By Christopher Ambe Shu
"Are your parents aware that you are sick?”
Ngwa, a Cameroonian, provocatively asked his classmate, John, who had just stopped coughing and was catching his breath.
“I don’t blame you. I didn’t buy it?” fumed John in reply. Even though John, looking frail, had been coughing with difficulty, for over two weeks he did not deem it necessary to consult a medical doctor to ascertain the cause of his troubling cough.
Why? He probably thought he had not had enough pains to feel threatened by his ailment. He was ignorant that he had TB, whose victims are stigmatised in many regions
But he would later be told in hospital that he had Active TB, and advised to start and take his treatment seriously.
TB is an infection caused by a bacterium, called mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is a dangerious, but curable disease, which has killed millions of people worldwide. Millions of people are still living with this infirmity despite increased efforts by health professionals to eliminate it from the surface of the earth
Health experts are agreed that, TB spreads through the air and usually affects one’s lungs. But other body parts such as bones, kidneys, spine and brain can also be infected
Indeed, there are two types of TB :( 1) TB Infection or Latent TB, meaning the bacterium is present but is not making the carrier sick; that also means the carrier can not spread the disease. (2) Active TB: the bacterium is present and is making the carrier sick; that suggests the carrier may be able to spread the disease.
Health is wealth. But unfortunately, many Africans -especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, for several reasons among which is poverty (weak financial power), don’t take their health seriously. They don’t respect their bodies and find no reason to give them special attention.
When you advise them to do check-ups or go for treatment at the early stage of an infection, this may be what you get in reply: “Don’t worry .I am feeling better. I don’t have money. I will be OK soon”
It is true that the body can get rid of some ailments without you resorting to medical treatment, but when an ailment is punishing you or taking long to disappear, there is that urgent need to seek medical advice and even moral support.
Some Africans forget that when one person in a family or community is sick other relations are affected and or infected in case of contagious disease.
The stress resulting from the sickness of a loved one could be financial, emotional, psychological or even physical-all obstacles to happiness
Suzy Prudden, one great mind, noted, “Your body is your vehicle for life. As long as you are here, live in it.
Love, honour, respect and cherish it, treat it well, and it will serve you in kind."
There are many killer- diseases such as AIDS, cancer, malaria, diabetes and tuberculosis (TB)
While some as AIDS are incurable such, others such as TB are curable. How nice to know that a killer disease is curable!
This writer’s particular concern here is on TB. Every March 24 is celebrated as World TB Day. That was the case last 24 March .This day is intended to celebrate the lives and stories of people affected by TB and those involved in the global war against this killer disease.
Cameroon, a Central African country with rising cases of TB, was also actively involved in this year’s celebration. In 2007, for example, it was estimated that Cameroon had 35,556 new TB cases and Cameroonians who were living with TB totalled 36.088.
World-wide in 2007 it was estimated that about 15 million people were living with TB despite sustained efforts to contain it.
When John, mentioned earlier, was coughing he did not suspect it could be a symptom of TB. Of course, he did not know that people with active tuberculosis often feel tired, and have a long lasting cough. Other TB symptoms may include weight loss, a fever or difficult breathing, chest pain, bloody sputum and night sweats
“Thank God that I was diagnosed with TB only. When I started coughing my classmates were claiming that I was an AIDS patient. That frightened me much and I was afraid to go to the hospital for testing .But I gathered courage and went for it. I was tested for both TB and HIV and I have only TB.I am already on drugs,” John who did not know how he got infected, but accepted that he was a heavy alcohol consumer, told me. “I have made my friends to understand that I am HIV negative. I am a free man.”
The people with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis far exceed those who have already developed active TB.
Health professionals often prescribe particular antibiotics for people diagnosed with the TB bacteria to take for some time, so to kill the infection, so it must not later develop into active TB.
And these bacteria –carriers are warned to strictly respect their drug prescription and to report any side effects as soon as need be.
For those who have developed active TB, they are prescribed a combination of antibiotics to take simultaneously so that the TB does not become resistant to treatment. TB patients require regular checkups to ensure they stay free of the tuberculosis disease, even after completing the full course of treatment that is usually six moths.
Dr. Matilda Ako Arrey, who is regional coordinator of Cameroon TB Control Programme for the Southwest Region with a population of over 1.3 million people ,on Radio Buea Health Updates slot, said, “TB cases are increasing in the region( Cameroon). Due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, TB cases are increasing.”
The Southwest region of Cameroon has 16 TB treatment centres. In 2008, Wane Victor, a health worker assisting Dr Ako Arrey revealed that 1112 (pulmonary) TB cases were diagnosed, adding that 41 started treatment and later stopped.
The other nine regions of Cameroon have their own TB statistics
“Defaulting patients are a problem to us”, cried Dr. Ako Arrey, insisting that sensitisation on TB must continue. “We are not satisfied with the level of sensitisation here.”
She noted that those who are mostly at risk of contracting the TB infection are smokers, abusive alcohol drinkers, those poorly fed, and those living in poorly ventilated houses. She called for healthy living habits.
TB and HIV /AIDS seem to be in love. That is why when one has TB he is tested for HIV and vice versa so that proper treatment can begin right away.
