The Director of the CBC Health Services launched the Local Capacity Initiative on July 22, 2014.

The Local Capacity Initiative (LCI) is another major innovation by the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services to enhance healthcare. This time around, the initiative has been conceived to create and strengthen support structures, also called dialogue structures in some 10 health Districts to take active part in leading, supporting, co-financing and co-managing healthcare programmes.

Launching the project in Bamenda on July 22, 2014, the Director of the CBC Health services, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih said the Local Capacity Initiative is a strategy that aligns with PEPFAR’s focus on community engagement to enhance and optimise health services uptake and the sustainability of health programmes in resource-limited countries such as Cameroon.

The approach according to Prof. Tih Pius fits well with the current drive towards decentralisation of services to local councils. It emerged from the launching event that the project focuses on the North West Health Districts of Ako, Benakuma,  Mbengwi, Tubah and Bafut and the Health districts of Eyumojock, Konye, Wabane, Ekono Titi and Bangem in the South West where low ANC/PMTCT activities are not helping matters.

The project prescribes a good governance approach with local councils playing a more defined and coordinated role including healthcare financing in the districts while District Health Management Committees will be empowered to monitor and ensure the smooth functioning of facilities within the District.

In all, best practices will be shared during the 3-year span of the project which aligns with the CDC/PEPFAR project in their strategy to further sustain the accomplishment of the main - HIV Free NW/SW - project. The launching event also recognised and awarded stakeholders in family planning, and promoters of healthcare.