My Mbingo Travel & Treatment Experience -- Have you Ever Traveled to Mbingo?

A small "driver and four persons" transport cab. It carries 8 in total

Realities on the Bamenda Mbingo road
From Bamenda to Mbingo is a 45 minutes drive. It is the doorway to Boyo Division; one of the seven divisions that make up the North West Region of Cameroon. Though the road is tarred, the age of the tar has forced a few cracks, but hey, you can make it to Mbingo without any major bumpiness -- its manageably smooth. Mind you, you may spend additional minutes on the way because our men in uniform are there, always. There are at least five check points. The Police are there. The Gendarmes are also there. The officials of the Ministry of Transport are there as well. Road safety people too are present. The local council officials too are always answering present.


Are you going on a public transport? Then there are two places to pick a cab. You can pic a cab at the popular Mobile Nkwen fuel station which will cost you 1000frs to Mbingo. Or go down to the Mile 4 Nkwen "motor park" as it is popularly called, and it will cost you 800frs to Mbingo, from there. If you are thinking of going by the small "driver and 4 persons" vehicles, be sure to reach Mbingo with either a leg, back or waist pain because those vehicles carry 8 persons -- 4 behind and 4 in front (including driver) whether fat or slim. Don't forget your National ID card for nationals, passport or residence permit for foreigners. As for me, my leg was hurting after a bad fall that got my ankle twisted in both directions in a rain water gutter and so I had to pay for two seats in front so as to prevent further injury due to overload.

Its a smooth drive to Mbingo Baptist Hospital

 What makes Mbingo Special?
The Mbingo Baptist Hospital, period. The Mbingo Baptist Hospital is a household name when it comes to treating injuries, fractures, sprains. They are known for their excellent treatment of bone related injuries. Lest I forget, they have several other health departments that treat different diseases. Its a very big hospital and for the first time I saw more than 30 foreigners, white men and women, in hospital uniforms seemingly working in the hospital. Wao! That's a mix of specialists all in one place. I got from a side gist that some of the foreigners are employees, some are interns, some volunteers, and some are visiting specialists. That was great!

My leg treatment process
I had an injury that had been managed wrongly in the house for one week and I needed medical help. I missed my step in a rain water gutter and got my ankle twisted in both directions in a fast reflex motion. On reaching Mbingo Baptist hospital, I had to consult, do a scan (x-ray), and then treatment follows. X-ray revealed that it was a severe sprain that needed an ankle stirrup brace and a forearm crutch. 

Me wearing and Ankle Stirrup Brace and holding a Forearm Crutch

How to handle a sprain! 

1. Do NOT massage with hot water -- please DON'T
2. Best thing to do is to rub ice around the affected area for a while, or dip a towel in cold water and wrap around the affected area
3. Visit a medical specialist if pain persists after the ice/cold water therapy

 

Do NOT massage with hot water!

Things to know before visiting Mbingo Baptist Hospital with a sprain 

1. Mbingo is very cold, so please wear warm clothing 
2. A small "driver and four persons" vehicle carries 8 persons in total. It is very uncomfortable.
3. Be sure to be at the hospital premises as early as 7am or else you will have to go there for two days because of the x-ray procedure and the high population of patients (I went there for two days)
4. Consultation is 1000frs
5. X-ray is 5000frs
6. An ankle stirrup brace like the one on my leg cost 20,000frs
7. A forearm crutch cost 15,000frs, per crutch.
8. Medication will vary from patient to patient depending on the nature of your injury and so amounts will differ
9. Be sure to go with another person else you will have to walk to and fro [long] distances within the hospital premises to pay your bills before you are being attended at. 
10. You will encounter patients with all kinds of injuries and health complications, so beware. That's life. 

Ankle stirrup brace