HIV/AIDS weakens the immune system and so someone with HIV is likely to have TB
“A weakened immune system allows TB to reproduce unchecked within the body, causing illness,” according to one health writer, Mark Cichocki R.N of About.com.
“In HIV infected people, TB infection of the lungs or anywhere else in the body is considered an AIDS-defining condition. In other words, a person with both HIV and active TB has AIDS.”
There is no doubt that TB is a dangerous but curable disease; and that Cameroon ,like other countries, is making efforts ,supported by international organisations, to combat it.But such efforts need to be intensified at all levels.
But the panacea to TB, many now argue, is taking the right action at the right time. That would mean massive and continued sensitisation and education of citizens on all what the disease is about, subsidized treatment of patients, monitoring of patients on drugs, making TB drugs readily available, discouraging abusive smoking and alcohol consumption that are risk factors for TB; a call for improved diet and other healthy living habits such as enough sleep, regular exercise, strict respect of drug prescription.
But above all, action must be taken by all citizens within their means to pay greater attention to their health by going for regular medical check-ups. Health is wealth, they say.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Pope on Condoms and AIDS
Pope Benedict XVI has every right to express his opposition to the use of condoms on moral grounds, in accordance with the official stance of the Roman Catholic Church. But he deserves no credence when he distorts scientific findings about the value of condoms in slowing the spread of the AIDS virus.
As reported on Tuesday by journalists who accompanied the pope on his flight to Africa, Benedict said that distribution of condoms would not resolve the AIDS problem but, on the contrary, would aggravate or increase it.
The first half of his statement is clearly right. Condoms alone won’t stop the spread of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. Campaigns to reduce the number of sexual partners, safer-sex practices and other programs are needed to bring the disease to heel.
But the second half of his statement is grievously wrong. There is no evidence that condom use is aggravating the epidemic and considerable evidence that condoms, though no panacea, can be helpful in many circumstances.
From an individual’s point of view, condoms work very well in preventing transmission of the AIDS virus from infected to uninfected people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites “comprehensive and conclusive” evidence that latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are “highly effective” in preventing heterosexual transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.
The most recent meta-analysis of the best studies, published by the respected Cochrane Collaboration, concluded that condoms can reduce the transmission of the AIDS virus by 80 percent.
However, both groups warned that condom use cannot provide absolute protection. Condoms sometimes break, slip or are put on incorrectly. The best way to avoid transmission of the virus is to abstain from sexual intercourse or have a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected person.
From a national perspective, condom promotion has been effective in slowing epidemics in several countries among high-risk groups, such as sex workers and their customers, but less effective in slowing epidemics that have spread into the general population, as in much of sub-Saharan Africa. That is probably because far too few people use condoms consistently and correctly.
Even so, health authorities consider condoms a valuable component of any well-rounded program to prevent the spread of AIDS. It seems irresponsible to blame condoms for making the epidemic worse.
Home World U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports Opinion Arts Style Travel Jobs Real Estate Automobiles Back to Top Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map
Courtesy:The New York Times ,Editorial of March 18, 2009
As reported on Tuesday by journalists who accompanied the pope on his flight to Africa, Benedict said that distribution of condoms would not resolve the AIDS problem but, on the contrary, would aggravate or increase it.
The first half of his statement is clearly right. Condoms alone won’t stop the spread of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. Campaigns to reduce the number of sexual partners, safer-sex practices and other programs are needed to bring the disease to heel.
But the second half of his statement is grievously wrong. There is no evidence that condom use is aggravating the epidemic and considerable evidence that condoms, though no panacea, can be helpful in many circumstances.
From an individual’s point of view, condoms work very well in preventing transmission of the AIDS virus from infected to uninfected people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites “comprehensive and conclusive” evidence that latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are “highly effective” in preventing heterosexual transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.
The most recent meta-analysis of the best studies, published by the respected Cochrane Collaboration, concluded that condoms can reduce the transmission of the AIDS virus by 80 percent.
However, both groups warned that condom use cannot provide absolute protection. Condoms sometimes break, slip or are put on incorrectly. The best way to avoid transmission of the virus is to abstain from sexual intercourse or have a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected person.
From a national perspective, condom promotion has been effective in slowing epidemics in several countries among high-risk groups, such as sex workers and their customers, but less effective in slowing epidemics that have spread into the general population, as in much of sub-Saharan Africa. That is probably because far too few people use condoms consistently and correctly.
Even so, health authorities consider condoms a valuable component of any well-rounded program to prevent the spread of AIDS. It seems irresponsible to blame condoms for making the epidemic worse.
Home World U.S. N.Y. / Region Business Technology Science Health Sports Opinion Arts Style Travel Jobs Real Estate Automobiles Back to Top Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map
Courtesy:The New York Times ,Editorial of March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Pope Arrives in Cameroon
Cameroon (AP) -Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Cameroon to start his first visit to Africa as pontiff.
The pope's Alitalia plane touched down in Yaounde at around 1500 GMT on Tuesday. It had departed hours earlier from a Rome airport.
Speaking aboard the plane that took him to Cameroon's capital, the pope touched on Africa's AIDS pandemic, saying that condoms were not the answer in the continent's fight against HIV.
