MANYU ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE

DISTRICT HOSPITAL MAMFE

By employing preventive health care practices, MEDWC hopes to improve the health care delivery system in Manyu Division. We strongly belief that preventive health care practices can both be taught and implemented as an integral part of prolonging human life. Care in maintaining and preserving the quality of our water supply, preparation of food, use of family planning techniques, education on HIV/AIDS and preventive medicine would all substantially reduce the high morbidity and mortality rates among our people.

Health care therefore, is of critical need in Manyu as primary health facilities are lacking and unequipped with modern equipments and medicine. In order to implement a comprehensive health education/care program aimed at the various villages in the region, MEDWC organizes an ambitious health fair during its bi-annual conferences by working closely with Manyu medical experts in diagnosis, treatment and distribution of free medication to the community.

Over the many years, Dr. Robinson Mbu and Dr. Enow Orock have led this effort in bringing a team of season medical professionals to conduct health campaigns during the various conferences. The success of the health fair can only be measured by the number of villagers who trek many miles to reach the conference grounds. Patients are screened for diabetes, hypertension, malaria, HIV and receive free medication donated by non profit organizations such as E-Meditech in the USA.

DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE PROJECTS

Conference Participants listen to presentations.

MEDWC Short Term Conference Projects

MEDWC short term projects are projects that are usually initiated and completely executed during a world conference. These projects typically include organizing health fairs, supplying medications and medical supplies, supplying computers and generators to various institutions within the subdivision that is hosting the conference. Some of MEDWC's accomplished short term projects include the following:

Organized a health fair and distributed medications/medical supplies worth over 5 million Frs CFA to the residents/local clinics in the Upper Bayang and Eyumojock sub division during the Tinto conference in December 2005 and Eyumojock conference in April 2008.

Provided financial assistance worth 4 million Frs CFA to students of Mamfe Central (2003), Upper Bayang subdivision during the Tinto conference in December 2005 and Eyumojock subdivision (2008 conference). The following schools were beneficiaries: GHS Tinto, SAR Tinto, GBHS Eyumojock, GTC Eyumojock, GHS Kembong, GSS Bakogo, GHS Ossing, GSS Afap, SAR Ndekwai,GTC Kembong.

Donated computers and software worth over 10 million Frs CFA to Tinto Rural council, GHS Tinto, SAR Tinto, Mamfe District Hospital, GBHS Eyumojock, Eyumojock council, Eyumojock district hospital, D.O.'s office, GHS Kembong and GSS Ossing.

Supported the Tinto Rural Council, Tali Hospital, Eyumojock Council, CETIC Eyumojock and Eyumojock District Hospital with (5000w) electrical generators. Due to constant power outages, generators are indispensable in the hospitals and clinics.

A TYPICAL DAY IN A MANYU VILLAGE

Girls return from farm in fetch of firewood:

The Manyu woman’s fundamental contribution to its household, food production, education and social needs has always been the economic engine of the family. Within the villages mothers perform most domestic task. They farm, trade, take care of the children, sick and perform other social functions. Food production is a major activity village women undertake, sometimes putting in many hours a day to cultivate the soil and plant.
In the past, the lack of access to formal education was key barrier to a girl’s advancemement and eventual development to womanhood. The reason was, parents preferred sending boys to school, seeing little need for education for girls. However, this trend has changed even at the village level with parents acknowledging that education of the girl child was equally more important. Today, there is an equal number of young girls attending primary, secondary and high school as boys?
As in many African countries, women are now becoming entrepreneurs. Although the Manyu woman has the potential for greatness, those who dare venture in business are hampered by access to financial resources and weak infrastructure. Is the Manyu woman then ready to take the risk and invest its limited funds into a business for fear of failure?

Written by
Simon Etta