Former Prime Minister Philemon Yang, on behalf of the North West elite, handed a transfer slip and deposit receipt Friday in Yaounde to Prof Fru Angwago III, President of the Hospital’s Management Committee, alongside Hospital Director Dr Denis Nsame.
Drive initiator Minister Felix Mbayu said all pledges were redeemed, totalling FCFA 53,603,179, with a shortfall of over FCFA 2 million due once the MoMo account reopens in two weeks. He thanked donors including Ministers Gregoire Owona, Paul Tasong, Mengot Arrey Victor, and especially Minister of Public Health Dr Malachie Manouda, whose backing settled debate on whether the drive intruded on government’s duty, and praised Fai Yengo Francis for mobilizing support.
Dr Nsame briefed attendees on the fire that destroyed the administrative building’s 10 units, including the dispensary, multimedia centre, and social action unit, which handles over 90 GBV cases annually. Drug losses are estimated at FCFA 58 million, equipment at FCFA 68 million. Over 95% of records are cloud-stored, so only June’s data was lost.
The 70-year-old teaching hospital has 400 beds, over 700 staff including 98 doctors, and treats 2,500 patients monthly, with the region’s only haemodialysis centre.
The fire’s cause is undetermined, though voltage fluctuations are suspected. Staff used 21 extinguishers but could not reach the rooftop blaze as a water tank took over 30 minutes to arrive.
Jude Viban
