Mutengene Baptist School of Public Health: Minister’s envoy inaugurates Rehabilitation Training Centre of Excellence.

The facility, which is part of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, CBCHS, was inaugurated Saturday, January 25. It was in the presence of the Executive President of the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC, Rev Dr Teke John Ekema.

Fon Asongtia used the occasion to on behalf of Minister Irene Nguene to salute CBCHS for fostering government’s social inclusion policy towards people living with disabilities. 

He said the project “falls in line with the social inclusion policy of President Paul Biya, who has put the wellbeing of people with disability at the centre of his social policy”.

The Inspector General added that the Minister of Social Affairs supports all initiatives geared towards promoting social inclusion, especially of persons living with disabilities and ensuring they regain their self-esteem and join their families.

Fon Asongtia said interest would be sustained to ensure the curriculum of the centre “meets standards that can effectively solve the problem of social exclusion” of persons living with disabilities.

The Inspector General said the new facility is unique, given that it offers a global package towards care for the vulnerable in society.

CBC Executive president salutes stakeholders 

Rev Dr Teke, while noting that the centre fits with the Church’s mission, saluted the work of staff, donor, government and others; in ensuring the facility came to fruition.

He reiterated that CBCHS remains committed to providing quality healthcare while at the same time focusing on persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Rev Dr Teke said it is a partnership with the nation to provide quality healthcare.

Rehabilitation core of CBCHS work

The Director of the CBCHS, Samuel Ngum, said the centre is crucial to the CBCHS and the country as a whole. The rehabilitation training centre, Ngum noted, is an addition to other quality services of the CBCHS.

“Rehabilitation has been at the core of everything we offer as the CBCHS since 1952 with the leprosy centre in Mbingo, which is today Mbingo Baptist Hospital and until date, we still have people we are rehabilitating,” Ngum remarked. 

He restated the goal of CBCHS to bring hope to communities through rehabilitation. 

“Given rehabilitation's prime role, we strive to bring holistic care to people in their communities,” he underscored, insisting that the inaugurated centre “will train people who will take care of neglected people in the society to compliment the healthcare we offer”.

Nursery for career in rehabilitation

The CBCHS boss indicated that the facility is open to all students who desire to make a career in rehabilitation. 

Ngum explained that the centre offers a two-year diploma in multi-skilled rehabilitation and a two-year diploma in social work with specialisation in Community Based Rehabilitation. He disclosed that the Ministry of Social Affairs has approved the programs.

He added that the Centre also runs a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, approved by the University of Zimbabwe and a four-year Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, approved by the University of Dschang.

The Director revealed that the Dutch-based AFAS Foundation and the Liliane Foundation, are providing full and partial scholarships to students with disabilities.

This, he said, also includes persons from needy backgrounds and those with outstanding performances at the General Certificate of Education, GCE Ordinary and Advanced levels. He invited members of the public to make use of the opportunities. 

Enter funders

Speaking to the press, the Director of the Liliane Foundation, Erik Ackerman, said the Dutch-based organisation that advocates the inclusion of children with disabilities worldwide has been working with CBCHS for over a decade.

Ackerman insisted that: “We want to support the training of competent physiotherapist, occupational therapists and community-based rehabilitation workers because we feel if we have more experts, we can help more children with disabilities and enhance our impact”.

He expressed his desire for the centre to create the next generation of skilled professionals who can help hundreds of thousands of children in Cameroon. 

Ackerman said they are satisfied with the CBCHS partnership. He promised the continuous support of the Liliane Foundation to the Centre.

The Director of the AFAS Foundation, Gerben Eversdijk, said his institution supported the initiative given its huge need and the impact it would have on society. 

Gerben said most children with disabilities would have hope again as it will train professionals to respond to their needs. He encouraged all the stakeholders, teachers, administrators, workers and students to know that they are working for God. 

Gerben charged people living with disabilities to remain strong and courageous because God is and will always be with them.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3351 of Monday January 27, 2025