Cameroon:75% of AIDS affected women in 19-24 age bracket

By Liu Fang
YAOUNDE, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Three quarters of women affected by HIV/AIDS in Cameroon are between 19 and 24, three times more than the affected men of the same bracket, the Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday.

The figures were released as the central African country marked the World AIDS Day, when people working to control the deadly disease in Cameroon deplored the high rate, linking it to the poor economic and socio-cultural plight.

"Essential information on the methods of prevention of HIV/AIDS has not yet sufficiently reached the girls of this age bracket, " said Nestor Ankiba, executive director of Cameroon's Association of Social Marketing (ACMS), a non-profit making organization which facilitates access to health information by the Cameroonian population.

"It's an age group which is more or less naive, the majority of the girls at this age do not even know what they are doing," he added.

 The economic dependence of the girls at this age vis-a-vis their families which are not always rich is the origin of this high rate of contamination, according to the ACMS director.

A study conducted by his organization shows that the majority of their sexual partners are men who are older and have more money than the boys at their age.

In order to call for responsibility from the older people and attract the attention of the young girls on the dangers of inter-generational sexual relations, the ACMS launched in August 2008 a sensitization campaign titled "No to Sponsors, No to HIV/AIDS".

"Multiplication of several sexual partners by these young girls is certainly the main cause of contamination," said Arsene Onana Ndougsa, a peer educator at African Synergies against AIDS and suffering, an NGO headed by Cameroon's First Lady Chantal Biya.

In their multiple foray on the ground to interact with the youth, said Nadia Zibi Effa, another peer educator, the young men are more motivated to know the prevention methods and ways of contamination than the young girls.

Out of 35,780 young people tested voluntarily in August 2009 during the operation "Holidays without AIDS" organized since 2003 by African Synergies, 22,500 were boys and 13,280 were girls.

In the eyes of Zibi Effa, the fear of knowing their status explains the refusal by girls to get tested.

Antoine Socpa, an anthropologist and teacher at the University of Yaounde 1, has published a number of articles on the relationship between poverty and contamination of HIV. Other cultural factors like early marriage, female genital mutilation, scarification of the body by stained objects contribute to the contamination by the virus, he said.

Investigations carried out in northern regions of Cameroon where the practice of excision of young girls still goes on, he said, revealed a high rate of prevalence among girls because the objects used by the women are always stained by blood.

According to him, the sensitization that has cost billions of dollars against AIDS has had limitations since it has not helped in addressing some of the cultural aspects of some ethnic groups on the African continent.

 As a solution, Socpa asked international organizations involved in the fight against AIDS and African leaders to identify the factors that push the girls to get involved in risky activities regardless of the deadly consequences.

Preservatives may not be the only solution to this problem if the conditions of life of these people do not change.

 With a prevalence rate of 5.1 percent, which includes 6.8 percent of women and 4.1 percent of men, 553,000 people are living with HIV in Cameroon, where the first case was reported in 1985. The rate is 9.9 percent in the country's young population.

The central region of the country is the worst hit with 111,287sick people, who account for 47 percent of the total. In the north, 17,418 seropositives were reported, or 15 percent of the total.

The Cameroonian government on May 1, 2007 decided to provide the free antiretroviral treatment for the people living with HIV. There are now 136 health training centers across the country to take care of the patients.

The promotion of usage of preservatives for women is at the center of activities marking the World AIDS Day in Cameroon, which is marked under the theme "I am taking issues in my hands, stop AIDS, keep the promise, women and children without HIV."

The objective, according to health officials, is that each woman should decide for her own health and participate in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and contribute to the reduction of new infections in Cameroon.

Voluntary testing, conferences, debates and distribution of feminine and masculine preservatives are part of the activities of the national health week launched on Wednesday in the capital Yaounde.
Source:www.chinaview.cn

Cameroon :Nkong Hill Gives Birth to Microfinance Institution

By Mofor Samuel
South West Regional Delegate for Agriculture and Rural Development, Lawrence Forwang, on October 18, 2009 in Buea officially inaugurated the Nkong Credit for Savings and Cooperative Society (NC4D) Ltd, a brainchild of Nkong Hill Top Common Initiative Group Buea. Commissioning the new microfinance institution, the delegate talked of the eagerness and the expectations of the grassroots population of the region with respect to this venture. He went further to say that this population is characterized by poverty, low income levels and low standard of living. And that one of the greatest problem of agriculture where close to 80% of the Cameroonian population is involved in, is the lack of finances for investments, compounded by the difficulties to obtain credits from commercial banks, high interest rates and the unavailability of collaterals and guarantees to satisfy the banks and other lending institutions.

