90 Years of Compassion: Celebrating a Legacy of Healing in Cameroon

by Sr Marceline Yenmuleh
On 15 November 2025, the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis (TSSF) celebrated a milestone: 90 years of dedicated healthcare ministry in Shisong, in Cameroon’s North West Region. More than a commemoration, the Jubilee was a moment to honour the past, reflect on the present, and renew commitment for the future.

A Celebration of Service

A large and diverse gathering of people from various faiths and walks of life joined the TSSF for a joyful and vibrant Eucharistic celebration, presided over by His Lordship Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo Diocese. Together, they gave thanks for nine decades of compassionate service in a region where access to healthcare remains limited.

For 90 years, the Sisters have brought Christ’s healing love to the most vulnerable. From newborns to the elderly, countless lives have been touched. Child and adult mortality has been reduced. Communities have been transformed. Health professionals have been trained, jobs created, and hope restored.

Behind this mission stand the pioneering women—nurses and midwives—who, against all odds, delivered care in remote, underserved areas. They overcame language barriers, cultural resistance, harsh conditions, and limited resources, working tirelessly to establish a foundation for what is today one of the nation’s most respected health institutions.

Honouring the Founders

In the days leading up to the celebration, the TSSF community reflected on its origins and paid tribute to the five founding Sisters: Sr Camilla Geier, Sr Martina Albenberger, Sr Dorothea Wild, Sr Cleopha Jocher, and Sr Odilia Hillebrand. These courageous women arrived in Cameroon in 1935 at the invitation of Fr Francis Figl, a Mill Hill missionary. Within a month, they had opened a small dispensary and maternity, responding immediately to urgent healthcare needs.

Today, that humble beginning has grown into a large and renowned hospital—now the only cardiac centre in Central and West Africa—with 300 beds, multiple specialised units, and an affiliated Catholic School of Health Sciences. TSSF now oversees four hospitals, eight health centres, and one rehabilitation centre across Cameroon’s dioceses and regions.

Innovation and Commitment

As part of the Jubilee events, a scientific conference was held to explore new approaches to improving healthcare delivery. The TSSF Provincial Superior, Sr Olivia Waika, reflected on the evolution of the mission:

“What began as a modest dispensary has become a beacon of hope for millions. Through decades of selfless service and innovation, the Sisters and hospital staff continue to uphold a legacy of seeing and serving Christ in the poor.”

Despite challenges—political unrest, financial constraints, limited equipment—the TSSF remain steadfast. Their work continues even amid the turmoil affecting Anglophone Cameroon. Their message: healing is both a spiritual and practical mission.

A Call for Support

To mark this Jubilee year, the Sisters have launched an appeal for the purchase of a CT scanner to further enhance diagnostic capacity. Supporters are invited to donate, volunteer, or share the story of the TSSF’s 90 years of impact.

Donations can be made via:

Mobile Money (Momo)
Number: +237 674 774 769
Name: Diocese of Kumbo Shisong Hospital
Code: *126*14*Number*Amount#

A Living Legacy

The Jubilee celebrations have renewed in the Sisters and their collaborators a spirit of prophetic hope and resilience. The legacy of those first Tyrolean missionaries continues to inspire generations of TSSF Sisters and healthcare workers, who carry forward a mission rooted in compassion, courage, and unwavering faith.