The seven-day pilgrimage will also include Angola and is Benedict's first trip as pontiff to Africa, the fastest-growing region for the Roman Catholic Church.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) รข€” Pope Benedict XVI said on his way to Africa Tuesday that condoms were not the answer in the continent's fight against HIV, his first explicit statement on an issue that has divided even clergy working with AIDS patients.
Benedict had never directly addressed condom use. He has said that the Roman Catholic Church is in the forefront of the battle against AIDS. The Vatican encourages sexual abstinence to fight the spread of the disease.
"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde, Cameroon, where he will begin a seven-day pilgrimage on the continent. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."
About 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, according to UNAIDS. In 2007, three-quarters of all AIDS deaths worldwide were there, as well as two-thirds of all people living with HIV.
Rebecca Hodes with the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa said if the pope is serious about preventing new HIV infections, he will focus on promoting wide access to condoms and spreading information on how best to use them.
"Instead, his opposition to condoms conveys that religious dogma is more important to him than the lives of Africans," said Hodes, director of policy, communication and research for the action campaign.
While she said the pope is correct that condoms are not the sole solution to Africa's AIDS epidemic, she said they are one of the very few HIV prevention mechanisms proven to work.
Even some priests and nuns working with those living with HIV/AIDS question the church's opposition to condoms amid the pandemic ravaging Africa.
Benedict's first papal trip to Africa this week will take him to Cameroon and Angola. Africa is the fastest-growing region for the Roman Catholic Church, though it competes with Islam and evangelical churches.
The pope also said Tuesday that he intends to make an appeal for "international solidarity" for Africa in the face of the global economic downturn.
He said that while the church does not propose specific economic solutions, it can give "spiritual and moral" suggestions.
Describing the current crisis as the consequence of "a deficit of ethics in economic structures," the pope said: "It is here that the church can make a contribution."
On the plane, Benedict also dismissed the notion that he was facing increasing opposition and isolation within the church, particularly after an outreach to ultraconservatives that led to his lifting the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.
"The myth of my solitude makes me laugh," the pope said, adding that he can count on a network of friends and aides whom he sees every day.
In a letter to Catholic bishops released last week, the pope made an unusual public acknowledgment of Vatican mistakes and turmoil in his church over the rehabilitation of Bishop Richard Williamson.
While acknowledging mistakes were made in handling the affair, Benedict said he was saddened that he was criticized "with open hostility" even by those who should have known better.
---
Associated Press Writer Krista Larson in Johannesburg contributed to this report.
The pope's Alitalia plane touched down in Yaounde at around 1500 GMT on Tuesday. It had departed hours earlier from a Rome airport.
Speaking aboard the plane that took him to Cameroon's capital, the pope touched on Africa's AIDS pandemic, saying that condoms were not the answer in the continent's fight against HIV.
The seven-day pilgrimage will also include Angola and is Benedict's first trip as pontiff to Africa, the fastest-growing region for the Roman Catholic Church.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) รข€” Pope Benedict XVI said on his way to Africa Tuesday that condoms were not the answer in the continent's fight against HIV, his first explicit statement on an issue that has divided even clergy working with AIDS patients.
Benedict had never directly addressed condom use. He has said that the Roman Catholic Church is in the forefront of the battle against AIDS. The Vatican encourages sexual abstinence to fight the spread of the disease.
"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde, Cameroon, where he will begin a seven-day pilgrimage on the continent. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."
About 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, according to UNAIDS. In 2007, three-quarters of all AIDS deaths worldwide were there, as well as two-thirds of all people living with HIV.
Rebecca Hodes with the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa said if the pope is serious about preventing new HIV infections, he will focus on promoting wide access to condoms and spreading information on how best to use them.
"Instead, his opposition to condoms conveys that religious dogma is more important to him than the lives of Africans," said Hodes, director of policy, communication and research for the action campaign.
While she said the pope is correct that condoms are not the sole solution to Africa's AIDS epidemic, she said they are one of the very few HIV prevention mechanisms proven to work.
Even some priests and nuns working with those living with HIV/AIDS question the church's opposition to condoms amid the pandemic ravaging Africa.
Benedict's first papal trip to Africa this week will take him to Cameroon and Angola. Africa is the fastest-growing region for the Roman Catholic Church, though it competes with Islam and evangelical churches.
The pope also said Tuesday that he intends to make an appeal for "international solidarity" for Africa in the face of the global economic downturn.
He said that while the church does not propose specific economic solutions, it can give "spiritual and moral" suggestions.
Describing the current crisis as the consequence of "a deficit of ethics in economic structures," the pope said: "It is here that the church can make a contribution."
On the plane, Benedict also dismissed the notion that he was facing increasing opposition and isolation within the church, particularly after an outreach to ultraconservatives that led to his lifting the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.
"The myth of my solitude makes me laugh," the pope said, adding that he can count on a network of friends and aides whom he sees every day.
In a letter to Catholic bishops released last week, the pope made an unusual public acknowledgment of Vatican mistakes and turmoil in his church over the rehabilitation of Bishop Richard Williamson.
While acknowledging mistakes were made in handling the affair, Benedict said he was saddened that he was criticized "with open hostility" even by those who should have known better.
---
Associated Press Writer Krista Larson in Johannesburg contributed to this report.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Sarkozy Invites Biya to France to Defrost Bilateral Relations
By Christopher Ambe Shu .jpg)
Picture: Presidents Sarkozy and Biya{Elysee}
But pundits think that Sarkosy now wants to voice out on democratic reforms inCameroon,which have been subject of public criticism.