With the only collaterals to farmers being their farmlands and crops, NC4D has come as a welcome relief to the population for their use and benefit.

The delegate equally had some words of advice to the management of NC4D on how they can make their impact felt by the needy population. Amongst others, he talked of mutual confidence within members, large deposits of money are not the type of savings to look for, savings as the basis for obtaining credit, operate on the cooperative philosophy that emphasizes on service rather than profit, loans to be granted for productive purpose and pay expenses of operation and dividends on the savings of its members etc.

Before exhorting NC4D to operate in the light of the prudential, financial and specific accounting norms applicable to savings and credit cooperatives / MFI according to the laws of the Republic of Cameroon concerning the profession, he reminded them that the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC) shall watch out on the quality of their financial situation and accounting management to ensure that ethical rules of the profession are respected.

Earlier on, in a welcome address by the Chairperson of NC4D, Anu Vincent, he said that the presence of all and sundry at the commissioning ceremony was proof that they share the vision of the mother organization, Nkong Hill Top, which strives for a world in which human dignity is protected from the ravages of poverty, ignorance, discrimination and violence. And that their presence is certainly telling them that they can count on them as NC4D sets out to achieve its mission of bringing financial services at moderate rate to the urban unbanked and rural populations.

He equally took all down memory lane by briefly situating NC4D to them. He said that it all began one evening in 1996 in a bar in Great Soppo called Hill Top, when some men and women decided to start a weekly savings club to collectively rescue themselves from the ravenous money lenders who were exploiting the financial crunch occasioned by the civil service salary cuts and the devaluation of FCFA of the early nineties.

It was out of this initiative that emerged Nkong Hill Top Common Initiative group and its several programmes notably NWOCA- Nkong Women Cash Up- project which has seen the Nkong family deliver micro credits to over 600 low income women beneficiaries in Fako and Lebialem Divisions of Cameroon since 2006.

This has been achieved thanks to the commitment of Nkong Hill Top Board and members, the over 98% payback performance of the beneficiaries and enduring support of MRDF London and recently Drombaya, their foreign partners.

Thanks to the findings of an impact assessment on the social impact of NWOCA programme carried out recently by a John Hopkins University intern, the Board of Nkong Hill Top resolved to forge ahead in 2006 to register a Category 1 microfinance institution that is functioning in conformity with the existing national legislation regulating the sector in Cameroon.

With the goal being to promote access to microfinance services for members, the community and especially the urban and rural poor women; and in line with the objectives spelt out in Section 42 of the Law on cooperatives and common initiative groups, the purpose of NC4D Ltd shall be to:

provide members financing at moderate interest rate for both investment and /or production purposes; offer complementary savings and credit services such as risk management, checking system etc; build the capacity of members and the community through educational seminars, workshops and other training activities; and provide financial intermediation services within Cameroon.

While acknowledging with profound gratitude the support that they continue to receive from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through its Regional Delegate and his extension services, the Ministry of Finance, Softsarl Ltd Douala. Aziverida Ltd London, MRDF London, Drombaya Switzerland, the NGO community in Buea and members of Nkong Hill Top, the Chairperson said in joining them will be coming to a winning community which includes local and international partners linked in productive partnerships for development.

Last but not the least he talked of their being proud of their achievement but that they are very aware of the huge challenges, challenges which are well beyond simply getting to a hill top, challenges which NC4D shall encounter as they strive to reach the mountain top.

Cameroon:RUMPI Project Approves 2010 Work plan, Budgets FCFA 8.9 Billion

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The annual work plans and budget of the Rumpi Area Participatory Development Project (fondly called Rumpi Project) for 2010 have been approved by the Project’s Steering Committee (PSC), chaired by Southwest Governor.

