Sixth Mission: Cameroon
Spring 2026
Ekaterina Glok’s International Medical Mission Reports on Its Work in Cameroon
Medical Mission
Ekaterina Glok’s International Medical Mission has reported on the results of its work in Cameroon, where the team provided medical care from May 15 to 28, 2026. During the mission, doctors conducted 1,002 medical consultations, performed 11 surgical operations, distributed 60 pairs of glasses to people with visual impairments, and provided dental care to children and adults.
The mission brought together specialists from Russia and Belarus: mission coordinator, obstetrician-gynecologist, and surgeon Alexey Tikhonovich from Abakan; Svetlana Kochenevskaya, a lecturer at Krasnoyarsk Medical College and Head of its Nursing Department; Irina Krasteleva from Minsk, Chief Neonatologist of the Republic of Belarus and a pediatrician; Timirbulat Idiev, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon from Achkhoy-Martan in the Chechen Republic; Valeria Brynchik, an ENT and maxillofacial surgeon from Kovrov; Irina Luchkina, a dental surgeon from Syktyvkar; and Ilya Levashov, an ophthalmologist from Moscow.
The doctors worked at local healthcare facilities: a district hospital in the settlement of Idul and a Protestant multidisciplinary hospital in Ngaoundéré. Medical care was provided with the assistance of local doctors, healthcare staff, and interpreters.
The mission’s program included specialist consultations, ultrasound diagnostics, surgical treatment, dental care, eye examinations, prescription and distribution of glasses, and consultations for children, pregnant women, and patients with acute and chronic conditions.
Mission coordinator and obstetrician-gynecologist Alexey Tikhonovich provided gynecological consultations and performed ultrasound examinations. He was also responsible for organizing the team’s work at the mission sites. This was his third trip to Cameroon.
“For me, participating in the mission is a professional reset. It is an opportunity to work in a new environment, test myself, see how healthcare operates in another country, and gain a fresh appreciation of what we have at home,” said Alexey Tikhonovich.
According to him, the team has already established warm professional relationships with local colleagues in Cameroon. Some Cameroonian doctors received their medical education in Russia and continue to maintain ties with the Russian-speaking medical community.
One of the mission’s key priorities was providing medical care to children. Irina Krasteleva, Chief Neonatologist of the Republic of Belarus, neonatologist, pediatrician, and Candidate of Medical Sciences, conducted pediatric consultations, identified medical conditions, and referred children to relevant specialists, including those requiring surgical intervention.
She also provided care to critically ill children, treated newborns with neonatal conditions, and advised parents on nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention.
“I always help doctors and children in my own country. I travel when needed, provide consultations, and deliver specialized medical care. But why shouldn’t I help in Africa as well? If there is an opportunity to do so, then it is something we should do,” emphasized Irina Krasteleva.
Svetlana Kochenevskaya, a lecturer at Krasnoyarsk Medical College and Head of its Nursing Department, worked alongside doctors during pediatric and adult consultations. She helped organize patient flow, ensured that examination rooms were supplied with the necessary medications, and assisted the team in the operating room.
In the settlement of Idul, she participated in consultations for more than 200 children, helping collect medical histories, conduct initial examinations, and assess patients’ physical development. Svetlana Kochenevskaya also assisted surgeons during operations, including the removal of a skin lesion and surgical treatment of hernias.
Timirbulat Idiev, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, worked as a general surgeon during the Cameroon mission. He examined and treated 242 patients, including residents of the Kingdom of Idul, and performed seven operations.
These included procedures for abdominal wall and inguinal hernias, appendectomies, excision of tumors, and other surgical interventions. Working with limited resources required him to assess patients quickly, make clinical decisions, and adapt familiar medical approaches to the capabilities of local healthcare facilities.
Ophthalmologist Ilya Levashov conducted more than 200 consultations for adults and children. He performed basic vision assessments, treated infectious and inflammatory eye diseases, prescribed corrective lenses, and carried out minor procedures to remove foreign bodies and lesions.
Particular attention was given to children with xerophthalmia and severe vitamin A deficiency. A total of 60 pairs of glasses were distributed to patients with visual impairments.
