Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang yesterday, April 26 had discussions with 13 student nurses and two of their trainers from the André-Laurendeau College of General and Professional Training (CEGEP) in Montreal, Canada, who are currently on internship in Mbankomo on the outskirts of Yaounde. The internship in healthcare that started this April 9 will end on Thursday, April 28.
Speaking during the reception ceremony at the Star Building, the initiator of the internship project that is in its sixth edition, Adalbert Otou-Nguini, said it was the fruit of cooperation between CEGEP André-Laurendeau of Montreal and the Association of Cameroonians in Canada. He said that by receiving the students, the Prime Minister showed the gratitude of Cameroon to them as well as encouraging the student nurses to go ahead with their work. The students are using the opportunity to perfect their knowledge in healthcare provision in the tropics by working in health centres in the rural areas and also to discover Cameroon often described as “ Africa in miniature”.
Operating from two sites in Nomayos and Binguela, the Canadian student nurses consult and offer free medication to patients. From the two sites, the students also leave and join health staff in other health centres in Mbankomo for similar work. As such, they have been working in the Oveng, Mbayengue, Nkolbiyen, Ongot, Edipkombo, Tikong, Ebeba, Nkolmewout and Mefomo Integrated Health Centres. During the closing ceremony of the internship on Thursday, April 28, the student nurses will offer a consignment of medical equipment to the Mbankomo District Hospital, expectedly in the presence of the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon.
Student nurses from CEGEP André-Laurendeau, Montreal, Canada started visiting Cameroon for healthcare internship in 2006. They worked in Fona in Menoua Division of the West Region, 2007 in Makak in Nyong and Kelle Division of the Centre Region, 2008 in Omeng-Batipo-Botbea in the Sanaga-Maritime Division of the Littoral Region, 2009 in Mbankomo in the Centre Region and in 2010, they were in Nguelemendouka in the Upper Nyong Division of the East Region.