The PSC, which met at its 9th session at Chariot Hotel, in Buea,adopted the project’s 2010 budget in income and expenditure at the sum of eight billion eight hundred and sixty seven million five hundred and forty thousand(8,867,540,000) FCFA.

The PSC represents various project stakeholders and is responsible for the overall supervision of the Rumpi project.

The FCFA 17 billion Rumpi Project, launched in 2004, is intended to reduce poverty in rural areas of the Southwest province by increasing their incomes in a sustainable manner, through improving agricultural output as well as their socio-economic environment.

It is placed under the Southwest Development Authority, SOWEDA-Buea, and co- funded by African Development Bank (ADB75%), Technical Assistance Fund (TAF 8 %), Government of Cameroon (GOC15%) and the beneficiaries (2%), according to official sources.

Opening the 9th session, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome, general manager of SOWEDA ,who sat in for the PSC chairman, called on members to be realistic in discussing the budget and to make sure that the budget would not only be realistic but achievable.

He challenged Rumpi administrators and its executing agencies to double efforts in order to fully accomplish their objectives, as the project draws to an end. He said the government attaches much importance to the project with regards to its fight for poverty-alleviation.

Dr Eneme said the project, which has a six-year life span, is at its 5th year and is expected to end in June 2010, if a request for an extension for another one year is not approved. The government had earlier written to the ADB requesting a one year prolongation

The 9th PSC recommended that “the Project should contact the Ministry of Public Works to ensure that, the construction of 15 km along the Sabes-Kendem road be integrated among the works of the Ekok-Mamfe-Bamenda highway to be funded by the African Development bank”.

The PSC also recommended “that the Rumpi Project Implementation Team and partners should take all necessary measures to ensure that certified seeds and other planting materials are available to farmers at the right time of the agricultural calendar”

The PSC members(pictured), according to a statement issued at the end of the sitting, “noted with satisfaction the action taken by the Project management to reinforce the capacity of the Infrastructure Component by recruiting a senior Infrastructure Engineer”

Besong Ntui Ogork, Rumpi Project Coordinator, said they were now focusing on infrastructure development, noting that in the past the project had done much in assisting agricultural activities and farmers in the southwest region.

The PSC met barely two weeks after RUMPI awarded two contracts to E & T Engineering in Douala and SOTAR/SOGES, Douala for the rehabilitation and construction of some 227 km of feeder roads in the Southwest region, for a period of up to 10 months worth about five billion FCFA

The achievements of RUMPI as at now are many which include: education of farmers: construction of rural markets, rural roads, water schemes, and village banks.

Observers say Project coordinator, Besong Ntui Ogork, who is an agricultural expert and masters the development problems of the Southwest region, is greatly responsible for the strides Rumpi Project is making. They recall that he took over as project coordinator when the ADB had stop disbursement to the project but Mr. Besong Ntui Ogorkworked extra hard and  regained  the bank’s confidence,occasioning the resumption of disbursement

Cameroon: Presbyterian Church Elects New Moderator

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC), which is 52 years old, has a new moderator, who is the Chief Shepherd of this Christian organization with a membership of more than one million people.

Rev.Dr.Festus Ambe Asana(pictured) was overwhelmingly elected by the 44th Synod ,dubbed “Synod of Change” ,on November 24 in Kumba, to replace the Rt. Rev.Dr. Nyansako –ni-Nku, who has served in that capacity for ten years, and is due retirement in December.

Rev.Professor Emmanuel Anyambod Anya,rector of Protestant University of Central Africa(PUCA),who had put up his candidature to race with Rev.Dr.Festus Asana, considered the favorite, for office of moderator, withdrew at the last minute, in favor of his lone challenger.That made Rev. Dr.Asana to secure all 92 votes,hence scoring 100% from the electoral college.

Rev. Dr.Asana will officially assume office in January 2010 after an institution and induction ceremony.

Rev.Abwenzoh William Membong ,secretary of the Kumba Presbytery, was also elected as Synod Clerk, to replace Rev. Dr. Festus Ambe Asana, who has served two five-year terms in that office. Rev Abwenzoh beat his lone challenger, Rev. Besong Johnson Tabe by 47 to 45 votes.

