Dr Asong Michael Khambah : The reasons for my resignation from Yabassi Hospital

In an exclusive interview, this young doctor, who resigned from the civil service, explains the reasons that motivated his departure from the Yabassi District Hospital, highlighting difficult working conditions, the Anglophone crisis and the absence of essential services. He also discusses his ambitions to improve the health system and defend the rights of Cameroonian citizens.

Dr Asong Michael Khambah, thank you for welcoming us today. Can you explain the reasons behind your resignation from your position at Yabassi?

My resignation from my assignment at the Yabassi District Hospital was motivated by several reasons which led to many frustrations.

Assigned to the CMA of Eyumojock in 2014, I worked until 2017 when the Anglophone crisis intensified since this area was the original district of the interim president of the secessionists. I left the post since my protection was not assured there, I even almost fell victim to a shooting one day. I was shot. It was unbearable. I had to leave the area.

I came back to the city waiting for the crisis to calm down, and as I had already started my training at the law school in 2015 I finished with my bachelor’s degree and master’s 1 in business law and local governance. So I decided to go to Rwanda to become a lawyer. Hoping that the situation would stabilize.

Actually I wanted to resign since 2018 but a problem arose, you can only resign with actual presence. So even though I had reported my absence from my post, I was not suspended or stopped my salary.

When I returned from my training already in 2021 I stayed until my assignment to Yabassi in July 2023. The wait was long perhaps because of my complaints and the letters I had written to the President to contest the downgrading of our medical degree: doctorate to masters. It was then the opportunity for me to go there and work. Which I did for 9 months and then I had my effective presence to allow me to resign.

You mentioned that you had difficulties working in Yabassi due to the lack of electricity and the distance from cities. Can you tell us more about these challenges and how you think they influenced your decision to resign?

Electricity is a luxury in Yabassi. This basic service is very rare. We could sometimes go 1 month without electricity in Yabassi. The hospital, which did not have a generator for stable energy, made it impossible even to charge a phone or laptop needed to work, especially to operate the technical platform. In Yabassi, a power outage means no internet, which is essential for certain online information and communication activities. This could have serious consequences on the care of patients and the contribution to the well-being of the population.

Furthermore, being far from big cities prevented me from engaging in my activities and achieving my goals. This was a real obstacle to my progress and my development.

So, given these latest problems raised, I could only resign to be freer and to be in a big city like Yaoundé or Douala to better carry out my activities.

As a lawyer, how do you think your experience in the field of justice can contribute to improving current policies in Cameroon, particularly in the field of health?

I will ensure the strict implementation of national laws and international conventions on human rights and others. Cameroon has a fundamental problem which is the implementation of legal texts. A society without law becomes a jungle. When we take a ministerial decree for the care of health personnel of 2017 which until today is not implemented, the health personnel who must pay for their care is really a deplorable situation. The Abuja convention of 2001 on health financing that Cameroon ratified recommends that each African member state of the convention should allocate at least 15% of its budget to finance the health sector today in Cameroon we are at around 3.5% for health. Ensure the protection of labor rights in general of staff (a good fulfilling salary which is a human right, salaries that pass at the end of the month following recruitment, free care for staff in all health facilities). That the right to health and human rights may be accessible to all.

And you say, Dr., that the above-mentioned shortcomings and frustrations have given rise to a possible political career in you?

My resignation from my assignment at the Yabassi District Hospital was ultimately motivated by my intentions to run for the October 2025 presidential election in order to improve health policies in Cameroon. To fight against corruption and mistreatment of health personnel which makes the environment hostile to the well-being of the population. To ensure the equity of the quality of care throughout Cameroon. The Constitution guarantees the same privileges to all citizens in education, health, property, etc.How has your background, as a physician and lawyer, prepared you to face the challenges of health issues?

The medical career allowed me to better understand the Cameroonian population and its problems. You know, a doctor in his consultation to better make his diagnosis must know the patient’s history. This history allows us to know socio-economic and professional factors. So, it was during the free health campaigns that I organized with our Christian association that I noticed that widows had many economic and social problems following the violation of their rights. This is what motivates me to become a lawyer to help them on the legal level. It was they who encouraged me by saying: “If you can also help us on the legal level, we will be very happy.

On the other hand, being a lawyer already allows me to respect the constitution and national laws. Moreover, it gives me the courage to denounce what is not correct and that violates the law. It also allows me to defend widows and the most vulnerable and to promote justice and quality health care for all and accessible to all. To propose sustainable solutions for the development of Cameroon.

What are the main lessons you have learned from your experience and how do you think they can be applied to improve the political situation in Cameroon?

From this experience I learned that nothing is impossible with GOD for the one who believes. If I was able to brave the training to become a doctor and lawyer afterwards, it would mean that it is possible to realize one’s dreams.

If our motivation is to serve and seek the interest of our fellow citizens the doors will be open and there will be no limit to our dreams through JESUS ​​CHRIST.

Interview by Josep Mbeng Boum