Abstract

Improving health in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) has become the moral crusade of the early 21st Century. Foreign aid is a major strategy for development assistance by developed countries and the International organizations to developing countries. This study aimed at identifying the foreign aid given to the Buea Regional Hospital, its effects on the hospital and the challenges being faced. The study adopted a case study research design.

Questionnaires were used as the sources of data collection. The data gathered was presented in the form of tables and charts. The principal agent theory was used in the study. According to the theory, the donors are the principals and the recipient countries are the agents.

The theory asks where aid is disbursed at a country level. Which province gets more aid and why? Which are the main health priorities? According to research findings, financial assistance and the provision of health equipment are the form of aid given to the Buea Regional Hospital. The study also revealed that aid has a positive effect on the Buea Regional Hospital however with a variety of challenges.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Foreign aid is a major strategy for development assistance by developed countries and the International organizations to developing countries. Foreign aid usually involves either human, material, or financial resources or a combination of these resources. It covers both the public and private sectors in such areas as market development, education, health, science and technology, energy, road infrastructure, and environmental protection and governance.

Foreign aid can therefore contribute to the effective implementation of policy in various sectors in developing countries. There is a scarcity of literature or data on foreign aid in various sectors in Cameroon. This study seeks to examine the nature and extent of foreign aid in Cameroon in the health sector using the Buea Regional Hospital as a case study.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The general problem that donors encounter is alignment and coordination of foreign aids in recipient countries. Lack of coordination mechanisms makes it difficult for the global communities to achieve aid effectiveness in the recipient countries.

The last decade has seen a radical criticism of foreign aid, driven by the perception that foreign aid has not produced the desired or expected results. Many countries in Africa including Cameroon are still stuck in the culture of dependence and indifference where foreign assistance funds end up being misused and in the hands of a few.

Despite the efforts by foreign donors and the government to improve health institutions in the country, there are still some limitations. This study, therefore, aims at investigating the contributions of foreign aid to health institutions in Cameroon, with a focus on the Buea Regional Hospital.

1.3 Research Questions

This study has the following research questions:

1. What is the foreign aid given by donors to the Buea Regional Hospital?
2. What are the effects of foreign aid on the Buea Regional Hospital?
3. What are the challenges faced by foreign donors in providing aid to the Buea Regional Hospital?

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