In his acceptance speech,Moderator-elect Rev. Dr. Asana emphasised the need for the church to become more united."My ambition is to see the church stronger and more united;that we reason as children of one family,"he said,adding that transparency,hard work and probity must characterise his leadership.

Rev. Dr.Asana’s Profile

Born in Bafut in March 1948, Rev. Dr. Festus Ambe Asana is the first of ten children of late Rev.David Chembe Asana and Monica Bi Asana.

Due to the itinerant missionary nature of his father’s service, young Festus Asana attended Basel/Presbyterian Primary Schools in Nyasoso, Nseh, Kumbo, Buwe-Bukali and Bome.

As a student of Cameroon Protestant College (CPC) Bali where he felt called to the pastoral ministry in his third year (1966). After obtaining the London GCE ordinary Level, he proceeded to Cameroon College of Arts, Science and Technology (CCAST) Bambili where he passed his GCE Advanced level.

Festus Asana began his theological studies at the Faculty of Protestant Theology, Yaoundé graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor’s degree and post-graduate diploma. That same year he began teaching at the Presbyterian Theological College, Nyasoso at the age of 29. He later became Principal of same college

In 1983, he moved to the USA where he studied for an MTS degree at Harvard University, the Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduating as class marshal. He later earned a doctorate degree (Th.D) from Boston University School of Theology.

Upon return to Cameroon, he was reappointed Principal of the Theological College, Kumba and he became the first Dean of the Presbyterian Seminary in 1984 when the school was upgraded to a degree-awarding institution.

Rev Dr. Festus Asana has served the church in various capacities among which are: tutor at CPC Bali (1971-1972); lecturer at Theological College, Nyasoso and Kumba Seminary for 14 years; principal of Theological College, Nyasoso and Kumba for seven years; chaplain of Government Secondary School Nyasoso for three years; pastor of English-Speaking parish, Yaoundé for two years; Chaplian of Presbyterian High School,Kumba(1990);pastor of Kosala Congregation for five years; Dean of the Presbyterian theological Seminary Kumba for five years and Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon from 1999 to 2009.

He was ordained in 1978 and is married to Mrs. Jenny Nchang, a teacher by profession and holder of Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley college Graduate School,Cambridge,Massachusetts,USA.They have four children.

Rev Dr Asana has co-authored two books and published many articles;been member of the board of Governors of the Cameroon Bible Translation and Literacy association(CABTAL)

EU Condemns Election Management Transfer in Cameroon

 By Tansa Musa
Cameroon’s democ­ra­ti­sa­tion process has suf­fered a seri­ous set­back this year after the gov­ern­ment trans­ferred elec­tions man­age­ment from the Min­istry of Ter­ri­to­r­ial Admin­is­tra­tion (MINAT) to the rul­ing Cameroon People’s Demo­c­ra­tic Move­ment (CPDM) party of Pres­i­dent Paul Biya, says the head of the Euro­pean Com­mis­sion del­e­ga­tion in Yaounde.

“We strongly applauded the government’s deci­sion in 2006 to cre­ate an inde­pen­dent body Elec­tions Cameroon (ELECAM) to man­age elec­tions in the coun­try, believ­ing that this would be the end of flawed polls that has almost resulted in social unrest many times, and a major step for­ward in the democ­ra­ti­sa­tion process,” Javier Puyol told a press con­fer­ence in Yaounde on Friday.

“But we were very dis­ap­pointed this year when the author­i­ties appointed the 12 board mem­bers of ELECAM and 11 of them were mem­bers of the cen­tral com­mit­tee and polit­i­cal bureau of the rul­ing party. In other words, this sim­ply meant trans­fer­ing the task of elec­tions organ­i­sa­tion from MINAT to one of the par­ties in con­test, actu­ally mak­ing it a player and ref­eree at the same time. This was a missed oppor­tu­nity to advance the democ­ra­ti­sa­tion process. This is regret­table. Its a pity. It is already a false start for the 2011 pres­i­den­tial poll which is just by the cor­ner. That elec­tion has already lost its creadibility.”