Sarkozy, who hates dictatorship, is said to be unhappy with Biya’s luke warm attitude towards carrying out genuine political and democratic reforms.
The Cameroonian president early last year influenced the amendment of the country’s constitution which scrapped off presidential term limit, by using his ruling CPDM party’s crushing majority in Parliament against popular protests.
And last December he appointed several CPDM members into ELECAM, the body that’s supposed to organize all elections in Cameroon, whereas the law calls for the appointment of neutral personalities. That act of Biya again drew sharp criticisms from within and out of the Cameroon especially Western Democracies.
Cameroon, a former French and British colony, is quite rich in natural resources. For example, Cameroon’s Bakassi peninsula, which projects in to the Gulf of Guinea is believed to contain up to 10% of the world’s oil and gas reserves.
France has huge investments and interests in this Central African Country and has maintained close relations with it for decades
But relations between both presidents are reportedly icy.
Should Biya honor Sarkozy’s invitation, then that would revive and deepen French-Cameroonian ties, as well as between both leaders
Biya first paid an official visit to France after Sarkozy was elected President in May 2007, but against high expectations Cameroon was dropped from a list of African countries President Sarkozy plans to visit not long from now.
Alain Joyandet, French Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophonie was last Tuesday in Cameroon and was warmly received in audience at Unity Palace (Cameroon Presidency) by the Cameroonian President, during which he extended Sarkozy’s invitation to Biya.
But it was not clear whether Biya, who had since be expecting Sarkozy to also visit Cameroon, readily accepted the offer
After the audience with Biya which lasted about an hour, the French Cooperation Minster told journalists that, their discussion centered on Franco -Cameroonian ties, which he described as good.
Joyandet who was in Cameroon for two-day visit, also announced the visit of Francois Fillon, French Prime Minister to Cameroon in the near future
The apparent icy relationship between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and President Paul Biya may be getting warm.
President Sarkozy, widely believed by political observers not to be too friendly towards President Biya who has ruled Cameroon for over 26 years, has, at long last, extended an official invitation to the Cameroonian president to visit France this summer ,for a yet -to -be disclosed agenda.
President Sarkozy, widely believed by political observers not to be too friendly towards President Biya who has ruled Cameroon for over 26 years, has, at long last, extended an official invitation to the Cameroonian president to visit France this summer ,for a yet -to -be disclosed agenda.
Picture: Presidents Sarkozy and Biya{Elysee}
But pundits think that Sarkosy now wants to voice out on democratic reforms inCameroon,which have been subject of public criticism.
Sarkozy, who hates dictatorship, is said to be unhappy with Biya’s luke warm attitude towards carrying out genuine political and democratic reforms.
The Cameroonian president early last year influenced the amendment of the country’s constitution which scrapped off presidential term limit, by using his ruling CPDM party’s crushing majority in Parliament against popular protests.
And last December he appointed several CPDM members into ELECAM, the body that’s supposed to organize all elections in Cameroon, whereas the law calls for the appointment of neutral personalities. That act of Biya again drew sharp criticisms from within and out of the Cameroon especially Western Democracies.
Cameroon, a former French and British colony, is quite rich in natural resources. For example, Cameroon’s Bakassi peninsula, which projects in to the Gulf of Guinea is believed to contain up to 10% of the world’s oil and gas reserves.
France has huge investments and interests in this Central African Country and has maintained close relations with it for decades
But relations between both presidents are reportedly icy.
Should Biya honor Sarkozy’s invitation, then that would revive and deepen French-Cameroonian ties, as well as between both leaders
Biya first paid an official visit to France after Sarkozy was elected President in May 2007, but against high expectations Cameroon was dropped from a list of African countries President Sarkozy plans to visit not long from now.
Alain Joyandet, French Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophonie was last Tuesday in Cameroon and was warmly received in audience at Unity Palace (Cameroon Presidency) by the Cameroonian President, during which he extended Sarkozy’s invitation to Biya.
But it was not clear whether Biya, who had since be expecting Sarkozy to also visit Cameroon, readily accepted the offer
After the audience with Biya which lasted about an hour, the French Cooperation Minster told journalists that, their discussion centered on Franco -Cameroonian ties, which he described as good.
Joyandet who was in Cameroon for two-day visit, also announced the visit of Francois Fillon, French Prime Minister to Cameroon in the near future
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Roland Fube and Human Rights in Cameroon
By Tazoacha Asonganyi in Yaounde.
Paul Biya has been around as head of state for the last 27 years. Since presidents are usually overexposed by the press, it is certain that Cameroonians have since lost interest in him because such exposure brings boredom after 5, 10, not to talk of 27 years! The people have since tuned out and can only be reawakened by a new show, a new leader...
As head of state, his cronies usually say that all that is done in Cameroon is done under his authority; therefore all bad and good happenings are attributable to him. Joblessness, unchecked corruption, embezzlement of public funds, impunity of public servants, electoral fraud, lack of transparency and accountability, inefficiency, and generalized indiscipline are all attributable to him.
