Student-led rural health campaigns as a model for experiential training and community service over three years.
1
Medicine, Université des Montagnes, Bangangté, Cameroon
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
rural communities in sub-saharan africa face major gaps in preventive health and access to specialty care.^1 Medical students in low resource settings often graduate with little structured community exposure.^2 To address these gaps, the université des montagnes english-speaking students’ association (UMESSA) developed a student-led campaign model combining health service delivery with experiential training.
METHODS:
three one-week campaigns were organized in the west region of cameroon: mbouda 2023, bamendjou 2024, and balengou 2025. Each involved 60 to 80 students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and laboratory sciences under alumni and district supervision. Activities included health talks, consultations, laboratory tests, minor surgery, ophthalmic and dental services, and free medications. Community mobilization was supported by local chiefs, churches, and schools. Data were collected from daily service registers.
RESULTS:
across three years more than 2000 residents received care. Bamendjou recorded about 450 consultations, balengou 272, and mbouda more than 500 including prison outreach. Specialty care included 196 ophthalmic cases, 125 dental cases, and 35 surgical interventions. Students reported improved teamwork, communication, and diagnostic confidence. Recurring challenges were shortages of essential drugs, delays in supply delivery, and coordination difficulties within large teams.
CONCLUSIONS:
supervised, student-led campaigns can improve access to care in underserved areas while providing practical training for future health professionals. Sustained alumni mentorship and NGO partnerships made the model adaptable across districts and replicable as an innovation in public health education.
rural communities in sub-saharan africa face major gaps in preventive health and access to specialty care.^1 Medical students in low resource settings often graduate with little structured community exposure.^2 To address these gaps, the université des montagnes english-speaking students’ association (UMESSA) developed a student-led campaign model combining health service delivery with experiential training.
METHODS:
three one-week campaigns were organized in the west region of cameroon: mbouda 2023, bamendjou 2024, and balengou 2025. Each involved 60 to 80 students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and laboratory sciences under alumni and district supervision. Activities included health talks, consultations, laboratory tests, minor surgery, ophthalmic and dental services, and free medications. Community mobilization was supported by local chiefs, churches, and schools. Data were collected from daily service registers.
RESULTS:
across three years more than 2000 residents received care. Bamendjou recorded about 450 consultations, balengou 272, and mbouda more than 500 including prison outreach. Specialty care included 196 ophthalmic cases, 125 dental cases, and 35 surgical interventions. Students reported improved teamwork, communication, and diagnostic confidence. Recurring challenges were shortages of essential drugs, delays in supply delivery, and coordination difficulties within large teams.
CONCLUSIONS:
supervised, student-led campaigns can improve access to care in underserved areas while providing practical training for future health professionals. Sustained alumni mentorship and NGO partnerships made the model adaptable across districts and replicable as an innovation in public health education.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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