Spreading Health Program


Primary Problem

Health is primordial for the development of any society.  A majority of health centers in Cameroon face severe challenges. They are either understaffed or have unqualified staff. A majority of the health centers lack basic health equipment and appropriate health infrastructures. 

 Most clinics with few staff are often unable to attend to all their patients. Some patients become impatient waiting and prefer to turn to auto medication, which is sometimes fatal.

In some health centers the staffs are unqualified and subsequently resort to wrong prescription or wrong diagnosis of medication which causes severe health damages.

 

Objective

To contribute towards the achievement of SDG 2 to ensure healthy lifestyles and promote wellbeing for all at all ages by improving on the health status of those living in peasant communities through enhancing their access to essential health care services through humanitarian response, training of nurses from poor rural communities for village health Centers, construction/refurbishment of health centers.

How it happens

  • Sensitization of communities in all regions of Cameroon through focal persons
  • The community must apply to SHUMAS indicating the need for a trained nurse
  • The candidate selected must be holder of GCE A/L in sciences and not more than 40 years
  • Selection of beneficiaries
  • Written government exams by candidates and final selection
  • Signing of protocol agreement between SHUMAS, candidate and the community members
  • Training in schools
  • Internships
  • Work in community health centers

Achievements 

In partnership with Spreading Health UK, SHUMAS has been able to achieve the following;

  • Trained and sponsored 73 nurses from all over Cameroon in different communities since 2008.
  • Provision of allowances, hardship funds and research allowances to all nurses during training.
  • 51 nurses trained through this program presently working in their community health centers while others are in training
  • Provided Tippy machines and other PPE materials to Spreading Health Nurses for COVID-19 prevention in some 4 health centers in the North West.

Challenges

– In sufficient funds to sponsor more nurses

– Non Respect of protocol agreement by some communities once the nurses start work

– Network is a serious challenge as most of these nurses are in very remote areas so getting in touch with them is difficult.