In addition, as president, he is too aloof and does not behave like somebody who knows that "The People" are the boss for whom he works! He is perceived as one who invokes one set of conduct for those who oppose him and another for his friends and cronies; as one who pretends to impose discipline on his subordinates without accepting and working to the same discipline himself. He is supposed to be the national arbiter and be seen not to have a partisan spirit, but he has.
From this perspective, Cameroonians have a reason to be angry with him, and are likely to lose their nerves at the least provocation. Waiting for a presidential convoy for hours in heavy traffic, under the scorching sun is enough provocation!
Roland Fube, a school teacher in Yaounde is languishing in Kondengui prison "awaiting trial" for having made an "anti-Biya" statement when he lost his nerve in a traffic jam caused by the convoy of the president. The Forchive years are forcefully brought back to us by the news that he was arrested instantly by a plainclothes policeman! That era was supposed to have officially ended with the advent of the Criminal Procedure Code! How many such mad plainclothes men are going around the country unknown to us?
It is interesting that we recently read in a local newspaper that a whiteman, in frustration against anti-Obama statements being made by some white persons in the United States wrote that "I am going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying in seriousness or in jest anything of a threatening nature about President Obama". The white persons who say such threatening things are racists who do not think that a black man should be the president of the US
.In any case, this is only mentioned here to highlight the fact that where freedom of speech is a human value, a serious security force carries out investigations to determine to what extent "a threat" can go beyond "talking the talk". After all, during the colonial days, we are told that when an old African threatened to kill a whiteman if he had the opportunity, and was arrested for it, he asked his interrogators: "my mouth na gun?" If as some version puts it, the statement Roland Fube made in anger was "a threat", it is proper to ask the same question on his behalf...
Fube’s case indicates clearly that the Fochive era is still with us! Indeed, it is common knowledge that to settle a score with your "neigbour", you can pay a freak in a police station to cause him/her to be invited to the police station on a Friday...to be arrested and thrown into a police cell to spend the weekend there until Monday! Some of the extra-judicial killings that occur often in Cameroon, occur during such senseless and shameful operations!
Of recent there has been much talk about the human rights situation in Cameroon. This was ignited by the damning report of Amnesty International on the human rights situation in the country, published in January 2009. Many defenders of the Yaounde regime have made frantic efforts to give the impression that the report is an exaggeration. In the process, we have had confirmation that the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms in Yaounde is nothing short of window dressing. Roland Fube’s case tells us that the situation of human rights in Cameroon could even be worse than the one painted by Amnesty International!
Paul Biya has been around as head of state for the last 27 years. Since presidents are usually overexposed by the press, it is certain that Cameroonians have since lost interest in him because such exposure brings boredom after 5, 10, not to talk of 27 years! The people have since tuned out and can only be reawakened by a new show, a new leader...
As head of state, his cronies usually say that all that is done in Cameroon is done under his authority; therefore all bad and good happenings are attributable to him. Joblessness, unchecked corruption, embezzlement of public funds, impunity of public servants, electoral fraud, lack of transparency and accountability, inefficiency, and generalized indiscipline are all attributable to him.
In addition, as president, he is too aloof and does not behave like somebody who knows that "The People" are the boss for whom he works! He is perceived as one who invokes one set of conduct for those who oppose him and another for his friends and cronies; as one who pretends to impose discipline on his subordinates without accepting and working to the same discipline himself. He is supposed to be the national arbiter and be seen not to have a partisan spirit, but he has.
From this perspective, Cameroonians have a reason to be angry with him, and are likely to lose their nerves at the least provocation. Waiting for a presidential convoy for hours in heavy traffic, under the scorching sun is enough provocation!
Roland Fube, a school teacher in Yaounde is languishing in Kondengui prison "awaiting trial" for having made an "anti-Biya" statement when he lost his nerve in a traffic jam caused by the convoy of the president. The Forchive years are forcefully brought back to us by the news that he was arrested instantly by a plainclothes policeman! That era was supposed to have officially ended with the advent of the Criminal Procedure Code! How many such mad plainclothes men are going around the country unknown to us?
It is interesting that we recently read in a local newspaper that a whiteman, in frustration against anti-Obama statements being made by some white persons in the United States wrote that "I am going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying in seriousness or in jest anything of a threatening nature about President Obama". The white persons who say such threatening things are racists who do not think that a black man should be the president of the US
.In any case, this is only mentioned here to highlight the fact that where freedom of speech is a human value, a serious security force carries out investigations to determine to what extent "a threat" can go beyond "talking the talk". After all, during the colonial days, we are told that when an old African threatened to kill a whiteman if he had the opportunity, and was arrested for it, he asked his interrogators: "my mouth na gun?" If as some version puts it, the statement Roland Fube made in anger was "a threat", it is proper to ask the same question on his behalf...
Fube’s case indicates clearly that the Fochive era is still with us! Indeed, it is common knowledge that to settle a score with your "neigbour", you can pay a freak in a police station to cause him/her to be invited to the police station on a Friday...to be arrested and thrown into a police cell to spend the weekend there until Monday! Some of the extra-judicial killings that occur often in Cameroon, occur during such senseless and shameful operations!
