Doctors Without Borders, widely known by its French name and acronym Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is celebrating 40 years of relentless Humanitarian efforts and achievements in Cameroon since its inception in 1984.
The celebration was launched on Saturday, November 23, 2024, with a photo expo at the Yaounde Handicraft Center.
For four decades, the organization has been at the forefront of humanitarian medical assistance in Cameroon, constantly providing support to populations in distress regardless of their race, religion, or political beliefs.
Since its inception in the country, MSF has closely collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health to tackle various health crises, including epidemics, malnutrition, and the consequences of natural disasters and conflict-induced displacement.
The director affirmed that, despite some challenges faced, MSF has been able to sail through and achieve its objectives and looks forward to greater achievements. “The future will all depend on the needs and the collaboration of the government of Cameroon which is already so far. I can already confirm that in the coming year 2025, MSF has already had a plan of action…” he said.
Sharing the achievements over the past 40 years, the Chief of Missions said “we have responded to all kinds of emergencies, cholera epidemics, measles epidemics, we accompanied the Ministry of Health for the Marburg epidemic, in the South of Cameroon, COVID-19, where MSF actively participated through the Djongoulou Hospital.
Alexis added that, apart from the epidemics, the MSF has also successfully given itself support in the treatment of HIV/AIDS especially with the Buruli ulcer and disease.
Talking on conflict-stricken zones, the chief of Missions shared that, the organization in collaboration with Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health has successfully put in place an emergency surgical program which has given joy to the patients.
MSF also claims to have been addressing peak cases of malaria and malnutrition through both outpatient and inpatient services, alongside awareness campaigns tailored to community needs recently.
MSF Achievements
In Kourgui, MSF runs a health centre that offers primary and secondary healthcare services, including Sexual and Reproductive Health consultations. This initiative ensures that essential medical services are accessible to individuals of all ages.
In the central region, MSF is actively engaged in a sustainable cholera prevention project as part of the national eradication plan. The initiative aims to significantly reduce cholera incidence in the most affected areas of Cameroon by improving water and sanitation infrastructure and enhancing community resilience against potential outbreaks.
The humanitarian situation in the Far North region has been exacerbated by severe rainstorms since July 2024, leading to devastating flooding that has affected approximately 158,600 individuals. In Yagoua, MSF has mobilized its teams to support local health structures, providing primary and secondary healthcare while distributing essential supplies to those impacted.
In 2024, MSF made significant strides in improving healthcare access across the country. From January to October, the organization recorded over 44,000 outpatient consultations, performed 1,338 surgical interventions, and provided 19,912 treatments for malaria. Additionally, mental health services were expanded, with 1,744 consultations offered to those in need.
According to MSF, it collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health and undertook the construction and rehabilitation efforts to enhance the surgical department’s capacity and service quality in 2022.
One of the critical areas of focus has been the Mora district, where MSF has been providing emergency surgical and obstetric care to displaced populations as explained by Chief of Mission for the organization in Cameroon, Alexis Bahati. He said since 2021, “the organization has offered these services free of charge at the local district hospital”.
To bridge the healthcare gap for communities lacking access to medical facilities, MSF launched a community health project in Kolofata and Limani in 2019. This initiative involves training a network of 81 community health workers to manage common health issues such as malaria and diarrhoea, and to identify acute malnutrition in children, referring severe cases to nearby health centres.