*Kidnapped nurse released after three days .
By
Shufai Moh
The
ongoing Anglophone crisis in Cameroon, sparked off by teachers of the English
Subsystem of education in the country, demanding improved work conditions, has
left some health workers traumatized especially nurses who have been attacked
or kidnapped by armed separatists fighting for the independence of Anglophones
whom the latter say are grossly marginalized in the country
The
protesting teachers were later joined by advocates of the Common law who found themselves
in similar poor working conditions but were not satisfactorily attended to by Cameroon
government.
The
Anglophone crisis, which started in late October 2016, has led to the death of over five
thousand Cameroonians as violent and bloody clashes between Government forces
and Anglophone separatists continue.
Victims
of the ongoing Anglophone crisis are people of all walks of life.
But nurses are thought to be among the most
persecuted of the crisis, for attending to or treating wounded amba fighters
whom the Cameroon government likens to terrorists
There
have been disturbing reports how nurses have been arrested for interrogation in
connection of the treatment of wounded amba fighters; some kidnapped or brutalized
for performing their duties as car e givers.
In
fact, health workers have been attacked by both government forces and armed
separatist fighters. Some going to work face the risk of improvised explosive
devices planted by amba fighters .
The
fate befalling health professionals in the crisis-stricken Anglophone
regions has made many of them to abandon their job
sides and are now living in hideouts, with some fleeing abroad for safety
reasons.
Over forty thousand Cameroonians have
reportedly fled to Nigeria to seek asylum because of the ongoing crisis. The
severity of the crisis has left more than half a million people internally displaced.
Hundreds of fleeing Cameroonians are now
abroad for asylum purpose and many are looking for opportunities to do same.
The
story is circulated of a certain Mbaw Mireille Epse Ngwa, a victim of a recent
amba kidnapping.
Mbaw,
who is a nurse was on Sunady 21st August 2022 reportedly kidnapped
in Ekona, Southwest region of Cameroon, by amba fighters who accused her of
being a traitor.
Mbaw had rushed to Ekona from Buea to assist
her diabetic mother-in-law who was in need of quick medical attention.
Unfortunately,
the nurse was kidnapped by the roadside and taken into the bush where she threatened
with death and tortured before she was asked to pay a ransom of three million
Fcfa.
She
was released three days later when her family reportedly paid the ransom.
The
plight of Mbaw has reportedly intensified the fear of health practitioners in
the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon as to what the future holds for
them as their try to exercise their duties.
The
Anglophone crisis has had a damaging effect health institutions and educational
institutions. It is reported that over a million children have been unable to
attend school and many patients are afraid to visit hospitals because of violence
and insecurity that has characterized the crisis.
Other
characteristics of the crisis include extra-judicial killings, disappearances,
beheadings, illegal arrests and sexual assaults
Cameroon President Paul Biya’s efforts to
resolve the crisis seem to have failed as separatist fighters are still in
bushes and would come out sporadically to attack peoples and vandalize
property.
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