Of recent there has been much talk about the human rights situation in Cameroon. This was ignited by the damning report of Amnesty International on the human rights situation in the country, published in January 2009. Many defenders of the Yaounde regime have made frantic efforts to give the impression that the report is an exaggeration. In the process, we have had confirmation that the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms in Yaounde is nothing short of window dressing. Roland Fube’s case tells us that the situation of human rights in Cameroon could even be worse than the one painted by Amnesty International!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Pope’s Cameroon Visit:Another Holy Opportunity for Biya
By Chritopher Ambe ShuPreparations are in high gear as Cameroon, Africa in miniature, looks forward to receiving Pope Benedict XVI on March 17.That will be Pope Benedict’s first pastoral visit to Africa since assuming the papacy in April 2005.
Some African countries, which were apparently hoping to host the incumbent Head of State of Vatican City, such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to media reports, think Cameroon should not have been chosen as the first African host of this Vicar of Christ on earth.
Pope Benedict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, had visited Cameroon twice -in 1985, and in September 1995, whereas several countries had not had such “regular holy visits”
The German-born Benedict is scheduled to have audience with President Paul Biya at Unity Pace, during which, it is widely hoped, there will be frank exchanges between the Pope and the President on matters of good governance, human rights, moral and democratic values.
President Biya, himself a staunch catholic would likely want to confide in the pontiff and seek his blessings in his leadership of Cameroon, pundits say.
The Papal visit to Cameroon is coming at a time when President Biya’s image is badly battered and soiled for socio-economic and political reasons, begging for cleansing.
Many political observers consider Biya’s leadership as “undemocratic and anti-people” even though the president has always claimed he is bent on modernizing and democratizing Cameroon.
Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for some 26 years, for example, still got his crushing majority in Parliament last year to amend the country’s constitution, removing term limits, against popular protest at home and abroad. The move was interpreted as Biya’s intention to become life president. His current and second seven- year mandate is expected to end in 2011.
Again, late last year Biya appointed several CPDM diehards as members of ELECAM (Cameroon’s so-called independent electoral body) and has since been widely criticized for not respecting the law which calls for the appointment of independent personalities. But the president does not seem to bother about the criticisms.
In protest, the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Cameroon’s leading opposition party has called for the boycott of any election organized by ELECAM, a call which if respected may plunge the country into violent confrontations.
Mgr Victor Tonye Bakot, Catholic Archbishop of Yaoundรฉ (capital of Cameroon), who is also Chairman of the Organizing Committee for Pope‘s visit to Cameroon recently disclosed to the press that, Cameroon government and the church would share the financial cost of hosting the pope and his large delegation ,which could run in to hundreds of millions of FCFA.
It is worth noting that, the Pope was jointly invited to Cameroon by President Biya and the National Episcopal Conference
But the most certain thing that Cameroon would reap from the visit is the Pope’s Blessings to the leadership of Cameroon and its citizens
In Cameroon, the pope will also meet with bishops, Muslim authorities, and on March 19 celebrate an open-air mass on the occasion of the publication of the Instrumentum Laboris of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops at Amadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaoundรฉ.
The Pope leaves Cameroon on March 20 for Angola’s capital, Luanda.
Pope Benedict’s predecessor Pope John Paul II had visited Cameroon twice -in 1985, and in September 1995 at the celebration phase of the African Synod.
And in his departure speech at Yaoundรฉ airport on 16 September 1995, after his three-day visit, Pope John Paul II had called on Cameroonians “in positions of authority in public life and business… to contribute to removing the obstacles, which still impede the development that ought to benefit their compatriots”. He strongly remarked, “My visit to Cameroon has enabled me to see the many material and spiritual gifts which the Almighty God has poured out upon your country”
But despite Cameroon’s abundant natural and human resources a majority of its citizens still live in abject poverty as corruption, embezzlement of public funds by holders of public office, unemployment are at record high.
Cameroon recently emerged twice as the most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International, a Berlin –based good governance watchdog.
These social ills that are so rife in Cameroon are not unknown to Pope Benedict XVI
That is why on receiving Cameroon’s Ambassador to the Holy See last year, Pope Benedict XVI seriously warned the Biya regime to contain corruption, which has eaten deep into the fabric of this central African country
The Pope is coming to Cameroon at a time when even the country’s Catholic Church is known to be critical of the Biya regime, for not doing much to improve the lot of citizens
The Catholic Church in Cameroon has in the last two decades had several of its priests murdered in mysterious circumstances, prompting the Vatican to call on the Cameroon government to carry out investigations so to prosecute the killers, but results of such probes are hardly made public.
But many critical watchers of Cameron political arena are convinced that President Paul Biya, will this time take the Pope’ s God- inspired advice very serious and govern the country with the fear of GOD, which is said to the beginning of Wisdom.
According to Vatican Information Service, “Cameroon has a population of 18,160,000 of whom 4,842,000 (26.7 percent) are Catholic. There are 24 ecclesiastical circumscriptions, 816 parishes and 3,630 pastoral centres of other kinds. Currently, there are 31 bishops, 1,847 priests, 2,478 religious, 28 lay members of secular institutes and 18,722 catechists. Minor seminarians number 2,249 and major seminarians 1,361.
