Professor Egbe Philip Egbengu, Head of Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the Catholic University in Cameroon CATUC, Bamenda and Medical Director of the Royal Victoria Clinic in Bamenda has received the Cameroon Performance Award. This took place on Saturday in the city of Bamenda within the confines of the Royal Victoria Clinic premises at Loh Benson Quarters, Foncha Street.
According to the Organising Committee of Cameroon Performance Awards through the words of its National Coordinator, Francis Ekongang Nzante, the Award is in recognition of the efforts Professor Egbe Philip Egbengu has been putting in the Academic Field building a formidable Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the Catholic University CATUC Bamenda. "It is also in recognition of your efforts as Medical Director of the Royal Victoria Clinic during these trying moments of the COVID 19 Pandemic" he said.
The CPA Organising Committee emphasised that because of these inputs, Professor Egbe was truly a Frontline Academician and a Health Developer.
On reception of the CPA Award, Professor Egbe said, he wasn't aware that sometimes when you do some of these things you were observed. He recounted how he started the clinic in the heat of the Anglophone Crisis. Against all the challenges as well as advise from friends and colleagues who discouraged him, he went ahead. "Professor Berynyuy who was one of the first patients here certainly remembers how this place was very bushy. We maintained our focus and started from no where and today we are where you find us. Some people may think it is time to sit on our laureals but no, it is time to work. We have just realised only 30% of what we set out to do."
The professor did not fail to mention contributions from well wishing Cameroonians. He equally mentioned Rev Father Bintum and Professor Berynyuy whom he said had constantly chipped in very constructive ideas as he worked on the Royal Victoria Clinic Project.
The next thing in his program would be a Mental Health Outfit he said adding that he had been receiving lots of encouragement and ideas on this project from Reverend Father Bintum whom he said had been a driving force in his project all along.
Talking about his dream for Royal Victoria Clinic the Health Developer said "It is not just us here. We have a lot of inputs from friends of the clinic and well wishing Cameroonians who have visions which impact on our professional calling. Visions which we incorporate into the grand project of Royal Victoria Clinic. It is not just about opening a clinic. It's about opening a standard clinic." He said it was unfortunate that when Africans study abroad and see top quality structures, they always failed to maintain the same standards when they wanted to build their own structures back home.
Royal Victoria Clinic he said was trying to fill all those lapses. "This project is trying to meet all those ramifications, the technical quality, the professional calling, the social impact or the impact on society. We are trying to incorporate all of these and come out with a strong Blueprint that will represent health in Cameroon not only in our contemporary time but also in the future."
Professor Egbe Philip Egbengu has been involved in teaching and the practice of Professional Medicine for almost fourty years. Commenting on this, he said medicine was not just the intellect but the application of what had been gathered over the years.
In building the clinic, cognizance was taken of certain present realities like the COVID 19 Pandemic. The reception area at the entrance to the clinic as well as the entrance to the Laboratory are provided with glass shields that separate the patients from the health personnel attending to them.
Medical Practice today he said goes with the necessary technology adding that in that domain, Royal Victoria Clinic could comfortably hold its head above water level.
Though Royal Victoria Clinic provides Health Services, the professor unequivocally stated that they were also in business. "We've gone past that stage when health was considered as a humanitarian activity. When you make health a business, you do it better."
Proudly stating the achievements so far made by the clinic in one year seven months, the professor said there was no hospital in Bamenda and by extension the North West Region that had the standards of Victoria Royal Clinic. He said that's why when you come to the clinic your health problems were solved.
Professor Egbe Philip Egbengu said he was very gratified to be recognized by the Cameroon Performance Awards. "I am not the only Medical Doctor around and if I can be singled among the few that have been recognized by your Award out of the 2900 doctors in the country it gives me the greatest pleasure. Secondly it's like a showcase to my establishment. There are very few occasions where five media organs will visit an organization like ours so I have every reason to be grateful."
The Professor seized the opportunity to take his guests on a guided tour of the clinic from the reception area through the spotless and we'll equipped Laboratory to the wards.
