PREMIERE – MONIQUE KOUMATEKEL’S FILM

Date: 26^th March 2024
Venue: Muna Foundation (Register)
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Topic: State of medical care for pregnant women in Cameroon: What progress since Monique Koumatekel?

I- Background

In March 2016, a tragic incident occurred at a renowned public hospital in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital. Monique Koumatekel, a 35-year-old pregnant woman, underwent a surgical operation performed by bystanders in a desperate attempt to rescue her twin unborn babies. She had been denied admission by medical staff for being unable to pay the required fees or provide an insurance card. Tragically, Monique went unconscious during the operation and did not survive. This shocking event sparked outrage across national and international public opinion, raising questions about the state of medical care for pregnant women in Cameroon.

Monique’s story is unfortunately not an isolated case. Many Cameroonians lose their lives every day due to the inability to access healthcare services because of financial constraints. Additionally, the implementation of a health insurance system has proven difficult, preventing it from being a viable option for the population. Eight years after this harrowing incident, what progress has been made to ensure that no woman in Cameroon faces a similar fate?

II- Event Format

The premiere event will feature:

• Screening of the fifteen-minute documentary “Our Monique”.
• Interactive panel discussion with experts from media, research centers, and medical practitioners.
• Question-and-answer session with media representatives and attendees.

III- Objectives

“Our Monique” aims at recounting the story of Monique Koumatekel, and how access to a simple health insurance could have saved her life, her twin babies, and countless other Cameroonians.  Specifically, the documentary seeks to:

• Raise awareness among the public, especially women, about the importance of medical follow-up during pregnancy and delivery.
• Advocate for efficient and accessible medical care for pregnant women in Cameroon.
• Denounce unprofessional behavior and negligence exhibited by some medical staff towards patients.
• Address barriers to private health insurance in Cameroon.
• Highlight obstacles hindering the implementation of a functional private health insurance system.

IV- Target Audience

The target audience of this event includes the media, opinion leaders, policy and decision makers, international organizations interested and/or working in the field of medical care with a focus on pregnant women.