By Daniel D.
Mayors in the South West Region of Cameroon have been groomed to take over the financial, infrastructural and human resource management of state-owned health centers as part of the government’s decentralisation program.
The preparatory framework started on Thursday, October 3, in Buea and was charged by South West Governor, Okalia Bilai.
According to the officials from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE), the gathering was aimed at strengthening the appropriation of devolved competencies for improved management of the health system.
During the workshop, the Governor, Mayors and MINSANTE officials discussed the role of Mayors in managing health facilities, thereby reflecting the growing responsibility of councils in providing local health services.
Enhancing Local Autonomy
At the meeting attended by health officials from the region, the MINSANTE officials said it was “crucial for local autonomy and the improvement of public services in the South-West region.”
Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai said: “This workshop is an opportunity to better understand the responsibilities of Regional and Local Authorities (RLA) and to overcome the obstacles to fully implement this transfer. Our ambition is to ensure quality health services through effective management of available resources.
“We will continue to advocate for more human resources and infrastructure to support the reconstruction and development of the South-West region,” the Governor added.
According to him, Mayors should ensure optimal management of health centres within their municipalities, underscoring the importance of strong local leadership in advancing the decentralisation agenda.
Promoting Primary Healthcare
During the meeting, the Director of Family Health at the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Zacheus Ebongo Nanje, emphasised the importance of supervising health infrastructure and promoting primary health care within the communities.
Additionally, he highlighted the difficulties related to integrating health services in rural areas and the need for close collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health for better resource optimisation.
Taking the rostrum, the Mayor of Buea, David Mafany Namange, said there is an urgent need to enhance coordination between regional and local authorities and health districts for effective management of human and material resources.
His views were shared by other local authorities in the region, who reminded the assembly of the necessity for better planning of health infrastructure to prevent duplication of efforts or resource dispersion.
Need to Avoid Conflicts of Competence
Duelling on the various competencies to be transferred to councils, the parties in the health sector and elected local officials were encouraged to strictly adhere to existing regulations to avoid any conflicts of competence among the various stakeholders.
The workshop was characterised by in-depth discussions and reflective sessions addressing the numerous challenges faced by councils in managing health institutions.
“The workshop served as a platform to discuss the inconsistencies and challenges faced by regional and local authorities in managing health services within the framework of decentralization. With local councils and the regional assembly now at the forefront and under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health, the region is on track to build a more responsive and community-centred health system,” a statement from the Ministry of Public Health stated.
