By Francis Ekongang Nzante
A Bamenda based NGO called African Reproductive Health Services has in a bid to better attain it’s objectives of solving health problems in urban and rural Communities in the North West Region of Cameroon created a Vocational Training Institute.
Speaking recently to the person
behind the initiative Mr David Ayem, this reporter learnt that African Reproductive Health Services AREPHS served as an umbrella structure to all their Reproductive Health Teaching initiatives prior to the recognition of this new Institution by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training.
The newly created entity is called Vocational Training Institute For Health Promoters and Community Empowerment. It’s orientation as seen in it’s name is to promote health in communities by empowering them with knowledge on health issues.
African Reproductive Health Services carries out activities that are dominantly focused on Reproductive Health though not entirely. They carry out workshops on Gender Based Violence, Sex Education, Sex related topics for young girls, mothers and married women. They equally give lectures on Family Planning and touch on topics like understanding the Menstrual Cycle. AREPHS also provides counseling on Reproductive Health.
What used to stand as the training arm of ARHS is now independent following this recognition by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training.
Mr David Ayem further intimated that AREPHS has been in existence only for three years but that despite it’s short existence it was already a well established structure, effectively carrying out it’s activities in Reproductive Health. These activities include Demonstrations, Counseling and follow up of many couples that go to AREPHS for help. Hear him, “we have so many couples that come here for sex determination, follow up for infertility related issues. There are many women who have come here because they find it difficult to give birth. Many couples have come here seeking our directives and we have successfully guided them to delivery. We have this trendy Programme that we organise every three months. We bring young boys and girls together and teach them issues related to Sex and Reproductive Health after which we give them certifications to testify that they have attended seminars and received some form of lectures on Reproductive Health.”
AREPHS doesn’t just wait for people with Reproductive Health Problems to meet them at the Ntarikon office in Bamenda. They go into the rural areas. The Director, Mr David Ayem disclosed that AREPHS has been carrying out work in villages amongst which he named; Santa and Awing adding that plans were already being made for them to visit Pinying all in Mezam Division in the North West Region of Cameroon.
“This Academic year is going to be very special because the ministry has given us nine specialties. We started with two while working under the umbrella of AREPHS. We were training Nurse Assistants and Assistant Midwifes. We applied for ten and the Ministry gave us nine. This time around we are going to be training Nursing Assistants (Auxiliary of Life), Reproductive Health Promoters, which is the name given by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training which is the same thing as Assistant Midwifes. We will also be training Assistant Massotherapists. There are people around town who offer massaging services though they don’t have any formal training. They can come to us and get trained. In twelve months they can be trained and will receive Government Certificates at the end of their training. We are now going to be training Medical Delegates, Medical Secretaries, Laboratory Assistants, Dental Assistants, Physiotherapy Assistants and a one year HND Preparatory classes for those with any Nursing Diploma. This new creation “Vocational Training Institute For Health Promoters and Community Empowerment” will serve as a ladder for all those who want to get sufficient education in the domain of health irrespective of their level of education” the Director Mr David Ayem explained.
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