Reuters - Cameroon coulld lose all of its 3,000 practising doctors within three years if the Government does not act quickly to stem a brain drain in the health sector, the national doctors' association says.
"Between now and 2009, if nothing is done to stop this mass exodus, our hospitals will be empty," Professor Tetanye Okie, vice president of the ONMC association of doctors, said.
"The Government may be forced to undertake a massive recruitment of young doctors."
The West African country officially has about 3,000 practising clinicians for its 17 million people.
But Professor Okie says because they are clustered in towns and cities, rural areas are often left with one doctor for 40,000 inhabitants.
Low wages
Countries across the developing world are battling skill shortages as qualified doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers are lured by better pay and working conditions in the West.
Cameroon's Government says it cannot afford to pay doctors more but agrees the brain drain is reaching crisis proportions.
"The situation regarding human resources in the health sector is critical," Public Health Minister Urbain Olanguena Awono said.
"Despite efforts to develop human resources, the men in white coats still take their talent to rich countries."
More than 5,000 Cameroonian doctors are working abroad with up to 600 in the United States alone.
Professor Doh Anderson Sama, a gynaecologist in Yaounde, returned to Cameroon after completing his studies in Britain but says he has received several invitations to return there.
"If I were working there I would be earning about 10 times what I am earning here today," he said.
One doctor who asked not to be named complained that illiterate soldiers earned more money than doctors.
Professor Okie says the Government must make health a priority by raising wages.
"The Government has to make a choice. And since no country can do without its health service, particularly medical doctors, for me the choice is very obvious," he said.
Reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
This is very serious. The government must act fast! Why is the government committing so much money to the army while all other areas are suffering? This balance must be redressed soon.
Posted by: Dr. A. A. Agbormbai | July 03, 2006 at 06:28 AM
Having said that, a report in Cameroon Tribune suggested another reason for the brain drain. This is the lack of facilities and of the environment for specialist doctors to operate. It seems that what is really needed is a revolution in the health sector in Cameroon. This revolution must accompany all the other improvements going on elsewhere.
Posted by: Dr. A. A. Agbormbai | July 03, 2006 at 06:34 AM
agbormbai.
you cant reason well, because you cant see well. you cant see well because, you cant think well either,
dont you know, upto 2006, that, the french cameroon people hate the anglosaxon culture
soo much that they despise us, and are happy to see us suffer underdevelopment and diseases and torture ? on our god given land, since this only make them some kind og SUPERMEN (SUPERIOR)
SUCH HAD EVER BEEN THEIR MENTALITY, BE HIM AHIDHJO. BE HIM PAUL BIYA, BE HIM ANY BODY FROM THE FRENCH CAMEROUN?
IF YOU KNEW THIS LONG AGO, THEN YOU WONT BE
ACTING SOO IGNORANT, THATS WHY THEIR GOVT
HAVE TO SPEND SOO MUCH OF OUR SOUTHERN CAMEROONS MONEY, ILLEGALLY STOLLEN, TO BUY ARMS TO FIGHT US IN A WAR OF OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM THEIR ILLEGAL COLONIAL OCCUPATION,
SOO, NOTHING IS OF ANY IMPORTANCE, THAN FOR THE FROGS BIYA ET ALL TO SURVIVE THEIR SKINS AS BIGMEN OF THE JUNGLE.
WITH THEIR BIG GUNS, NOT EVEN POVERTY AND DISEASE AND HOSPTALS OR DOCTORS MEAN A DAMN TO THESE GUYS.
CAUSE, IN THE SOUL, THEY ARE AS LOW AS PIGS.
Posted by: DANGO TUMMA | July 03, 2006 at 11:45 AM
The brain drain in Cameroon today is just a symptom of a grave malady, which is a failure of leadership.
When doctors leave for greener pastures, it is not just because of lack of facilities or low salaries but the overall state of affairs including lack of basic necessities( running water, electricity, road networks, security, justice and freedoms).
Doctors are not the only ones leaving. The brightest minds of the nation including engineers, lawyers, teachers and all types of intellectuals including retirees are leaving.
