In an effort to stem the tide of frequent maternal deaths and infant mortality in Cameroon, the government has introduced a reform that will grant pregnant women access to medical attention in hospitals at minimum cost.

Code named Cheque-sante’, or Health Cheque, in English, the ‘passes’ will be bought from medical establishments at 6000CFAF. It is a comprehensive health package that will permit every pregnant woman who has the franchise to receive various forms of prenatal and postnatal interventions from competent health personnel in recognized health institutions across the country.

The benefits include at least four maternity visits during pregnancy; a pregnancy scan to determine the overall condition of the baby or foetus; medical care resulting from any pregnancy-related complications and medical attention by midwives and other competent health personnel during delivery. The mother and the new born will also be supervised for at least 42 days by medical experts especially in cases of complicated deliveries like caesarean births.

For the moment, however, the program will be introduced first in the Far North region where pregnant women, at least in Maroua will soon start benefitting. Government plans to progressively extend the programme to all parts of the country. The Far North region was chosen for a start based on national statistics which indicate that only 23 percent of pregnant women in that part of the country enjoy these prenatal and postnatal health services as compared to a national average of 64 percent.

The Far North regional delegate for public health, Rebecca Djao, herself a medical doctor, told reporters that she had already issued a release to some medical establishments in the region intimating them about the Health cheque. “The level of prenatal and postnatal attention given to women in this region is far too low compared to the national average,’’ she said.

Though some residents in the region like Haoua Ndeoudeme, a trader in Mokolo revealed to reporters that they were aware of the coming of the new document, he was quick to add that they were yet to see it in operation. “We have seen the notices announcing the coming of the health cheque which costs 6,000 francs to take charge of every pregnant woman, but it is not yet available. Health officials need to sensitise the population about this new product because many pregnant women do not go to hospital for fear of the exorbitant cost,’’ he added.

Another person who spoke to the press, Jacob Yokodai, a physician in Koza corroborated the claim of Ndeoudeme but added that it was not only pregnant women who do not go to hospital because of the high cost but all women in the Far North region in general.

Women too are already expressing doubts about the success of the programme fearing that health officials will take advantage of pervasive ignorance in the country and resort to exploiting pregnant women to enrich themselves. They drew reporters’ attention to some health documents which they buy from hospitals at a cost far higher than what the government stipulates. “They charge 900, 1,200 and even 1,500 francs for a medical certificate. This is far higher than the official price,” some respondents complained.