Health Education Continues in Cameroon

Volunteers Jessica Frederick, a Medical/Surgical Nurse from Sedalia, Missouri and Susan Schory, a Maternal Child Health Nurse from Libertyville, Illinois are continuing HOPE’s work in Cameroon. The two are currently participating in The Volunteer Medical Rotation Program at the Maria Rosa Nsisim Hospital in the capital city of Yaounde, a long-term land-based medical mission. These medical professionals are assisting the Hospital with on the job training for local doctors and nurses in addition to developing education and training programs and initiatives associated with improving women’s health and reducing neonatal mortality.

Jessica’s story:

Sue and I have been working with the staff in many ways trying to improve patient care as part of The Volunteer Medical Rotation Program at the Maria Rosa Nsisim Hospital in Yaounde Cameroon. We are working on a project to improve documentation practices in the Emergency Department.  Right now they are using booklets that the patient purchases when they seek consultation with the doctor.  The problem is, that the patient takes the book upon discharge and leaves no record at the hospital as to what medical care was provided.  Our goal is to introduce the idea of using paper forms, so the hospital can keep a record of the care they provide and organize their patient information in a more efficient and beneficial manner.  In the future we would like to integrate the software system they are currently using and expand its uses to the clinical setting.

The people here are wonderful! Everyone is so friendly and they greet you with a smile and “Bonjour!”  Many times, Sue and I have wished that we knew more French as there are a lot of confused looks when we are trying to get others to understand what is being said in English.  We are however learning a little every day.

Susans’ Story:

Safe childbearing and improved outcomes for moms and babies are an integral part of this partnership and our work at the Maria Rosa Nsisim Hospital. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),  Cameroon’s maternal mortality rate between 1990 and 2008 averaged about 650 deaths per 100,000.

That is a staggering statistic. It means that a woman in Cameroon has approximately a 1 in 16 chance of dying from a cause directly related to childbearing.  The WHO’s millennium goals include improving maternal health and targets reducing maternal mortality rate by 75% between 1990 and 2015. We hope to contribute to that goal by encouraging the creation of a prenatal clinic and offering education and continuity of care throughout a woman’s pregnancy and delivery. In addition, we hope to provide the groundwork for follow-up care with a skilled provider.

We are also working diligently to stress the importance of breastfeeding as there are cultural barriers to this practice in this country.

I witnessed a wonderful delivery yesterday. It was truly childbirth the way it was meant to be.  It was mom’s first baby.  She labored for 8 hours (naturally of course) and was delivered by a midwife, thankfully without complication. But, this is not always the case, and we are truly committed to providing the tools and guidance this facility and community needs to positively impact the health of women and children in this area.