Corruption is so endemic that funds are never available to execute basic programs. There is no consequence for embezzelment except for those who belong to the opposition. Justice is usually for sale and law enforcement means extortion. The youth are dying every day because the government lacks an effective AIDS prevention program. Joblessness and frustration is the order of the day for our youth, except they can find a way to leave the country.
Our problems are monumental and they can only be fixed from the very top. The police constable who collects bribe at the police post can only do so because the Commissioner has allowed it, who is answerable to the delegate/minister and the president. The problems of Cameroon are there for every one to see, but there is no collective will to fix them. This system favors the status quo and unless it can be changed, this cycle of selfdestruction and mediocrity will continue.
We must change this leadership if we hope to move forward as a nation. We need selfless leaders who can plan for future generations and improve life for the current generation.
We are all to blame for this failure in leadership and until we can all come together, irrespective of our political leanings, tribal background and linguistic differences, we are going to continue to perpetuate our destruction and remain a laughingstock in the commity of nations.
We must all remember that this system benefits no-one, even Biya, because if he had a heart attack today, he would probably be dead before he is lifeflighted to Paris for a french doctor to take care of him. We have adequately trained professionals who could handle this in Cameroon, given the right incentives.
As Cameroonians in the diaspora, we are the touchbearers of a dying generation and whatever we chose to do or not do, will have a significant impact for the future of our nation.
We can start by creating an intellectual, apolitical forum where discussions can be held in a civil manner and ideas could be exchanged on what contribution we could give to make a meaningful difference back home. I am tasking the computer gurus including the Agbormbais to create such an electronic forum for us.I am not absolving myself of responsibility but admitting my lack of ability with such a task.
Posted by: philip ndum | July 03, 2006 at 12:34 PM
Dr Philip Ndum. It will only be another case of anglophbones (southern cameroonians) talking to each other without ANY power to effect anything. How many francophones do you personally know with whom you can have this discussion. Unfortunately political power for us is the starting point for anything.
Perhaps increased accelleration of brain drain is required to precipitate a crisis. Too many people are invested in the status quo. Nothing short of extraction will stop the misery in this decayed tooth! Just an opinion, I submit, but what you have proposed has been tried. You may want to talk to those who tried. Elad and Munzu and Anyangwe called the all anglophone conference after the constitution that they proposed which could have brought all these things was rejected out of turn by Owona, who went and then photocopied the constitution of france with 7 year terms for president and other ridiculous features.
BTW Dr Agbormbai does not seem to be an "internet guru" although he will surely contribute to such a dicussion as you propose. Websites such as this dibussi.com and postnewsline are the beginning of such a discussion.
Posted by: Ngum | July 05, 2006 at 05:48 PM
There are two issues, namely:
1. the brain drain Cameroon
2. killing the brains in Cameroon
The brain drain is in a crisis situation at the moment and could lead to a disaster if we (Cameroonians) do not do something to improve it.
We should also consider potential brains that have not had the opportunity to develop. We do not see them until they are medical doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers,... But if we look carefully, we see that a large percentage of these professionals, (currently active in the country) had help from the government through scholarships and other grants. These opportunities are not there today. What is the case today? Lots of those smart kids come from very very poor backgrounds. At most they can struggle through secondary and high school, and then pray for some kind hearted sponsor to help them meet their dreams. Lots of them end up teaching mathematics in private schools on a salary of 50.000frs a month. What contribution can make to their country at the level?
The little Einstein could be playing around your backyard helpless. I will encourage Cameroonians to take the challange. Lets do our little best to educate the less privelleged. Contributions in all forms is significant. One textbook, a word of advice, uniform, why not fees, pleges, ...
ENOH
Posted by: Enoh | July 13, 2006 at 02:24 AM
Well that may seem true.But the government has to act not the brains who live Cameroon.Our government should think for a while and stop being stingy!
Posted by: Walters Yijofmen Ambu | June 26, 2007 at 12:39 PM
Just take look at this recnt incident:
The gruesome murder and torture of fellow Southern
Cameroonian( SC) students commenced on Monday, the 27th
November,2006. This was due to the following political
scandal from the occupied master: La republic du
cameroun(LRC) on our fellow citizens.
