Brenda Yufeh
30 October 2009
For over a week, inhabitants of Yaounde have been unable to acquire F CFA 900 medical certificate.
October 27, Bernard M, was seen wandering in front of the Centre Regional Delegation of Health. He looked worried. Seemingly unaware of where to go or what to do, Bernard stood at akimbo not far from the main entrance of the building. As people made their way into and out of the Regional Delegation of Health, Bernard in a desperate manner, questioned "Do you know where else I can establish a medical certificate"? Bernard narrated his ordeal of how he had criss-crossed certain public health facilities in the town of Yaounde where he was sure to acquire a medical certificate but to no avail. The Centre Regional Delegation of Health was his last hope to acquire a medical certificate. To his greatest dismay, he was received by the security guard of the health delegation who, without any explanation, told him "there are no forms for F CFA 900 medical certificates".
This is the same message Irene L. got last Friday, October 23 at the Centre for Coordinating Emergency Cases at the Yaounde Central Hospital as she attempted to obtain a medical certificate. Irene says a friend referred her to the Centre Regional Delegation of Health, where she thought she could obtain one but to no avail. While medical personnel of the Emergency Unit say for over a week now, there are no medical certificate papers, they too say they do not know whom to address or how the hospital obtains medical certificate forms.
With the current announcement of competitive entrance examinations into the public service for the recruitment of some 2000 workers, prospective candidates found in the Centre Region are stranded, unable to go for a medical certificate anywhere. A medical doctor at the Yaounde Central Hospital who opted for anonymity said the National Printing Press is charged with producing medical certificate papers and the order for these papers does not come directly from the various public health districts but through the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance. When CT visited the National Printing Press, no clear explanation was given as to why medical certificate papers are limited or not available. An authority at the Printing Press said the Budget Department had requested for medical certificates, for which 200,000 copies were printed and delivered. An authority at the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance, who did not want to be named, said on September 29, this year, some 200 booklets of F CFA 900 medical certificates were delivered at the National Treasury on order. The authority expressed doubts as to why the certificates forms could be lacking in major hospitals so soon, especially given the fact that they still have some in stock for supply.
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