‘A total of 410,964 students attend 1,530 centres of Catholic education,
from kindergartens to universities. Other institutions belonging to the
Church or run by priests or religious in Cameroon include 28 hospitals, 235 clinics, 11 homes for the elderly or disabled, 15 orphanages and nurseries,
But many critical watchers of Cameron political arena are convinced that President Paul Biya, will this time take the Pope’ s God- inspired advice very serious and govern the country with the fear of GOD, which is said to the beginning of Wisdom.
According to Vatican Information Service, “Cameroon has a population of 18,160,000 of whom 4,842,000 (26.7 percent) are Catholic. There are 24 ecclesiastical circumscriptions, 816 parishes and 3,630 pastoral centres of other kinds. Currently, there are 31 bishops, 1,847 priests, 2,478 religious, 28 lay members of secular institutes and 18,722 catechists. Minor seminarians number 2,249 and major seminarians 1,361.
‘A total of 410,964 students attend 1,530 centres of Catholic education,
from kindergartens to universities. Other institutions belonging to the
Church or run by priests or religious in Cameroon include 28 hospitals, 235 clinics, 11 homes for the elderly or disabled, 15 orphanages and nurseries,
40 family counselling centres and other pro-life centres, 23 centres for
education and social rehabilitation, and 32 institutions of other kinds.’’
education and social rehabilitation, and 32 institutions of other kinds.’’
Sunday, March 1, 2009
''Cameroon Law Is Against Direct Trial of Children by Courts"
- Magistrate Mrs. Epie Esther Ayuk, Deputy President Court of
First Instance, Buea and National Coordinator of CYJULERC
So concerned about the welfare of children, Magistrate Epie Esther Ayuk(pictured below) is fond of organising sensitisation meetings on Human Rights promotion and protection. As the only Inquiry Magistrate for children in the town of Buea and National Coordinator of Cameroon Young Jurists' Legal Resource Centre (CYJULERC) she recently assembled stakeholders in the juvenile justice chain to be updated on Children’s rights. This jurist spoke to Christopher Ambe Shu after the seminar. Excerpts:
Your Worship, you recently organised a seminar at the Conference Hall of Alliance Franco- Cameronaise in Buea., What was the focus of the seminar?
Magistrate (Mrs)Epie Esther:The seminar was organised by Cameroon Young Jurists Legal Resource Centre (CYJULERC), a human rights organisation with headquarters in Buea. The seminar was on Juvenile Justice Chain in Cameroon: The Role of Actors; it also focused on international instruments relevant to juvenile justice administration .It was organised to commemorate the this year‘s youth day. And talking about youth we thought, there were some youth who were being neglected, whom we thought we could remember them on this day, and that is the young people involved in crime. This is a class that is always forgotten because most of the children involved are neglected or abandoned children. And most of them live along the streets and when they are picked up by law enforcement officers, no adult knows what has happened to them. And as such, no body cares about what is happening to them.
So we thought that CYJULERC, which has as one of its duties the protection of children’s rights , should organise a meeting to bring together the actors of the Juvenile Justice Chain-that is the civil society , the social welfare officers , the judicial officers(gendarmes and police),the State Counsel Chambers(the Prosecutors),the examining and inquiry magistrates , judges and the Prison officers, to deeply reflect on juvenile justice, and work together to ensure the justice of the young people when need arises.
From the interaction of participants during the one-day workshop, would you say the objective of the meeting was fully achieved?
It was achieved. It was more that the success we expected. The turn out was very massive, with over 40 participants. Some people who were not invited got wind of the meeting and turned up. Everybody participated actively and learned much from each other. We learned much on how to improve on certain aspects of our job working as a team. The workshop revised UN Guidelines for the prevention of Juvenile Deliquency, which stresses that, prevention of juvenile delinquency is an essential part of crime prevention in society. We treated the UN standard minimum rules for the administration of juvenile justice as well as the UN Rules for the protection of juveniles deprived of their liberty. The rules include principles that define the specific circumstances under which children can be deprived of their liberty, emphasizing that deprivation of liberty must be a last resort measure, for the shortest possible period of time and limited to exceptional cases.
We also examined the vulnerability of children in conflict with the law.
What are some of the new things you learned to improve on juvenile justice?
The meeting was chaired by the State Counsel for Buea,His Lordship Justice Wanki,who expounded on what is meant by juvenile justice and what laws are applicable in Cameroon and how these young people should be treated. One of the things which the participants learned which was new was the fact that, Juvenile justice was not only considered when it comes to crime, but also considered in civil matter; the young people have to be taken care of well.
How would you define juvenile justice?
It is an expression used when children come in conflict with the law. The justice that is supposed to be meted on them is special. The law has provided special protection for them to be treated differently from the adult. So, we can say juvenile justice is a process of trying children who are in conflict with the law. The term “children in conflict with the law” refers to anyone under 18 years who comes into contact with the justice system as a result of being suspected or accused of committing an offence.
What special treatment do children have over adults?
The law in Cameroon has stratified children. Below ten years –total criminal irresponsibility; this means they are not responsible for their acts. Children between 10 and 14, they have partial responsibility and between 14 and 18, they have diminished responsibility. So the law has given this special provision for children’s responsibility to be diminished in case they are involved in criminal offences. Because of their vulnerability, these young ones will not fully know their responsibility and so the law makes it mandatory for those who are in charge of to be very careful. When a child is picked along the street by the law enforcement officer for having committed a crime it is mandatory for a social report to be carried out to be able to know the origin or the person of this child, the parent and the status of the child. The law also makes it mandatory for children not to be tried directly by the courts; they have to go through a special procedure of preliminary inquiry by an Inquiry magistrate, who is a magistrate of the bench of the Court of first Instance. Even if they are supposed to be tried it is not in the open court. They are supposed to be tried in camera –that is in chambers with only those involved in the matters.
