Female healthcare worker at the Buea Regional Hospital in Cameroon’s Southwest region
By Emmanuela Siy
As the global demand for healthcare professionals intensifies, women in the sector face mounting pressure to balance their careers with family obligations and personal well-being. This is also the case of Cameroonian women in the field of healthcare. This intricate juggling act has become increasingly complex, with women comprising approximately 70% of the global healthcare workforce, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This delicate wiggling act has become increasingly complex with their careers, family obligations, and personal well-being as they exemplify resilience and adaptability.
Women often take on roles that require long hours and emotional labour. According to the World Health Organisation WHO, women represent approximately 70% of the global healthcare force, which includes nurses, midwives, surgeons, lab technicians and administrative staff. Despite their contributions, many of these women find themselves stretched thin, managing both the labour of their jobs and the responsibilities of home life.
“It is really challenging, I am a wife, a student, a nursing mother and a doctor. Most often I will have to measure myself up to my male colleagues. There are days I make it early to work but other days, a child might be sick, there might be an emergency in the house and I will be late. When that happens, I am scolded at, sometimes punished, but I love the job. When I am with a patient and I know that I am doing something to improve the person’s health, – when the person is fine it gives me joy, I get so excited”. Dr Ebey Tatianna explains.
Cameroonian Women in Healthcare
To manage this delicate balance, many women in the health sector adopt various coping strategies. Flexible work arrangements such as outdoor work and adjusted shifts have become essential, allowing healthcare professionals to adjust their hours to accommodate family needs: “Nursing mothers who work with us need to go home early to their kids, they start work at 8 am and retire for the day at 2:30 pm”. Dr Mokake Martin, Director of Buea Regional Hospital noted.
Ayah Flora Bolimo, a laboratory scientist at the Buea Regional Hospital explains that the workload has increased over time. This has come with a change in her status as a married woman with kids, but she says she is adapting to the change just fine:
“It’s been an increasing challenge, because when I started working, I was single and had no family as such to run around with, but now, I have a family with three kids, it’s been demanding but I love what I do, and this gives me the drive to forge ahead,” she said.
In a dynamic world of health care, women are not only vital providers of care but also the pillars supporting their families, “I think female doctors are the best so far, they are caring, women have this tender heart, and they tend to care more for their patients”, Dr Lyonga Emily noted.
Female Cameroonian healthcare worker attending to patients
As they navigate the complex balance of professional demands and home responsibilities, it is clear that systemic support is crucial as their challenges can lead to stress and burnout. Ultimately, women in healthcare are navigating a complex and often irresistible landscape as they strive to balance their professional commitments with family demands.
So, investing in the well-being of women in healthcare is not a favour but a step towards investing in a huge resource in the community, which will yield greater dividends.
Systemic support is crucial as women in healthcare navigate this complex balance, risking stress and burnout. Investing in their well-being is essential for delivering quality healthcare and ensuring community health.