The Cameroon gov­ern­ment decided to cre­ate ELECAM as an inde­pen­dent elec­toral body in 2006 fol­low­ing per­sis­tent com­plains from the oppo­si­tion, the civil soci­ety and the donor com­mu­nity that pre­vi­ous elec­tions organ­ised by MINAT since the coun­try returned to mul­ti­par­tism in 1991, were grossly irreg­u­lar and designed to favour the CPDM. The law cre­at­ing the body stip­u­lates clearly that mem­bers of its board “shall be des­ig­nated from the midst of inde­pen­dent per­son­al­i­ties of Cameroon­ian nation­al­ity, reputed for their stature, moral upright­ness, intel­lec­tual hon­esty, patri­o­tism, neu­tral­ity and impartiality.”

The move was widely acclaimed as a major step for­ward. Unfor­tu­nately, the spir­its of Cameroo­ni­ans, includ­ing mil­i­tants of the rul­ing party them­selves, were damp­ened when in May pres­i­dent Biya appointed only the big guns of his party — three mem­bers of the polit­i­cal bureau and five mem­bers of the cen­tral com­mit­tee — as mem­bers of ELECAM. This has gen­er­ated wide­spread con­dem­na­tion from within the coun­try and out­side, with the main oppo­si­tion Social Demo­c­ra­tic Front (SDF) party already threat­en­ing “to do every­thing to ensure that the 2011 pres­i­den­tial poll does not hold.

Puyol said he under­stood Cameroo­ni­ans’ frus­tra­tions with the elec­toral sys­tem and appealed to the author­i­ties to do some­thing to regain the people’s con­fi­dence in the process. Fail­ure to do this, he said he fore­sees reg­is­tra­tion on the voter’s list and turn-out fur­ther declin­ing and cast­ing doubts over the legit­i­macy of those in authority.
“It is sad that Cameroon which has a pop­u­la­tion of close to 20 mil­lion inhab­i­tants has never suc­ceeded to reg­is­ter up to 5 mil­lion on the voter list. Things could be worst in the 2011 pres­i­den­tial elec­tion and that is not good for the coun­try,” he stated.

Observers in the nation’s cap­i­tal say the appoint­ments only came to con­firm Biya’s deter­mi­na­tion to be pres­i­dent of Cameroon for life. In April 2008, after 26 years of rule, Biya, using his party’s fraud­u­lent major­ity in the National Assem­bly (157 of 180 seats), mod­i­fied the con­sti­tu­tion by sup­press­ing the two-term man­date limit, which means he can run again for as many terms as he wants. The 76-year old Biya came to power in 1982 as the hand-picked suc­ces­sor of for­mer head of state Ahmadou Ahidjo. He is today one of Africa’s longest serv­ing rulers

Courtesy:www.newstimeafrica.com (Posted on November 15 )

Cameroon’s Decentralization Begins In 2010

By Christopher Ambe Shu
The year 2010 will usher in a significant feature to Cameroon’s political and democratic reforms .The much-awaited decentralization (devolution of powers) , one of President Biya’s Greater Ambitions’ reforms, will kick off in 2010.

The government is now leaving no stone unturned in its preparations to ensure the smooth take –off.

Decentralization shall give regional and local authorities (councils) administrative and financial autonomy in the management of their interests, and the State shall only “lightly” supervise them.

In the past, mayors who were unable to deliver blamed Senior Divisional Officers, agents of the Central Administration who acted as Supervisory Authority, of frustrating their development plans, for selfish motives.

The Head of Government and Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, who, on November 10,chaired an extra-ordinary session of the National Decentralization Council in Yaounde, has insisted that the devolution of powers ,as promised by President Biya ,must become a reality and irreversible next year.
The National Decentralization Council monitors and assesses the decentralization and implementation process.

The Finance law on the 2010 state budget is expected to set a fraction of the state revenue for the general decentralization allocations.

“The powers to be transferred in 2010 should, in a concrete manner, go to improve the living conditions, environment of the population or at least be geared towards the provision of quality basic education”, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, Minister of State for Territorial Administration and Decentralization, told a recent session of an inter-ministerial committee, also concerned with the preparation of the coming decentralization.

To reiterate its seriousness, the government has published new rules for the management of council human resources.

