Patients in Edea and Kribi recently received health consultation and treatment for a wide range of diseases.

Free medical care and facilities were offered to the inhabitants of Edea in the Sanaga Maritime Division of the Littoral Region and Kribi in the Ocean Division of the South Region. The medical care and facilities were made available last week by the Michael and Mauritia Patcha Foundation, a US-based NGO, with the collaboration of the National Cancer Control Committee, “Association des Compétences pour une Vie Meilleure” (ASCOVIME) , Shisong Cardiac Centre Kumbo, Mpuma Nwet Medical Centre Kribi, Higher Institute of Applied Medical Sciences Buea, Protestant Hospital Douala, a team of young doctors in the North West, South West, Littoral and East Regions, Drexel University College of Medicine USA and a number of national and international volunteers.

The weeklong mission focused on screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast, cervical and prostate cancer, under the Patcha Foundation’s on-going Cancer Awareness, Screening, Early detection and Care (CASEC) Programme. The addition of ophthalmology and cardiovascular units, etc, to the mission was an innovation that many patients with eye problems, heart diseases and other diseases made use of.

Over 3,000 patients were consulted and treated for a wide range of diseases. The high point of the mission was the high number of surgeries: 82 cases of minor and major surgeries. One of them was the case of a 14-year-old girl diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure. The heart surgeon from the Shisong Cardiac Centre, Dr. Jacques Carbral Tantchou, said the child’s condition cannot be managed in the country as the situation suggested a heart transplant.

Patcha Foundation President Dr. Stella Patcha Adamu underscored the mission’s priority: “Serving the underserved is our priority. We have realised the need for help and we could reach out to these thousands again. The mission further solidifies our bond with the Ministry of Public Health as a contributor towards the MDGs in the country.”