Imbued with tradition, as evidenced by its famed folklore, art, music, and wide variety of family systems, Cameroon integrates into its cultural mix three colonial heritages: French, British, and German. Today, social and economic developments are presenting unique challenges to Cameroon’s ethnic pluralism and traditional lifestyles.
The Central African Republic was organized in 1960, the same year that Cameroon received its political independence. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon has a health department with three major hospitals in Garoua Boulai, Ngaoubela, and Ngaoundéré, three dispensaries, a dental clinic, and an eye clinic. Much work is needed in the area of primary health care, especially with the spread of AIDS. Lack of clean water and adequate nutrition contribute to health problems, and both infant mortality and maternal mortality rates are high.
It is to Cameroon that the Café in late August of 2006 sent computers to help medical facilities in that country keep meaningful health records and inventories.
The OSEELC a Health Department in Cameroon operates three large hospitals: Ngaoundere, Ngaoubela, and Garoua Boulai, and fifteen smaller health centers. The health system has a great need for medical supplies and, in 2006, asked for computers as well.
Through the joint efforts of Global Health Ministries and CAFÉ, three containers of supplies were shipped off to Cameroon in August of 2006. As well as computers for hospital administration and office use, key items included two ultrasounds, x-ray, fetal monitors, suction pumps, photo therapy lights, infant incubator, exam tables, stools, patient scales and a wide range of basic medical supplies – a total of 2,924 items.
72 computers were included in the shipment, some of which were destined for medical facilities in Nigeria. |
