The Minister of Public Health presided over the ceremony on Friday, December 28, 2012.

Over 18 best hardworking staff of the Yaounde Central Hospital have been honoured by the administration for merit and excellence in the exercise of care to patients visiting the hospital throughout 2012. They received honorary awards and gifts. In the same ceremony that was presided over the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda, on Friday January 28, 2012, some 24 personnel due retirement also received gifts and bouquet of flowers from the administration and well-wishers, respectively.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Director of the Yaounde Central Hospital Dr. Fouda Pierre Joseph, said the medical institution had obtained a major breakthrough in instilling social dialogue. He said his appointment at the head of the institution by President Paul Biya was not only an honour to the entire staff but a call for responsibility to all. He cited good governance, security of revenue, improvement of reception facilities, fight against corruption and a furnished pharmacy as some major achievements. However, some persisting problems included extortion from patients, ageing equipment, admission of indigenous patients and abandonment of corpses in the hospital’s mortuary, amongst others.

“We laud government’s efforts for the construction of a new mortuary, the proximity of the National Emergency Centre nearing completion, potable water supply and ongoing rehabilitation works,” he pursued. Other major highlights of the event included a humoristic sketch to sensitise the public on event’s theme “water-borne diseases” and artist Ottou Marcellin’s musical interlude.