1. The government created medical schools in
Douala(LRC)
and Buea(SC). Entrance examinations were
written in all the above centres.
2. Only two SCs were selected eventhough many SCs
passed the entrance,
while the rest were from LRC, in Douala. The
setting of this examination in the various
centres was based on the language used. That is
English in SC and French in LRC.
3. Of the 800 students who sat on the entrance
examination into the medical school
in Buea University, only 127 passed, all
hailing from Southern Cameroons. The first
la republique du camerounian student took the
600th position. It should be noted
that the exam in Buea was set by the Cameroon
General Certificate of Education
(G.C.E) Board marked using the computerise
system, since they were structural
questions.
4. The list of successful candidates was handed over
to the Vice Chancellor(V. C)
for endorsement and later published.
5. After the V.C approval, all successful candidates
were happy and awaing for orals
since only 60 students were needed.
Unfortunately, the Minister of Higher Education
rejected the list on grounds that the list
suppose to be sent to him for approval. It should
also be noted that the Minister did not reject
the list from Douala for the same exam.
6. Thereafter, a document was faxed to the V.C's
office from the Minister to include 26
names, all being students from la republique
especially the President's tribe(Eton,Beti &
Ewondo), who did not sit in for the said
examination.
7. It should be recalled that only 60 stundents were
needed to become the first batch of
prospective medical doctors and if 26 of these
students were included, the chances of
of Southern Cameroonian students will be 34 out
of 60.
8. The students for the collective interest of their
colleagues who succeeded, asked the
V.C to tell the Minister to annul the illegal
list, but to no avail.
9. Then the students called in for a peaceful
strike, that is, domonstrating their grievances
on the school campus. They started shouting: No
to corrupt!, No to bribery! They wrote
placards carrying messages such as: Anglosaxon
Universities are not corrupt;
Yaounde should not corrupt our University and a lot
of others.
10. This move was to shun corruption in univesities
and allow meritocracy to prevail.
11. President Paul Biya , a colonial master of
Southern Cameroons sent his secret agents
en civile to monitor the gravity of the strike
and give him feedback. This act was to
disrupt any move for the strike.
12. The students were on campus from the 27-28 but
later forced out of campus when the
the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Agbor Tabi told them
that they should go to hell or to
any organisation( s) and report. That they(students)
can not change the system that has
been put in place. He told them that he would
call his guys(police) to disperse them.
13. The Honourable Governor of the South West
Province, Eyaya Zanga Louis,from the President' s
clan(Beti,Ewondo, & Eton) said this was a positive
corruption because the students( from LRC) would have
jobs at the end of the programme.
14. On the night of 29th November, 2006, two(2)
students were shot dead while the following day
another student accompanied others to paradise, making
three deaths. An old mother of above 70years was
murdered by a stray bullet. A taxi driver who took a
hairdresser to the hospital was also killed by a
policeman.
15. The following people were killed by agents of la
republique du cameroun:
a) Hilary Muebe( was shot at the head) from the
department of Economics.
b) Ivo Obia Ngemba( shot at the mouth) from the
same department.
c) Ngundam Terence Ndeh( shot on the stomarch)
was reportedly dead after a day.
d) A stray bullet killed a mother who was above
70years and
e) the taxi driver above,
16. In the cause of fleeing for safety, six students
died in a terrible bus accident on their way to
Bamenda whose names were not yet known. This recorded
eleven deaths as of now.Ms Mbianda Laura( a
hairdresser) was shot at the neck in her saloon and
Clerence Nkentah( student) whose stomarch was scraped
by a bullet are currently receiving
treatment assisted by Lord Mayor of Buea, at the
Provincial Hospital Annex.
Other victims of this raid were found in nearby
clinics receiving treatment. The mayor in the cause of
carrying a corpse to the mortuary was shot thrice but
escaped with the
corpse to the hospital.
17.Many people who were not students were molested and
properties looted as the case in the bus park at
17mile,Molyko and Bomaka(a nearby village from Buea).
18. It should be noted that the parents of
francophone students called their children home
and none of them participated in the strike.
