Health

For many years the Archdiocese’s Catholic Health Service has played a vital role in meeting the health needs of all people – whatever their faith – and through the Bamenda Fund we have provided important assistance. Including the provision of equipment and upgrading of infrastructure.

The Archdiocese Catholic Health Services currently operate 27 health facilities, specifically: 5 hospitals; 12 doctor-staffed health centers; and 10 primary health centers. St Blaise Catholic Hospital in Bamenda City has been expanded in the last couple of years to provide a wider range of diagnostic and management services.

In 2024 these facilities provided over 81,000 consultations, more than 46,000 vaccinations, delivered over 4,500 babies, undertaken nearly 10,000 pre-school consultations, counselled and HIV-tested over 4,000 pregnant women and completed nearly half a million laboratory tests. In addition, and despite the ongoing socio-political unrest, 44 outreach activities (such as health campaigns by visiting doctors) were also carried out.

In its latest five-year development plan the Archdiocese has set clear objectives to improve the services it offers [link to plan] but faces real challenges to doing so. Security concerns have led to the closure of three health facilities (Esaw, Babanki, Bamesseng) and health workers in rural areas are at real risk of kidnaping and threat to life. Power cuts and periods of low voltage make running equipment difficult, and the loss of US funding has had a major impact on key programmes such as the support of orphans and widows of HIV/AIDS.

Through the Bamenda Fund we are helping the Archdiocese to overcome these constraints and make a real difference for the people using their services.

In 2024 we provided funds to meet the costs of vital theatre equipment for the maternity and surgical services at St Blaise Catholic Hospital. This equipment is helping the provision of safe surgical procedures and deliveries.

We are currently providing funds for a two-year project to recruit, train and support 40 local villagers across the Archdiocese as Community Health Workers (CHWs). Once trained these CHWs will improve access to health care by carrying out basic health consultations as well as antenatal/postnatal care and immunisations. It is estimated that approximately 15 000 people will directly benefit from the provision of improved health care by these 40 CHWs.