We Ring the Bell 2022 QUALITY, INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR ALL
Call to Action
The education of children with disabilities is our collective responsibility. Together let us promote inclusive education in cameroon
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Editorial: The Relevance of CBCHS’ Mission and VisionThe 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!!!
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Hundreds screened on 2022 International Day of Persons with DisabilitiesHundreds of persons with disabilities (PWDs) from Mezam Division in the NW Region have been screened of different health conditions More
and also acquired disability cards on the occasion of the 2022 International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2022.
This year’s activities took place at the CBC Nkwen Primary School premises, organized by the CBC Health Services in collaboration with the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CUAPWD) within the context of the Disability Inclusive Humanitarian Project (DIHA). DIHA is implemented in the North West Region by the CBC Health Services with funds from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) through CBM. Celebrations this year took place under the theme, “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world”
Distribution of dignity kits to young women with disabilities Activities this year included free consultation and screening of persons with disabilities with challenges of physiotherapy, eye, mental health, Ear, Nose and Throat, non-communicable diseases, women's health and general health issues.
The uniqueness of this year's celebrations was the availability of a one stop shop for the acquisition of disability cards, a necessary identification document for persons with disabilities whose disability cards had expired. Available to ease the process was a photographer for instant passport size photographs, an official from the office of the Divisional Officer for signing of residency certificates and a state medical Doctor for assessment of disability percentages, a move which was greatly appreciated by persons with disabilities.
Speaking during the event, the Coordinator of the Coordinating Unit of the Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CUAPWD) of the Northwest Region, Mr. Chick Sama said following this year’s theme, the one stop shop for the acquisition of disability cards and the screening of persons with disabilities of different conditions at the same venue was an innovation to enable persons with disabilities have access to different services. He also noted that to enable access, sign language interpreters were deployed to ease communication for persons with hearing impairments. The success of this innovation is thanks to the collaboration of the Unit with the CBC Health Services and the Nkwen District Hospital under the leadership of Dr. Ngum Joel who dispatched a doctor and nurse to do the screening.
DIHA Project Coordinator addressing persons with disabilities during celebrations(1) Speaking during the event, the DIHA Project Coordinator, Asheri Ngah welcomed all the persons with disabilities and congratulated them for their achievements. She told them that the day is also an opportunity during which the attention of development actors is drawn to take the needs and rights of persons with disabilities in all development sectors. She noted that in line with the theme of this year's celebration, with emphasis on access, the CBCHS decided to offer free health screening for different health conditions at the same venue which is a rare opportunity for persons with disabilities.
The day was also characterised by health education talks on women's health complications including prevention and treatment of cervical cancer, obstetric fistula, 16 days activism against gender-based violence, and non-communicable diseases among others. Also, a total of 98 dignity and mama kits were provided to young girls, and pregnant and lactating mothers.
Speaking earlier, the Chairperson of the CUAPWD, Nongning Armelle encouraged family members of persons with disabilities to educate their members with disabilities. She celebrated the CBC Health Services, Services for Persons with Disabilities (SPD) for empowering them and for preaching and breathing disability inclusion everywhere they go.
By the end of the day, more than 500 persons with disabilities had been consulted by the CBCHS screening teams. Meanwhile, 222 completed official procedures for the acquisition of disability cards which shall be ready in a month’s time.
The day which was attended by more than 700 persons with disabilities was spiced by acapella and traditional dance rhythms by the Hope Social Union for the Visually impaired, an association of people with visual impairments in Bamenda.
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Meskine Baptist Hospital Maroua dedicatedThe Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) has dedicated Meskine Baptist Hospital Maroua. The dedication took More
place on December 21, 2022 in a colorful event officiated by the Governor of the Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakary.
"I am happy with what the Hospital in Meskine has done, and I am sure that the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services will go even further," Midjiyawa Bakary charged.
The Governor made this appraisal during the event in which he pledged his support to ensure that the hospital continues to successfully deliver services to all and sundry in the Far North Region of Cameroon and beyond.
