10 billion FCFA for development of Douala General hospital

André Mama Fouda, Minister of Public Health, in a meeting with a team Belgian heart surgeons at the Douala General Hospital hinted of a grant of 10 billion FCFA to help develop the hospital.

The Belgian Mission, on an intervention visit providing cardiac surgery, have been at the Douala General Hospital since 26 October which is their sixth time.

They came with equipment such as cardiopulmonary bypass pump, which plays both the role of heart and lungs during surgery.

The minister's vow on the development project was issued November 2, 2015, by the MOH in the multipurpose meeting room of the health institution, to particularly announce the 10 billion FCFA granted to HGD for the 3-year emergency plan.

The member of government assured that the funds are already being mobilized and currently, "we are in the finalization of the studies. Different exchange sessions were also held to redefine the centers of excellence of the general hospital in Douala. And one of these areas is cardiology."

André Mama Fouda congratulated the camerouno-Belgian partnership for the "cost-effective partnership" in performing difficult surgeries at the best possible cost. Partnership whose ultimate goal, as recalled by Professor Eugène Belley-Priso, Dg of HGD, "is the transfer of skills and the acquisition of equipment."

Ambitions thus begin to materialize in the coming months, according to the minister: "Normally, if all goes well, by the end of next year, we will celebrate the new general hospital in Douala that will be totally revamped with infrastructural facilities plan."

André Mama Fouda also stressed the need to re-educate Cameroonians to understand that all their health problems will not necessarily be solved by evacuations, as hospitals in the country will have an advanced technical platform and an experienced staff. He called on the HGD to publish the results of the mission until November 6, so that the public can evaluate the good work done on site.