Incisive Journalism in Cameroon: The Best of ��Cameroon Report�� (1978 � 1986)

6. Cameroon Report 5/4/1981: Health for all by year 2000

19 6 Cameroon Report 5/4/1981: Health for all by year 2000 Introduction: Cameroon joined the rest of the international community last Tuesday to observe the 33rd World Health Day which centred on the theme, “Health for all by the year 2000.”Here in Cameroon, observers are preoccupied with the possibility of achieving such an ambitious goal. Of course, it is possible to achieve health for all by year 2000 or even the year 3000, but looking at the present unequal availability of and accessibility to health care facilities for every citizen, AKWANKA JOE NDIFOR remarks that it is rather ironical that health care is provided free to those who can afford it while the poverty-stricken masses are deprived of it: How far is it possible that the health of every Cameroonian shall be guaranteed by the year 2000? Cameroon Report has no intention of looking at this assertion from a negative perspective. But just as it is normal to ask questions, we must also understand that saying something is one thing and doing it, an entirely different thing. And talking about doing things, we are all conscious of the fact that the government is, at least, aware of the need to maintain the health of eight million Cameroonians. This is demonstrated by the fact that the Ministry of Health has the third largest budget in this country. Through this, government has made a fair attempt to establish rural health centres. Pro-pharmacies have been attached to these health centres which sell drugs at reduced prices. 20 We all agree that it is not yet possible for the government to establish free medical care for every citizen. Perhaps this will come one day. But, when we look at the operation of major health institutions in this country, we begin to cast doubts on the validity of the statement of health for everyone by the year 2000. Time and time again Cameroon Report has proved that the government-owned hospitals in our big towns are such a humiliation to humanity that some sceptics have ironically described the health ministry as the ministry of death. There is also this question of availability of and accessibility to medical facilities in this country. The government provides drugs to hospital pharmacies. The destination of these drugs is no longer a mystery because Cameroon Report has observed that these drugs are either diverted to private pharmacies in town where they are sold at cut throat prices or are given free to those who actually stand in a position to purchase them. No doubt the easiest drugs to get from our hospitals are out of stock. Therefore the poor must die because there is no money to buy drugs, although everyone will be healthy by the year 2000. Many questions have been raised about drug trafficking between government and private pharmacies. There are simple drugs which need no prescriptions to buy but this is not the case because of the absence of patent medicine stores in big urban areas and doctor’s prescriptions for drugs to be bought at particular pharmacies. Most often, dozens of expired drugs in government pharmacies are burnt, thus raising the question of whether these drugs were supposed to be used to treat patients or stored up to be burnt because of the lack of black market customers to buy them. 21 Still talking about the plight of the poor patient, there is this question of consultation fees. How justified is it that a patient must pay to consult a doctor who is paid by the government? What are the consequences if the patient hasn’t the money to pay? A common sight in our towns today is the presence of vagrant mad people, lepers, and other handicapped people – a factor constituting a national disgrace. The situation has remained unchanged over the decades. The year 2000 is just under two decades from now. The assertion of health for everyone by the year 2000 is a great challenge to our health system which needs a complete overhaul. Health education must be stepped up to a large extent. The government must ensure that those responsible for the distribution of drugs to the needy be honest citizens who will channel these drugs to the desired destinations. There is the need for the extension and modernisation of equipment in hospital establishments. Medical doctors are paid by the government. If they have the wish...