The event that took place at the Hospital esplanade brought together Administrative officials, leaders of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) led by the Executive President (EP), Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charllemagne, and other partners in health care delivery in the Far North Region of #Cameroon.
Also present at this event were the Lamido of Meskine, His Majesty Amadou Dairou and the Lamido of Maroua, His Majesty Bakary Yerima Bouba.
Far North Governor delivering his speech during the dedication The Governor used the occasion to praise CBC Health Services for extending their work to the Far North Region to ensure that his people are not left out. He lauded plans disclosed by the Director of CBC Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih for two major projects that will start implementation soon in the region, to reach out with vaccination to #ZeroDose children and improve services for persons with #disabilities. These projects, he announced, are supported by #Gavi and #CBM respectively.
In his dedication sermon, the EP drew inspiration from Ecclesiastes Chapter 7, Verse 8 “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit”. He buttressed the fact that health services are delivered with wisdom from God, and members of Meskine community are the chosen ones to receive these services and also that Meskine represents a facility that will bring together the community, other cities and nations from far and near for their health needs.
Staff poised to deliver excellent health care services For more information on the Meskine Baptist Hospital Maroua, please, follow this link: https://cbchealthservices.org/cbc-health-services-makes-in-root-into-far-north-region/
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West Regional Delegation of Health hails CBC Health Services’ Strides in Disability PreventionDr. Chinmoun Daouda, West Regional Delegate of Health has saluted the valuable contributions of the CBC More
Health Services in the region to ameliorate the condition of persons with disability, especially children below 18 years. The Regional Delegate made his feelings known on December 28, 2022 after listening to a presentation from the Hope and Healing International funded activities through the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Services for People with Disabilities (SEEPD) programme of the CBC Health Services.
Mr. Tamon James presenting CBCHS' strategy towards persons with disabilities Speaking on behalf of the Director of Health Services, SEEPD senior staff, Mr. Tamon James presented an overview of the CBC Health Services’ Hope and Healing International funded projects targeting the treatment of 200 children with musculoskeletal deformities and 65 girls and women with fistuala in the Adamawa and West regions within a period of one year running from July 2022 to June 2023.
“The CBC alone cannot achieve these targets without the involvement and active participation and leadership of the Delegation of Public Health,” Mr. Tamon told the West Regional Delegate and his 15 District Officers present out of 20 in the region charged with the implementation of health policies at the grassroots.
Faced with this challenge and given the time frame of the project, the West Regional Delegate of Health committed his Delegation to facilitate the activities of the CBC Health Services in the region to meet her targets of assisting children and adults with disabilities. The Delegate and his District Officers requested for training and other means to enable them factor these activities into the existing structures of sensitization and immunization campaigns within the region. The SEEPD Assistant Program Manager flanked by Rev. Ekwo Emmanuel promised to transmit this request to hierarchy for approval.
According to Mr. Tamon, this meeting with the West Regional Delegation of Health is indicative that much will be accomplished in the West region in the days ahead with the active involvement of the District Officers for Health.
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Kumbo Indigenous Community advised to guard Against NCDsMuslims in Kumbo, Northwest Region of Cameroon have been encouraged to join the fight against More
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in their families and community at large. Takwe Boniface, Programme Manager at the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services’ NCD Prevention and Control Programme made the call recently at Rogasa, Kumbo during a fund raising to improve community water supply.
In a health talk captioned, “Reducing your children’s stress and tears from NCDs after marriage”, Mr. Takwe stressed on the importance of premarital screening – testing couples who are planning to get married for common inherited blood disorders like sickle cell anemia as well as infections as hepatitis B, C and HIV.
“Premarital screening is recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization). It’s a vital process to prepare your child or children for a successful and happy home, so don’t neglect it,” Mr. Takwe cautioned.
While acknowledging that there is need to preserve cultural values, Mr. Takwe advised that practices that can negatively affect health of the next generation may need to be modified, if [they] we desire to see our children happy in their homes.
Apart from the emphasis on premarital counseling, Mr. Takwe hammered on one the programme’s vital service – KYN (Know You Numbers). “KYN is a service offered to the population where an apparently healthy individual’s vital health numbers are assessed to know if the client has developed or is at risk of developing NCD(s) as a result of the altered numbers,” explained Mr. Takwe.
