, they seclude themselves out of shame because, in their village, a disability is considered taboo. In the dialect of their community whose inhabitants are mostly Muslims, the word disability is a slang used to insult a person, he added. “If they can be silent and scared to come out of their homes because of their disabilities, then it will be worse when HIV is concerned. It is a double stigma,” he mentioned. After being taught the importance of SRH services alongside the other caregivers, he pledged to stand up against improper reproductive health practices perpetrated against young women in his community.

Aminou, a young Muslim girl has learned that if she is HIV-positive and pregnant, it is possible, to deliver an HIV-negative baby. She was also happy to learn how to care for her body, and to know there are services and interventions in cases of sexual harassment and rape. In all excitement, she promised to share what she had learned with her peers. With this feedback from the participants, the project team is confident of transfer of knowledge and that these vulnerable young people and their caregivers have been empowered to make informed decisions concerning their health and that of their children.