19. The soldiers of la republique du cameroun were
rejoicing and singing" On a gagner!!!"
meaning "we have won" after majority of the
students flee for safety. They also said
" les prisonniers, entrez dans la maison" meaning
prisoners go to your home.The soldierswere using live
bullet, explosives and tear gas. They were beating
everybody in the quaters.
20. After fierce confrontation between the police and
students whose weapon were stones, the executive of
the Southern Cameroons National Council(SCNC) called a
security officer
whose name is withheld, that the strike was no
longer the students affair but between anglophone
and froncophones. That whenever there was a strike, la
republique use live bullet on us but in their
territory none of that was used. That we have called
all Southern Cameroonians to fight against
injustices and gruesome murder of our citizens.
That we were ready to face any odds to remove
oppressors from our land.
21. The Yaounde regime was immediately informed and
within an hour soldiers who were
sent from Douala and Yaounde were retreating to
their various destinations.
www.SouthernCameroo nsIG.org
The University of Buea students leaders are currently having tough times with the
government of la republique du cameroun for having expose their diabolic act against
the people of Southern Cameroons.
Three student leaders are already behind bars suffering for a just cause while others
are in the black books of la republic for arrest. Those that were arrested include;
ABIA DAVID, the student union president, department of political science
MARCEL AMABO, secretary General, department of BioChem/MCB
NJONG GIDEON, Delegate i/c of Relations with Faculties, departmentof CST/Geo
Others who were searched and awaitng arrest are:
Leussa Adrienne, Vice President i/c of Academic Affairs, department of BioChem/MCB
Ashu Kingsley Ndip, Vice President i/c Economic Affairs, ECN/MGT
Mbingwai Helen, Assistant Secretary General, department of ENG/FRE
Martin Besong, Public Relations Officer, department of CST/HIS
Ntabe Gospel Ndim, Communication Officer, ASTI(school of translation & interpretation)
Tanga Noel, Financial Secretary, department of BKG/ FIN
Ndive Epeti, Treasurer, department of ECN/MGT
Arrey Emmanuel, Delegate i/c of Relations with Faculties, department of History
Nchawa Yangkam, Social and Cultural Affairs Organiser, department of MLS
Comrades, la republique have legalise corruption and wants by all costs to do same
in our Country. Please assist these students diplomaticly to wipe away these ills
in our Fatherland.
GOD BLESS SOUTHERN CAMEROONS TO BECOME A FREE NATION
AMEN!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!
Posted by: Walters Yijofmen Ambu | June 26, 2007 at 12:54 PM
There is just no pity for the sick and the needy.
There is a prentention of concern which will never lead to care. the system is so corrupt that those who can care are eliminated and strangled eeven in the day light.
where are we moving to with this type of a system?
God help us
Posted by: Arrey Emmanuel Enow | March 21, 2009 at 03:43 AM
What pussles me about the government of cameroon is that those who are improtant are not recognised. take for example those who graduate from enam are directly employed but the doctors are those who graduate from polythecnic are hardly being recruited or given basic salaries to sustain them.
Where are we driving to? To suffering of the populase.
God bless the sick
Posted by: Arrey emmanuel enow | September 17, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Treat doctors like crap. They take it for a while because they are tough people and know how to handle crap professionally, but after a while, doctors who do not want to compromise their souls for garri will leave.
Posted by: VA Boy | September 22, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Dear chumps, it seems as if it has not yet been incalcated in our memory that we need to be exponentially honest to ourselves inorder to make Cameroon be a better place. So long as we continue to have that virulent system of government, I unthoughtfully see no prgress but retrogression in that Village they call Cameroon.
Dr. Gilbert Ako Ojong
Posted by: Dr. Gilbert Ako Ojong | November 04, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Dear All,
this is a discussion i want to open on an issue that has been stroken in cameroon and the diaspora. The angrophone problem.
I wish to ask and learn more about this.
IS THERE AN ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM?
IF YES CAN I HAVE SOME DETAILS ABOUT IT.
Posted by: Arrey Emmanuel Enow | June 17, 2010 at 06:36 AM