Apart from assessing the vital health numbers during KYN screening, a lifestyle assessment of each member is assessed and counselling on lifestyle modifications given according to the numbers to reduce disease risk. He emphasized that the aim of this is to reduce the risk of NCDs.
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CBC Health Services maintains Tradition as Two Staff retire from Nkwen Baptist HospitalA total of 31 workers of various grades and categories retired from the CBC Health Services institutions across the Board in 2022. In More
keeping with tradition, all the retirees were honoured in public ceremonies in their various stations: Bangolan – 1, BBH – 8, Banyo – 1, Etoug-Ebe – 1, HSC Mutengene – 1, ISFB Kumbo - 1, Kribi – 1, Kumba – 1, MBH – 8, Mboppi – 1, Meskine – 1 and Nkwen – 4.
Mr. Ndosak George Tanah, Personnel Manager of the CBC Health Services made the announcement on December 23, 2022 during the retirement ceremony for Mr. Mbinkar Genesis Duiyebeh, surgical technician and Madam Rebecca Rinyuy, cook (in absentia due to her recent travel abroad). Presiding in lieu of the Director of Health Services, the Personnel Manager hailed the retirees for their tenacity to serve humanity until retirement. “Not everyone is lucky to go through,” he quipped, thus, the need for celebration.
NBH Choir graced the occasion In the words of the DHS through his emissary, “Retirees of the CBC Health Services are a resource pool who act as consultants and VIPs of the system”. The DHS’ representative charged all Hospital Administrators across the system to find every CBCHS retiree living within their sphere of influence and invite and recognize them every December during the retirement ceremony in their institutions. The Administrators are also to ensure that retirees respect the annual appointment in every February to do a complete physical exam on them for free. “Retirees deserve VIP consultation and treatment every time they visit any CBC Health Services hospital and health center,” the Personnel Manager sounded loud and clear.
Similar congratulatory messages to the retirees came from the representatives of the NW Regional Delegate of Labour and Social Security who applauded the healthy social working climate in the CBCHS and the Lord Mayor of Bamenda III who admired the practice of recognizing retirees in the CBCHS. She promised to transmit the good example to the Mayor so that Bamenda III Council can also emulate the practice.
The lead staff representative for Nkwen Baptist Hospital, Lucha Johnson thanked the CBC Health Services for the opportunity given them as workers to make their careers and livelihood. He doffed his hat to the senior colleagues who could work and retire happily despite the hurdles they went through. He encouraged them to sought for peace in their neighbourhoods and families and avoid engaging in activities that can stress them up during this period of rest. To those still in service, the staff representative challenged them to work in the footsteps of the senior colleagues who are senior citizens today.
Retiree poses with representative of NW Regional Delegate of Labour Responding to all what were said and done in his honour, the man of the day, Mr. Mbinkar Genesis Duiyebeh thanked the CBCHS for providing him a job to raise a family (wife and five children). He paid tributes to all the surgeons that trained him in his line of duty notably: Helen Marie-Schmidt, Krubwa Jean-Pierre, Thomas Coleman, and Nana Christopher among many others. The retiree debunked the allegation that nursing standards are falling. According to Mr. Mbinkar, administration should reconsider listening to the plight of nurses and give them fair treatment, an opinion that received much applause from the nurses in audience.
The retiring surgical technician joined the CBC Health Services in 1981 in BBH as a ward worker. One year later, he was assigned to the operating room (theater) where he dabbled in the skill and grew through the rank and file via training. He was awarded, Nurse of the Year, by the General Session, in Ndu in 1999. Mr. Mbinkar served for 40 years in the theaters of BBH, Mbingo, Banyo and Nkwen.
NBH Administrator presents Nurse and Staff of the Year The retirement ceremony in Nkwen was punctuated by the award of 2022 Nurse of the Year to Ngek Mercy Kebul and Staff of the Year to Kuni Valentine Bawe. They emerged winners from hotly contested elections among over 500 staff.