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The Municipal Council of Kribi, Cameroon, gets involved in the promotion of mutual health organisations
The executive of the Municipal Council of Kribi, Cameroon, concerned by the welfare of the people and by the difficulties they experience in getting access to healthcare; and under the strong recommendation of the Deputy Mayor of Kribi 1 Massaka (Dr. Mbvoula Joël Aristide), decided to set up a mutual health organisation in order to facilitate access to healthcare for people of all different social backgrounds living in the community.
Aware that a degree of sensitivity would be required to carry out this social project, the municipal council entrusted the NGO ASSA with the task of carrying out feasibility studies and providing technical support to help set up the MHO.
The feasibility study showed that the user rate of the health services in the town of Kribi was very low (13%). The critical lack of equipment was driving the people of Kribi to seek treatment in the hospitals of neighbouring towns, like Edéa, Douala or Yaoundé. The level of self-treatment was very high. Health services were only being used as a second or third resort.
Thanks to the feasibility report, a group of Kribi nationals living abroad took up the cause and offered a whole set of medical equipment for the Radiology Department of the Kribi district hospital.
The official opening ceremony of the Kribi community mutual health organisation took place on the 11th April 2008 under the patronage of the Prefect of the Océan Department of Cameroon and in the presence of every administrative, health, religious and traditional official of Kribi.
With regards to the treatment of members, the MHO has signed agreements with four health providers (two public, one faith-based and one private).
The mutual health initiative will help the people of Kribi to gain access to healthcare because it allows for third-party payment and will undoubtedly contribute to increasing user rates of health services.