Dental surgeon Irina Luchkina provided dental care to children and adults, performed oral sanitation procedures, and extracted severely damaged teeth. More than 100 people received dental care, with over 160 tooth extractions performed. She also surgically removed a benign oral lesion and distributed toothbrushes to patients.
For Irina Luchkina, participating in the mission was her first experience working in Africa and an opportunity to apply her professional skills in a setting where access to dental care is limited.
“For me, this is a new experience and a test of my abilities as a specialist: working in challenging conditions, as part of a large multidisciplinary team, alongside doctors from many different specialties. And, of course, it comes from a desire to help local people in whatever way we can,” said Irina Luchkina.
The dental team also placed particular emphasis on sharing knowledge and experience with local specialists.
“It is important to demonstrate how to extract teeth correctly and atraumatically, preserving as much surrounding tissue as possible and minimizing trauma to the patient. At first glance, it may seem like a simple procedure, but it actually requires specific techniques that practitioners need to master,” explained Irina Luchkina.
Otorhinolaryngologist and maxillofacial surgeon Valeria Brynchik treated more than 100 patients. She provided care to adults and children with acute and chronic ENT conditions and performed surgical procedures, including the removal of a neck tumor and drainage of a facial soft tissue abscess.
According to Valeria Brynchik, working in such conditions requires exceptional focus and the ability to make decisions quickly.
“This was my first trip to Africa, and naturally, I felt a strong sense of responsibility. You understand that you can help people, but in some situations, a doctor’s capabilities are limited by the working conditions, equipment, or available instruments. You have to be prepared for that,” said Valeria Brynchik.
In total, during their time in Cameroon, the specialists conducted 1,002 medical consultations, performed 11 surgical operations, provided dental care to children and adults, and offered consultations and preventive education on hygiene, nutrition, childcare, and disease prevention.
Ekaterina Glok’s International Medical Mission has already established strong partnerships in Cameroon. The team worked in cooperation with Dr. Christian Nzentem, Chief Physician of the Christian Hospital in Ngaoundéré, and Mahamadou Dallatou, Prince of the Kingdom of Idul, also known as Prince Modi.
Support from local healthcare institutions and community leaders made it possible to organize patient consultations and improve access to medical care for residents of remote areas.
Ekaterina Glok’s International Medical Mission will continue developing partnerships in Cameroon and providing medical assistance in areas where access to specialist healthcare remains limited.
The mission brought together specialists from Russia and Belarus: mission coordinator, obstetrician-gynecologist, and surgeon Alexey Tikhonovich from Abakan; Svetlana Kochenevskaya, a lecturer at Krasnoyarsk Medical College and Head of its Nursing Department; Irina Krasteleva from Minsk, Chief Neonatologist of the Republic of Belarus and a pediatrician; Timirbulat Idiev, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon from Achkhoy-Martan in the Chechen Republic; Valeria Brynchik, an ENT and maxillofacial surgeon from Kovrov; Irina Luchkina, a dental surgeon from Syktyvkar; and Ilya Levashov, an ophthalmologist from Moscow.
The doctors worked at local healthcare facilities: a district hospital in the settlement of Idul and a Protestant multidisciplinary hospital in Ngaoundéré. Medical care was provided with the assistance of local doctors, healthcare staff, and interpreters.
The mission’s program included specialist consultations, ultrasound diagnostics, surgical treatment, dental care, eye examinations, prescription and distribution of glasses, and consultations for children, pregnant women, and patients with acute and chronic conditions.
Mission coordinator and obstetrician-gynecologist Alexey Tikhonovich provided gynecological consultations and performed ultrasound examinations. He was also responsible for organizing the team’s work at the mission sites. This was his third trip to Cameroon.
“For me, participating in the mission is a professional reset. It is an opportunity to work in a new environment, test myself, see how healthcare operates in another country, and gain a fresh appreciation of what we have at home,” said Alexey Tikhonovich.
According to him, the team has already established warm professional relationships with local colleagues in Cameroon. Some Cameroonian doctors received their medical education in Russia and continue to maintain ties with the Russian-speaking medical community.
One of the mission’s key priorities was providing medical care to children. Irina Krasteleva, Chief Neonatologist of the Republic of Belarus, neonatologist, pediatrician, and Candidate of Medical Sciences, conducted pediatric consultations, identified medical conditions, and referred children to relevant specialists, including those requiring surgical intervention.
