LAQUANTINIE'S NEW DIRECTOR INSTALLED…CHALLENGES AHEAD

Public Health Minister Andre Mama Fouda, April 18, commissioned the new Director of the Laquantinie Hospital Professor Louis Richard Njock into his functions.He takes over from Jean II Dissongo, sacked, following a Prime Ministerial Decree, April 12 exactly a month after the scandal at the health establishment.

PROF NJOCK : CAMEROONIANS ARE WATCHING!

Beyond the apparent euphoria that Dissongo was fired over the Monique Koumateke scandal, there is much expected from the Laquantinie hospital management.

The Minister of Public Health Andre Mama Fouda, in directives issued last month was quite conscious the public has lost confidence in public hospitals which he describes as places the public believe people visit to die. 

Poor reception of patients, lack of patient orientation within hospitals, delays in attending to patients, lack of compassion and extortion of all forms, are some of the issues Andre mama Fouda raised. Above the Minister’s directives, the new Laquantinie Hospital Management has the task to build public confidence in the hospital.

The general public expects to see how patients who are in emergency situations are treated without being demanded deposits, as it is done in most public hospitals in Cameroon.

Prof Njock is expected to take security of the hospital as a very seriously. The Koumateke scandal, to observers, poses the real question of security and guidance in hospitals and further questions  the use of police post within the hospital premises. The management must ensure that every staff of the hospital wears identification badges to facilitate the denunciation of unruly behavior.

There are also expectations that the slow pace at which payments are made to the hospital cashiers to the detriment of patients, are to be addressed.

DR NTONE NTONE : ARE YOUR HANDS CLEAN

“I don’t think anything would change. We need a change of mentality not the Director. Would the PM who appointed Njock be there to see the ill treatment of patients ? I doubt?, reacted a Douala resident .

Professor Njock who prior to his appointment served at the Edea Regional hospital in the Littoral Region, had said he would have to restructure the different services of Laquantinie for purpose of efficiency.

Other observers are questioning the role of the former director of the hospital Dr Fritz Ntone Ntone, (now Government Delegate to Douala) who remained silent over what happened at Laquantinie, given that he occupies the covetous post of the Director of hospital’s management board.

Meanwhile nothing is yet to filter as to when Monique Koumateke would be laid to rest. Family sources say they are still waiting for directives from government.