Government subvention through the Ministry of Public Health to the Protestants, Ad Lucem Foundation and the Catholics has been given to the tune of 10 billion CFA

Kumbo (Bui) The government of Cameroon through the ministry of Public Health at the national level has given subvention to three bodies or networks including the Protestants, Ad Lucem and the Catholics where the tertiary sisters belong to the tune of 10 billion CFA and the catholic network had a share of 3.5 billion francs. This was revealed at the 10th anniversary collaboration of Milan – Shisong collaboration on the 17th of November 2012 by the by the Technical Adviser number two to the Ministry of Public Dr. Martina Baye who represented the Minister of Public Health Mr. Andre Mama Fouda at the occasion. Dr. Martina Baye said by a special convention the Ministry of Public Health has with the Shisong Cardiac Center, the Cardiac Center since 2010 has benefited from subvention amounting to a sum of about 69 million CFA. Dr. Martina Baye said ‘’we are here today to salute and celebrate the fruitful partnership between the Tertiary Sisters and two Italian Partners namely Cuore Fratello and Bambini Cardiopatici Nel Mondo for their marvellous assistance that led to the construction and equipment of the Shisong Giant Cardiac Center Structure.

The Technical Adviser said one of the ways chosen by the Ministry of Public Health to meet with health demands is the development of Partnership at the national and international levels. She said since 2007 the Ministry of Public Health has been working hard to promote public private partnership at the national and international levels.

The Provincial Superior of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis Shisong Rev. Sister Euphrasia Yuh in her speech expressed immense gratitude and appreciation for the special contribution of the government towards the sustainability and enhancement of the collaboration. She also thanked government for the exemption of custom duties and taxes for all imported medical/surgical materials and consumables. Sister Euphrasia Yuh appealed to the government to create a Dialysis Center and a CT Scan Center in the Cardiac Center. She said they were celebrating a relationship of commitment, sharing, perseverance and prayers. Sister Euphrasia Yuh reiterated her appeal to government to sponsor patients for surgical interventions and for government to plead to AES SONEL to give the hospital 26 hours of electricity.

Sister Euphrasia Yuh disclosed that from November 2009 to October 2012 15.770 consultations, 3.312 admissions, 256 open heart surgeries, 162 catheterizations and 35 pace maker implantation have been done in the Shisong Cardiac centre.

The First Deputy Mayor of Kumbo Council Mrs. Lukong Margaret Beri in her speech said an important fall out from the Milan-Shisong partnership is the twining of the Kumbo council with the city of San Donato Milanese. She pleaded to the government to construct the road from Kumbo Squares to the Cardiac Center and for government to give subvention to those undergoing Cardiac operation in the center. The celebration kicked off with a pontifical mass said by the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea His Excellency Piero Pioppo and assisted by the Bishop Geoge Nkuo of Kumbo Diocese and the Auxiliary Bishop of Bamenda Archdiocese Agapitus Nfon. In his homily which fell on the feast day of St. Elizabeth of Hungary the Patron Saint of the Hospital His Excellency Piero Pioppo advised participants to emulate the qualities of the Patron Saint. He appealed to them to have compassion on the sick and the poor and to take proper care of them as well as to show them love. At that occasion His Excellency Piero Pioppo decorated those at the forefront of the construction of the cardiac center with papal medals and rosaries. Speakers at the occasion included the Italian Ambassador to Cameroon His Excellency Stefano Pontesilli and representatives of Cuore Fratello and Bambini Cardiopatici Nel Mondo.

At a fund raising activity that ended the occasion with a representative of AES- SONEL Mme Linda Tatabod Fomukong who is in charge of partnerships and Resource Mobilization coordinator gave a donation of 3.5m francs on behalf of the establishment.