English > Health center La Prudence

Health center La Prudence is an initiative of a Cameroonian couple; KAPCHE WAMBO Diane, a graduate and registered nurse, and her husband Tasha ABDOU,

La Prudence is located in Douala, District 4, in one of the most densely populated and poorest areas of the city. About 250,700 people live in this District. Healthcare is practically absent, there is only 1 government hospital available. Because the care in this hospital is very expensive, most people depend on small primary health centers or opt for help from traditional medicine men. Health insurance does not exist here. The people who live in the La Passerelle Mambanda district (11,000 inhabitants) belong to the group with a high risk of infectious diseases. It is precisely in this neighborhood that the presence of those small health centers is missing, which makes the situation even more distressing.

The aim of La Prudence is to provide primary and preventive care to this population group in an affordable manner and to achieve a positive health status within this same group. Treatments include vaccination of babies, children and pregnant women, childbirth, HIV and others testing, circumcision, infusion, first aid; bonding and connecting wounds sustained in accidents due to both aggression and traffic. Even the main road in this area, where it rains a lot, is unpaved, resulting in poorly accessible roads. This makes healthcare close to even more necessary.

Diane and Tasha had a big wish; being able to move into a more accessible and suitable location to meet the much-needed medical needs in their neighborhood. They were able to achieve this on December 1, 2013.

Developments

2013-2015

In April 2013, Tasha and Diane expressed their urgent desire to expand the La Prudence health center. After Marion Hoyng’s visit in Douala in November (2013), a number of things were realized with the help of the Emmaus Bilthoven Foundation and the CameroonWerkt Foundation:

The project paid the rent a year in advance for a new location, which is much larger, easier to reach and more accessible than the previous one. In addition, the center had to be set up in order to function as a fully-fledged health center, with the possibility of admitting people for a few days if necessary. A pharmacy has also been set up so that it is no longer necessary for the population to go to a much more expensive pharmacy at a longer distance, often on foot. The sale of medicines is also a source of income for the couple, with which they hope to get the center financially independent.

After a few months, it became apparent that there was a need to set up a small laboratory for blood, diarrhea and other tests in order to arrive at correct diagnoses. In May 2015, a microscope purchased in the Netherlands was sent to Douala in the Cameroon Werkt container! Fortunately it also arrived in the right place.

2016

Marion Hoyng, who is the driving force behind this project from the Netherlands, has stopped her contribution. She believes that the project should now be able to continue independently. The project continues under the umbrella of KW.

Bertie tries to meet Tasha every time he is in Douala. Especially to support him in his efforts to help the poor people of Douala with basic medical assistance. On one of the last visits to Cameroon, Bertie brought a good working laptop for Tasha. For the work in his hospital, the clear recording of data is very important. The laptop and other supplies for the clinic are now in use.

Movie 1.  Een kijkje bij La Prudence

2017

La Prudence is increasingly making a positive contribution to the demand for affordable medical advice and simple treatments for the population in a poor district of Douala. Women and children in particular visit the center for preventive and curative care such as vaccinations, weighing children and giving advice in the field of hygiene, wound treatment, diagnostics and a start has been made in supporting pregnant women who need it. Bertie visits the center twice a year.

2018 and 2019

La Prudence, led by Tasha Abdou and Diane Kapche Wamboleverde again for a year made a positive contribution to the demand for affordable medical advice and simple treatments for the population in a poor district of Douala. Women and children in particular visit the center for preventive and curative care such as vaccinations, weighing children and giving advice in the field of hygiene, wound treatment, diagnostics and a start has been made in supporting pregnant women who need it.

Movie 2. Interview with Tasha Abdou about La Prudence april 2019

Bertie visited the center twice and had an extensive conversation with Tasha.