Meta tribe of Cameroon is at cross-roads of poverty and diseases. Effective government solutions barely exist. Corrupt legal systems deter investment trust. Poverty, diseases, malnutrition and land disputes threaten the lives of thousands of indigenes. HIV/AIDS infection rate of the region is the highest in Cameroon. Low standard of living and economic stagnation dwindles the hopes of many villagers. Unfortunately solutions for Meta people to overcome these problems cannot be designed for the people of Meta without the participation of those impacted. Western approach to problems impacting Third World countries have mostly followed conventional thinking model of “We know best what they need and the idea of one size fits all cultures”. We want to partner with humanitarian organizations to assist Meta people. MH-GC and PATH System need resources for medical care provisions and poverty reduction programs. We start with outreach mobile clinic and home visits.
Prevalence (%) of HIV/AIDS according to age in Meta
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Age (Years)
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Women
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Men
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Total
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15-19
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2.2
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0.6
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1.4
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20-24
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7.9
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2.5
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5.5
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25-29
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10.3
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5.1
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7.8
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30-34
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9.4
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8.3
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8.9
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35-39
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7.8
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8.6
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8.2
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40-44
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6
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5.6
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5.8
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45- over
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5.5
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3.8
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4.7
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Total
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6.8
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4.1
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5.5
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Source: World Bank, IMF, Ministry of Public Health Cameroon
HIV/AIDS Screening conducted by Presbyterian General Hospital Acha-Tugi
Place
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# accepted to be screened
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Positive
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Percentage
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Tugi
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181
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7
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3.9
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Tudig
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40
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3
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7.5
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Ngwok-Kong
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44
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1
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2.3
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Nyen
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46
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4
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8.7
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Tudig again
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80
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5
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6.3
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PGHAT
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31
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4
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12.9
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When Tudig was screened again, the rate jumped from 3.9 to 6.3. The rate from PGHAT correlates the rates by the World Bank, IMF and the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon. There is still no Treatment Center in Meta despite the results. The numbers of deaths are associated with diseases such as malaria, TB and cardiovascular complications reflected by the high rate of HIV/AIDS infections. Based on the data, PATH SYSTEM in collaboration with Microhealth Global Consulting (MH-GC), a USA Public Charity is taking a different approach - taking healthcare to the villagers using outreach Mobile Clinic and home visits. This will ensure ongoing treatment and follow-ups, and provide preventive care in a holistic approach. Microhealth Global Consulting has determined that creating an HIV/AIDS Treatment Center at the General hospital Acha-Tugi will help the indigenes tremendously. Raising funds and providing resources to support PATH SYSTEM objectives are a priority for MH-GC.
MG-GC has hands on in project implementation - Providing support, feedback and oversight for the project.
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| 99.9% of patients' beds at PGHAT dating 1964. PATH's goal is to replace them. |
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| The 00.1% delivered by PATH Already |
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| Stretchers dating 1964 at PGHAT |
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| PATH has replaced the stretchers |
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PATH SYSTEM is a gateway for medical doctors and nurses wishing to perform research in Africa. You will enjoy not only the beauty of the region but the welcoming hands of Meta people. You can volunteer to work on the Outreach Mobile Clinic!.You care volunteer to work at the HIV/AIDS Treatment Center! You can volunteer to work at the hospital treating patients, and you can volunteer to mentor medical staff. Common down to "Switzerland of Africa" If interested send an email to info@mh-gc.org for additional information.... And what did Boston Globe say about the death?
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| Location: "Switzerland of Africa" Location of PATH SYSTEM Offices and General Hospital Acha-Tugi |
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PATH has the vision, plan and desire to expand its services to cover the entire Healthcare System of PCC with the support of the American Medical Resources Foundation, Former Harvard Medical International (HMI) Volunteers, Microhealth Global Consulting, Former Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre Volunteers, the Family Van in Boston, other Healthcare volunteers in the US and Cameroonians of Meta Clan of Momo Division in the Diaspora as well as those in Cameroon.
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| Presbyterian General Hospital Acha-Tugi |
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| HELPING GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH INCUBATOR |
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Project for Acha-Tugi Healthcare System (PATH) is a nongovernmental, non for profit organization created to work with indigenes of Meta tribe to bridge the gap between western healthcare solutions and the needs of villagers for better healthcare outcomes. In other words, Project for Acha-Tugi Healthcare System workers are part of the foot-soldiers in villages, working in collaboration with Meta people in the Diaspora and other interested parties to ensure that healthcare and microfinance programs produce sustainable results. A collaborative approach to solutions provides an opportunity for mutual learning between villagers, PCC and PATH staffers, most who understand the culture, norms and values of villagers so as to interact effectively with indigenes. Meta people, especially health practitioners in the Diaspora who have lived the culture of Meta people can easily integrate the culture and values and norms of the indigenes with Western medical care practices in ways that overcome cultural resistance. This shift is based on extensive research of the various instruments applied in various areas of Third World Countries and adapting what worked in this project. MH-GC, Inc’s role is to provide support, feedback, project management strategies, technical expertise where needed and oversight with a legal framework for sustainability.
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| Home visits by a Medical Doctor or Nurse is mandatory if we want outreach medical care to succeed in Meta. Elder Fongoh couldn't walk to a peat toilet some 50 feet from his hut. For him and most villages, it is painful to make that necessary walk to defecate. Can you imagine Elder Thomas walking to a Health Center some 3 miles away? Where he lives, there is no road but paths over stones and hills unreachable by even a motorbike. This is what most organizations miss about the misery and unrepentant suffering in Meta. It is the same case for most of rural Africa. It is why our outreach medical care program is an integrated system of a Mobile Clinic, Motorbike and Home Visits on foot (foot-soldiers). |
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| Village leaders accept that medical solutions for Meta People will be a long-term vision for Acha-Tugi and other Health Centers and that will require additional resources beyond providing emergency shipments of medical equipment and supplies. It is certain that in its current state, even Presbyterian General Hospital Acha-Tugi will require significant capacity building and development in the areas of infrastructure and environmental engineering as well as personnel training. We need a way to go beyond intervention. PATH SYSTEM is structured for intervention and ways for sustainability. A significant investment in Mobile Health will complement the health facility |
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| Meta Tad Farmers Market: Microfinance investments are sustained through the provision of medical care services to investors and their families. The provision of medical services serves as motivation for ongoing participation in investments to continue to receive health care benefits. A quasi US Medicare-like system results from the system. Read more on the approach. Critics of microfinance systems point to the inability to make projections about success, feasibility, and sustainability before committing resources to microfinance investments. In order to mitigate the criticisms, Microhealth Global Consulting Inc. provides a microfinance engine calculator (tool) for modeling and microfinance management. |
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