Faced with a critical staff shortage in the Northwest Region, the regional delegate, Dr. Lionel Ambe, is calling for urgent recruitment and increased training to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
On April 5, 2026, the city of Bamenda hosted an unprecedented mobilization for International Midwifery Day. Under the leadership of Dr. Lionel Ambe, Regional Delegate for Public Health in the Northwest Region, this commemoration transcended mother protocol to become a true rallying cry in the face of a silent crisis: the acute shortage of qualified personnel. As the world unites under the theme « One Million More Midwives, » the region seized this opportunity to highlight the urgent need for government and citizen action to curb maternal and neonatal deaths, which continue to devastate Cameroonian families, particularly in the most remote areas.
A parade for life in the streets of Bamenda
The celebration began with a show of strength and unity in the streets of the regional capital. Students and professionals, dressed in their uniforms, transformed
the floor into an open-air stage. Through rhythmic chants and powerful messages displayed on placards, they reiterated a fundamental public health truth: childbirth assisted by qualified personnel is not a luxury, but a vital right. This awareness march aimed not only to engage decision-makers but also to reassure the public about the importance of prenatal care and rigorous medical monitoring, essential for ensuring safe motherhood in what is often a challenging geographical context.
The “noble priesthood” facing the realities on the ground
Addressing an attentive audience, Dr. Lionel Ambe paid a moving tribute to those he considers the guardians of life. Describing the profession as a “noble priesthood,” he emphasized the dual nature of the work, which demands both cutting-edge technical expertise and profound humanity. According to the delegate, helping a woman give birth is the most precious act of creation, requiring unwavering discipline and an extraordinary sense of responsibility. However, this verbal recognition was accompanied by a firm call for professionalism: in a rapidly changing healthcare system, particularly with the acceleration of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the quality of care provided by midwives remains the ultimate safeguard against preventable mortality.
The urgent need for mass recruitment
The central issue of the day remained the structural shortage of human resources. Dr. Ambe revealed that intensive negotiations are underway with the Ministry of Public Health to reverse the trend of this shortage. The goal is to obtain preferential treatment in the allocation of new graduates, so that the Northwest region receives a contingent proportional to its critical needs. The experts present emphasized that investing in the training and recruitment of midwives is the most effective way to sustainably strengthen the healthcare system. Beyond the festivities, the message to the government is clear: without increased logistical and human support, development goals in maternal health will remain out of reach, depriving thousands of mothers of the right to a safe delivery.
Junior NTEPPE KASSI