She also provided care to critically ill children, treated newborns with neonatal conditions, and advised parents on nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention.
“I always help doctors and children in my own country. I travel when needed, provide consultations, and deliver specialized medical care. But why shouldn’t I help in Africa as well? If there is an opportunity to do so, then it is something we should do,” emphasized Irina Krasteleva.
Svetlana Kochenevskaya, a lecturer at Krasnoyarsk Medical College and Head of its Nursing Department, worked alongside doctors during pediatric and adult consultations. She helped organize patient flow, ensured that examination rooms were supplied with the necessary medications, and assisted the team in the operating room.
In the settlement of Idul, she participated in consultations for more than 200 children, helping collect medical histories, conduct initial examinations, and assess patients’ physical development. Svetlana Kochenevskaya also assisted surgeons during operations, including the removal of a skin lesion and surgical treatment of hernias.
Timirbulat Idiev, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, worked as a general surgeon during the Cameroon mission. He examined and treated 242 patients, including residents of the Kingdom of Idul, and performed seven operations.
These included procedures for abdominal wall and inguinal hernias, appendectomies, excision of tumors, and other surgical interventions. Working with limited resources required him to assess patients quickly, make clinical decisions, and adapt familiar medical approaches to the capabilities of local healthcare facilities.
Ophthalmologist Ilya Levashov conducted more than 200 consultations for adults and children. He performed basic vision assessments, treated infectious and inflammatory eye diseases, prescribed corrective lenses, and carried out minor procedures to remove foreign bodies and lesions.
Particular attention was given to children with xerophthalmia and severe vitamin A deficiency. A total of 60 pairs of glasses were distributed to patients with visual impairments.
Dental surgeon Irina Luchkina provided dental care to children and adults, performed oral sanitation procedures, and extracted severely damaged teeth. More than 100 people received dental care, with over 160 tooth extractions performed. She also surgically removed a benign oral lesion and distributed toothbrushes to patients.
For Irina Luchkina, participating in the mission was her first experience working in Africa and an opportunity to apply her professional skills in a setting where access to dental care is limited.
“For me, this is a new experience and a test of my abilities as a specialist: working in challenging conditions, as part of a large multidisciplinary team, alongside doctors from many different specialties. And, of course, it comes from a desire to help local people in whatever way we can,” said Irina Luchkina.
The dental team also placed particular emphasis on sharing knowledge and experience with local specialists.
“It is important to demonstrate how to extract teeth correctly and atraumatically, preserving as much surrounding tissue as possible and minimizing trauma to the patient. At first glance, it may seem like a simple procedure, but it actually requires specific techniques that practitioners need to master,” explained Irina Luchkina.
Otorhinolaryngologist and maxillofacial surgeon Valeria Brynchik treated more than 100 patients. She provided care to adults and children with acute and chronic ENT conditions and performed surgical procedures, including the removal of a neck tumor and drainage of a facial soft tissue abscess.
According to Valeria Brynchik, working in such conditions requires exceptional focus and the ability to make decisions quickly.
“This was my first trip to Africa, and naturally, I felt a strong sense of responsibility. You understand that you can help people, but in some situations, a doctor’s capabilities are limited by the working conditions, equipment, or available instruments. You have to be prepared for that,” said Valeria Brynchik.
In total, during their time in Cameroon, the specialists conducted 1,002 medical consultations, performed 11 surgical operations, provided dental care to children and adults, and offered consultations and preventive education on hygiene, nutrition, childcare, and disease prevention.
Ekaterina Glok’s International Medical Mission has already established strong partnerships in Cameroon. The team worked in cooperation with Dr. Christian Nzentem, Chief Physician of the Christian Hospital in Ngaoundéré, and Mahamadou Dallatou, Prince of the Kingdom of Idul, also known as Prince Modi.
Support from local healthcare institutions and community leaders made it possible to organize patient consultations and improve access to medical care for residents of remote areas.
Ekaterina Glok’s International Medical Mission will continue developing partnerships in Cameroon and providing medical assistance in areas where access to specialist healthcare remains limited.
Mission Members