But decentralization, administration officials say, will start first with sub divisional and city councils, as regions have not yet been put in place.

While mayors have expressed satisfaction that in less than three months they would start enjoying greater autonomy in the management of their municipalities, they have pleaded with the government to cancel heavy debts they inherited, so to permit them to take off well.

“We appreciate government's decentralization efforts, but we are appealing to the government to cancel some of the heavy debts the incumbent mayors inherited-because of the in ability of previous council administrations to settle them.”

Cameroon:Biya urged to launch 2011 Presidential Campaigns in Buea

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Still undecided whether or not to run for reelection at the forth coming presidential polls in 2011, President Paul Biya may find it difficult to turn down popular calls from within his ruling party, the CPDM ,for him to race for another mandate.

At almost all anniversary ceremonial grounds across the country where CPDM militants assembled on November 6 to celebrate President Biya’s 27 years as Cameroon’s second President, clarion calls were made to Mr. Biya to consider running again.

The anniversary theme was “Let’s Build the Future with President Paul Biya”

In Buea ,CPDM militants not only joined the chorus but went ahead to invite Mr. Biya to launch his presidential campaigns in Buea, which they noted, hosts Mt Cameroon, the highest peak in the country.

The Mayor of Buea and Fako 3 CPDM section President, Charles Mbella Moki(pictured above addressing militants), who on behalf of his section, extended the invitation to President Biya, argued that by launching campaigns on the country’s highest peak, the message would flow easily into to the minds of Cameroonians for appreciation.

State media even reported that in some regions militants pleaded with President Biya to call for early elections.

Conscious of the repeated calls for him to run for reelection, President Biya who is also National Chairman of the ruling CPDM,in his first ever letter to militants on the eve to the anniversary, had acknowledged the calls, describing them as a sign of encouragement.

The anniversary offered an opportunity for CPDM officials to showcase President Biya’s socio-economic, political and diplomatic achievements (read: How Biya Has Modernized Cameroon on this site), as well as dismiss allegations that Mr.Biya is a spendthrift and has ill-gotten wealth hidden abroad. Grassroots militants were also urged to start preparing for future political consultations (elections) so to make the CPDM an all-time victory.

Prime Minster Philemon Yang moved to his division of origin,Bui Division ,to boost anniversary celebrations there, during which he rallied support for President Biya and warned North westerners against making wrong political choice, a veiled reference to the opposition SDF party.

In Mfoundi-Yaounde, CPDM Secretary –General Rene Sadi, who presided over anniversary activities in the City Hall, asked militants to make the nation’s capital the bastion of the CPDM. “We all have to adhere to the policy of our Prsident.What Cameroon is today is thanks to our Prsident”, he said.

In Buea,Hon. Emilia Lifaka,Vice President of Cameroon National Assembly and Hon. Meoto Paul, former Director of Cabinet at the PM’s Office, were also busy rallying support for President Biya.


The story was the same at the different ceremonial grounds across the nation.

WHY CAMEROONIAN MANAGERS FAIL

By SNOWSEL ANO-EBIE in Douala
When one critically looks at the Cameroonian society since November 1982, it is not immediately clear whether the citizens have doubted 27 years of benefits or whether their leaders have benefited from 27 years of doubt. One way or the other, there has been benefits and doubts. A dispassionate examination of the business and organizational leadership sectors in the country clearly points to 27 years of managerial failure.


One can consider management as the ability to plan, organise, and coordinate an organisation’s financial, human, material and other resources in order to achieve its objectives. You don’t need to study the management classics, or delve into “Scientific Management” by Frederic W. Taylor, “Management as a Profession” by Mary Parker Follett, or “The Manager’s Job: Folklore and Fact” by Henry Mintzberg, in order to identify managerial failure in Cameroon.


Over the years, Cameroon has been plagued by many problems like corruption which is now a national culture, crippling youth unemployment, ethnocentric calculations that breed tribalism, inability to attain a two digit growth rate and break lose from the grip of the economic crisis, a hideous debt burden, and many other challenges that can all be blamed on mismanagement.


It is the inability to plan, lead, organise, and control, hence the failure of managers, that a country like Cameroon can boast of 50 years of independence, with 27 of those years under the “New Deal”, but the most pressing needs of the citizens have not been addressed.