Why are you so concerned with juvenile justice? Is it because you are a mother?
Partly so. I am privileged to be a mother and I am also privileged to be a magistrate whose duty is to mete out justice to children. Coincidently I am the only inquiry magistrate for children now in Buea.I hope another one will be appointed soon. I am versed with their problems
First Instance, Buea and National Coordinator of CYJULERC
So concerned about the welfare of children, Magistrate Epie Esther Ayuk(pictured below) is fond of organising sensitisation meetings on Human Rights promotion and protection. As the only Inquiry Magistrate for children in the town of Buea and National Coordinator of Cameroon Young Jurists' Legal Resource Centre (CYJULERC) she recently assembled stakeholders in the juvenile justice chain to be updated on Children’s rights. This jurist spoke to Christopher Ambe Shu after the seminar. Excerpts:
Your Worship, you recently organised a seminar at the Conference Hall of Alliance Franco- Cameronaise in Buea., What was the focus of the seminar?
Magistrate (Mrs)Epie Esther:The seminar was organised by Cameroon Young Jurists Legal Resource Centre (CYJULERC), a human rights organisation with headquarters in Buea. The seminar was on Juvenile Justice Chain in Cameroon: The Role of Actors; it also focused on international instruments relevant to juvenile justice administration .It was organised to commemorate the this year‘s youth day. And talking about youth we thought, there were some youth who were being neglected, whom we thought we could remember them on this day, and that is the young people involved in crime. This is a class that is always forgotten because most of the children involved are neglected or abandoned children. And most of them live along the streets and when they are picked up by law enforcement officers, no adult knows what has happened to them. And as such, no body cares about what is happening to them.
So we thought that CYJULERC, which has as one of its duties the protection of children’s rights , should organise a meeting to bring together the actors of the Juvenile Justice Chain-that is the civil society , the social welfare officers , the judicial officers(gendarmes and police),the State Counsel Chambers(the Prosecutors),the examining and inquiry magistrates , judges and the Prison officers, to deeply reflect on juvenile justice, and work together to ensure the justice of the young people when need arises.
From the interaction of participants during the one-day workshop, would you say the objective of the meeting was fully achieved?
It was achieved. It was more that the success we expected. The turn out was very massive, with over 40 participants. Some people who were not invited got wind of the meeting and turned up. Everybody participated actively and learned much from each other. We learned much on how to improve on certain aspects of our job working as a team. The workshop revised UN Guidelines for the prevention of Juvenile Deliquency, which stresses that, prevention of juvenile delinquency is an essential part of crime prevention in society. We treated the UN standard minimum rules for the administration of juvenile justice as well as the UN Rules for the protection of juveniles deprived of their liberty. The rules include principles that define the specific circumstances under which children can be deprived of their liberty, emphasizing that deprivation of liberty must be a last resort measure, for the shortest possible period of time and limited to exceptional cases.
We also examined the vulnerability of children in conflict with the law.
What are some of the new things you learned to improve on juvenile justice?
The meeting was chaired by the State Counsel for Buea,His Lordship Justice Wanki,who expounded on what is meant by juvenile justice and what laws are applicable in Cameroon and how these young people should be treated. One of the things which the participants learned which was new was the fact that, Juvenile justice was not only considered when it comes to crime, but also considered in civil matter; the young people have to be taken care of well.
How would you define juvenile justice?
It is an expression used when children come in conflict with the law. The justice that is supposed to be meted on them is special. The law has provided special protection for them to be treated differently from the adult. So, we can say juvenile justice is a process of trying children who are in conflict with the law. The term “children in conflict with the law” refers to anyone under 18 years who comes into contact with the justice system as a result of being suspected or accused of committing an offence.
What special treatment do children have over adults?
The law in Cameroon has stratified children. Below ten years –total criminal irresponsibility; this means they are not responsible for their acts. Children between 10 and 14, they have partial responsibility and between 14 and 18, they have diminished responsibility. So the law has given this special provision for children’s responsibility to be diminished in case they are involved in criminal offences. Because of their vulnerability, these young ones will not fully know their responsibility and so the law makes it mandatory for those who are in charge of to be very careful. When a child is picked along the street by the law enforcement officer for having committed a crime it is mandatory for a social report to be carried out to be able to know the origin or the person of this child, the parent and the status of the child. The law also makes it mandatory for children not to be tried directly by the courts; they have to go through a special procedure of preliminary inquiry by an Inquiry magistrate, who is a magistrate of the bench of the Court of first Instance. Even if they are supposed to be tried it is not in the open court. They are supposed to be tried in camera –that is in chambers with only those involved in the matters.
Why are you so concerned with juvenile justice? Is it because you are a mother?
Partly so. I am privileged to be a mother and I am also privileged to be a magistrate whose duty is to mete out justice to children. Coincidently I am the only inquiry magistrate for children now in Buea.I hope another one will be appointed soon. I am versed with their problems
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