Interview: “Soa Hospital Will Replicate The Good Name Of Shisong”

Why did you create an annex of Saint Elizabeth Catholic General Hospital, Shisong on the outskirts of Yaounde, Soa, instead of the city?
I should begin by stating that the Franciscan Solidarity of Hearts Hospital, Soa or Shisong Annex, Soa, Yaounde was inaugurated on Sunday April 26, 2026 by the Archbishop of Yaounde, Jean Mbarga. And immediately after the ceremony, we began consultations.It is a large four-storey building with 200 beds.
Since the Tertiary Sisters of Saint Francis came to Cameroon in 1936 and settled in Shisong, Kumbo in Bui Division of the North West Region, their expansion of social services in the country has been directed by the needs of the people and by the invitation of the Bishops. Even though the Yaounde population, especially those who visited and appreciated the health services in Shisong had been asking for an expansion to Yaounde, the Congregation had other priorities.

But you eventually set up in Soa, Yaounde?
A more decisive moment came in 2014 when the Sisters officially contacted Archbishop Jean Mbarga, then Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Yaounde, expressing the need to open a community in Yaounde. To lodge Sisters studying in Yaounde as well as those on transit from their missions in North Cameroon or the Republic of Central Africa. 
Of course a religious community goes with a pastoral service for the people. The Archbishop welcomed the then Provincial Superior, Sister Roberta Feh and among the options he proposed, the Sisters chose Soa. The Archbishop also indicated possible pastoral needs, such as healthcare, education and pastoral care of students in the University of Yaoundé II.  Yaounde city, as you know, is also saturated with social services. 

Was the Anglophone Crisis not a factor in your decision to set up in Soa?
Yes! As this discussion was going on, the Anglophone Crisis broke out and made life and ministry very complicated in the North West and South West Regions. Most of our specialized staff fled for safety and made the survival of health services impossible. This insecurity factor exacerbated the need to open services in other parts of the country, including Soa.

What is the actual name of the new hospital in Soa?
The registered name of the hospital in Soa in the Ministry of Public Health is "Franciscan Solidarity of Hearts Hospital, Soa." "Franciscan," because our Sisterhood vows to live according to the Rule of Saint Francis of Assisi. "Solidarity" in acknowledgement of the joint efforts of many for the establishment of the facility. And "Hearts" because cardiac surgery will be our flagship programme in this new hospital. 
We equally gave the hospital a popular name of "Shisong Annex" in respect of the 90th anniversary of Saint Elizabeth Catholic General Hospital, Shisong; which is the first and most reputable health facility of the Tertiary Sisters of Saint Francis in Cameroon. Shisong is actually our brand name. It is our wish that the facility in Soa will replicate the good character of Shisong. Of course, all our health services have the same corporate identity based on the common mission, "to see and serve Christ in all by spending time to care." The staff in Soa underwent professional induction in Shisong Hospital.
Other reputable health services operated by the Tertiary Sisters of Saint Francis are Saint Martin de Porres Hospital, Njinikom; SAJOCAH Bafut; Saint Francis Hospital and Pharmaceutical production unit in Ntasin-Bamenda – in the North West Region. And Saint Padre Pio Hospital, Douala, Littoral Region.

What services will you be offering? What of the cost compared to Shisong?
The services to be offered in Soa include general consultation, cardiology, cardiac surgery, gynaecology, physiotherapy and excellent diagnostic laboratory and imagery. The sophisticated plants for cardiac surgery are still being installed. However, persons in need of cardiac surgery shall be accompanied by our team organizing regular surgical missions in Yaounde. This will soon take place in Shisong Annex Soa. There is provision for other specializations such as urology, ophthalmology, dentistry, general surgery, and orthopaedic surgery. Many will be developed as the needs of the people are identified. 
The question of cost for medical services is thorny. We have opened discussions with insurance services, including the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Provincial Health Assistance, BEPHA scheme, to make healthcare more affordable to all. The Archbishop Paul Verdzekov Memorial Heart Foundation is also here to solicit funds in order to subsidize cardiac surgery. The gift box is also pitched in the hospital to solicit donations to enable the treatment of the underprivileged ones in line with the principle of universal health coverage, the right to healthcare for everyone. In solidarity, we can exploit these and all other avenues to ensure no one remains without treatment.

What of cardiac services? Will there be available in Soa?
The availability of cardiac services in Soa can be logically concluded from the name of the hospital, "Franciscan Solidarity of Hearts Hospital." The hospital is opening with a full time cardiologist 24/7 and related services. The team for cardiac surgery is equally in place, though the complex implantations are envisaged to be completed within the next six months. Notwithstanding, anyone in need of cardiac surgery shall have it as our team regularly conveys patients to be catered for during regular cardiac missions in Yaounde. The package will also include pace maker implantations and angiography.

Any other details on the setting up of Shisong Catholic Hospital Annex in Soa, Yaounde?
We wish to lay emphasis on the importance of solidarity in our new facility. Health is life, and a good healthcare system guarantees good quality of life. In the maze of economic challenges experienced by every family today, we need to take care of ourselves and of one another in the various dimensions and at every stage of life. 
A hospital is no one's home, but chances that we shall find ourselves spending several nights in the hospital in our lifetime are 99.9%. Investing in this hospital and in healthcare in general is a way of "making hay for our rainy days." We welcome potential healthcare stakeholders for specific discussions and exploration of p...