Empty Blood Bank in Cameroon Hospitals Health minister begs community for Donation

By Harry Ndienla Yemti

Though there has been persistent reports on acute shortages of blood in the banks of major hospitals in Cameroon; that of the Laquintinie hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in the country is today practically empty.

So empty that the country’s minister of health, Mama Fouda, was taken aback during a recent visit to the hospital. On this score, the minister who was on a field visit to evaluate the capacity of hospitals to intervene and handle emergency situations especially
those which did so during the recent upheaval in the country, launched a fervent appeal on the community to rescue the blood bank of hospitals and particularly that of Laquintinie

While emphasizing the importance of the Laquintinie hospital, which is situated in the heart of the economic capital of Douala, the minister said the emptiness of the blood bank calls for emergency reason why he called on the media to inform all and sundry to
save the situation of the hospital.

Situated in Douala, where the recent strike was violent the blood bank of Laquintinie hospital was unfilled by victims who suffered serious casualties and were rushed there

Unlike the Laquintinie hospital, the blood banks of other hospitals are being affected by donors’ inability to go for HIV/AIDS test before donation.

Minister Mama Fouda, also visited other hospitals which handle emergency cases like the Provincial Hospital of Nkongsamba, St. Jean de Malt hospital, which is located in an accident prone zone of Njombe, the Mbanga District Hospital, the CEBEC and Bonasama
Hospitals in Bonaberi-Douala.

At each of the Hospitals visited, the minister’s message was clear and simple; to better organize, encourage and empower staff, boost the capacity of hospitals in handling emergency cases such as road
accidents and epidemics amongst others.

He lauded the efforts of St. Jean de Malte hospital, in their handling of emergencies, particularly the October, 2007 accident along the Njombe-Penja high way which claimed 28 lives and other cases of epidemics like cholera outbreak. While commending the fruitful
relation between the Order of Malte and Cameroon, Minister Fouda, made it clear that his country has benefited enormously from the order in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Cancer in Children amongst others.

Meantime, as he made visits to the various services of the different hospitals the minister handed cartoons of consignment of drugs, an ambulance amongst others. He equally gave words of consolation to some of the strike victims who were still undergoing treatment.

As he sought to answer a few needs the minister also made promises like the recruitment of staff as well the creation of an emergency fund to handle emergency cases.