For years, accessing quality healthcare has been a difficult journey for many residents of rural Bui Division in the North West Region of Cameroon. In communities scattered across the hills and valleys of Nso, pregnant women, sick children and vulnerable families have often been forced to travel long distances on poor roads in search of medical attention.
The challenge is compounded by poverty, inadequate health infrastructure and the lingering effects of the socio-political crisis, leaving many communities with limited access to essential medical services.
But over the past few months, a new approach has been bringing healthcare closer to the people.
Through a partnership between the Kounougou Foundation and the Spanish humanitarian organisation Fundación Recover, Hospitales para África, a mobile health outreach project has delivered medical consultations, maternal healthcare services and health education directly to residents in some of Bui Division's most remote communities.
Launched internally on February 16, 2026, and publicly on April 10 in Kumbo, the initiative was designed to address a reality often overlooked in rural healthcare planning: many patients simply cannot reach the health facilities they need.
"We decided to carry out this activity because trained personnel prefer to work in towns rather than villages due to security concerns and better educational opportunities for their children," explained Dr René Wandji, Project Coordinator.
He said most of the targeted villages lacked basic diagnostic equipment, laboratories and essential medicines, making it difficult to detect and manage common but potentially life-threatening illnesses.
"Many diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension are only seen at the stage of complications. Maternal and child healthcare was also very poor, and some personnel lacked the skills and equipment to diagnose certain conditions affecting women and children," he said.
Taking healthcare to the villages
Armed with medical supplies, portable ultrasound equipment and digital diagnostic tools, teams of doctors, nurses and volunteers embarked on a mission to serve five communities: Dzeng, Kitiwum, Kiyan, Romajai and Melim.
The first stop was Dzeng, where residents turned out in large numbers between April 14 and 16.
A total of 196 people registered for services, with 74 receiving consultations and treatment.
Among them was a 25-year-old woman whose case highlighted the importance of bringing diagnostic technology closer to rural populations.
Dr Wandji recalled that the woman had initially believed she was suffering from a hormonal disorder after experiencing persistent bleeding.
Medical assessments later revealed a different reality.
"When we performed an ultrasound examination, we discovered she was pregnant. She had been afraid to visit a hospital. Her life was saved," he said.
The outreach continued to Kitiwum, where demand exceeded expectations.
Between April 18 and 22, 303 residents registered for medical services, while 207 patients received consultations and treatment.
The turnout reinforced concerns about the unmet healthcare needs that persist in many rural communities.
In Kiyan, 179 residents registered and 101 consultations were conducted. Women formed the majority of beneficiaries, particularly those seeking prenatal services made possible through portable ultrasound technology.
The largest turnout was recorded in Romajay, where awareness of the project had spread rapidly across neighbouring communities.
A total of 374 residents registered, while 213 received consultations, making it the most attended outreach site of the entire campaign.
Community leaders described the initiative as a rare opportunity for residents to access healthcare services close to home.
"We are very proud and very happy for this opportunity.. We welcome them and hope they continue to come." Mfoome a community leader in Romajay said.
The final outreach was conducted in Melim between May 5 and 7.
In what project officials described as a remarkable outcome, all 115 residents who registered received consultations and treatment.
Beyond consultations and prescriptions, organisers sought to build a foundation for long-term community health.
Community health volunteers were trained on hygiene promotion, nutrition awareness and malaria prevention to ensure health education continues after the mobile teams have left.
The approach, project leaders say, is intended to strengthen local resilience and empower communities to take a more active role in disease prevention.
Residents say the impact was immediate.
Beneficiaries praised the initiative for bringing healthcare services to people who often lack the resources to travel to hospitals.
Many expressed hope that the programme would return and expand to other communities facing similar challenges.
Numbers that tell a story
From April to May 2026, the project recorded significant achievements.
Across the five communities, 1,167 residents registered for healthcare services and 710 consultations were conducted.
Women represented the largest group of beneficiaries, while hundreds of children received medical examinations and treatment.
According to Dr Wandji, the project also improved diagnosis and referral systems.
"Seventy percent of patients complaining of abdominal pain were properly managed locally, while the remaining 30 percent were referred with precise reasons for referral," he said.
For healthcare workers and volunteers, however, the project's success goes beyond statistics.
"It restored hope and brought health to vulnerable populations. We saw the smiles on the faces of children, pregnant women and families as they returned home with treatment and renewed confidence." said team member Tume Emmanuel.
As the outreach campaign comes to an end, its legacy is already evident in the communities it served.
What began as a partnership between a local foundation and an international donor has demonstrated how innovative healthcare delivery can bridge longstanding gaps in access to medical services.
For hundreds of families across Bui Division, quality healthcare no longer feels distant.
For a few weeks, at least, it arrived at their doorstep.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
Photos by Tume Emmanuel
Tel: +237 694 71 85 77
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