It is ignorance of the planning processes in management as expounded by management scholar Henri Fayol, and the inability to engage in the kind of long-range planning described by Peter F. Drucker that Cameroon has been deprived of “an express train” between Douala and Yaounde, the “Trans Cameroon Railway” has not been extended from Ngaoundere to Maroua and Kousséri, the hydro electric potential of Menchum Falls has not been tapped to solve the country’s energy needs and even export electricity to countries like Nigeria, the Limbe deep Seaport has stagnated; and the Ring Road, the Kumba-Mamfe Road, and paved roads leading to all divisional headquarters in Cameroon have remained tools of political blackmail.


The failure of Cameroon’s managers can be seen in the reluctance to create technical universities in the country, in the much heralded democratic process that is aborted in its embryonic stage, and in the wanton lack of recreational and sports infrastructure even though “the fighting Lions’ spirit” is exploited for political capital.


Those who have sat in Management classrooms, studied Management Courses, and taken time off to master the Management Classics, know that effective managers rely on two things; the ability to manage, and the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, in Cameroon, those who have been saddled with the opportunity to manage national organisations and institutions have for the most part been overtaken by their glaring deficiency in managerial skills. It is very difficult, and almost impossible to find any Cameroonian parastatal or state corporation where the managers do not squander opportunities, waste resources, and kill the talents of the people who have been entrusted into their care. The resultant consequence of managerial failure is mismanagement which can aptly be described as one of Cameroon’s greatest nightmares alongside absentee leadership.


There are many reasons why Cameroonian managers fail and the most obvious is poor education. The greater majority of people who lord it over Cameroonian organisations don’t have a management education. All those managing directors, general managers, and chief executive officers, who preside over billions of CFA Francs of tax payers money, have not been trained in the “Principles of Management”, Managerial Economics, Finance, and Accounting. Why would they not fail?


In Cameroon, many managers are technocrats who are appointed up the rungs of the organisation from service heads or first line managers to directors or middle managers and finally to general managers or top management. The disadvantage of this system is that while such managers may succeed with the operational aspects of the organisation, they woefully fail in the functional aspects like budgeting, financial reporting, accounting, and human resource allocation. When one expects teachers, medical doctors, engineers, journalists, lawyers, and other professionals to get academic training in order to become efficient and effective, people who aspire to occupy management positions or ramble into the management field by some struck of luck, desperately need to undergo training in order to speak the language of management and avoid the kind of ignorance that nurtures failure.


Even managers who claim to have training in their CVs are for the most part talking of their stay in the National School of Administration and Magistracy ENAM in Yaounde. For a long time, to qualify as a manager in Cameroon one was required to be a civil administrator trained at ENAM. Graduates from this “prestigious” school of Administration have imposed themselves on state owned companies and organisations. Administration has been erroneously equated to Management. The negative results in terms of failed policies, companies that have been brought down and driven out of existence, cumbersome organisation charts, squandered opportunities, and misplaced priorities are there for everyone to see. Unfortunately, the ENAM myth is still considered a prerequisite for top managers in Cameroon.


Another reason why Cameroonian managers fail is because they are selected through a system of appointments whose underlying motive is to reward political allies and their “God children”, punish Regions of the country that are politically hostile to the present dispensation, and perpetuate a reign of ethnic and tribal hegemony.


The other risk is that appointments are at the discretionary mercy of the person making them, and many unqualified and inexperienced people get appointed, some of them directly from school into top management. Managerial failure can only be the logical outcome.


It is indeed unfortunate that a Developing country like Cameroon has not adopted the MBA or Masters in Business Administration as a standard qualification for all top managers. In other African countries foreign and locally trained MBAs have already taken charge of the economy and national institutions but this is not the case in Cameroon.

Management by political appointments and management by “trial-and-error” have failed Cameroon. Only a logical system based on merit, a sound education, and a solid experience, can turn the tides of managerial failure in Cameroon around.

How Biya Has Modernized Cameroon

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Like it or not, Paul Biya’s 27 years as Cameroon’s President have been eventful, as his blueprint of modernizing the country is being implemented. It could be slow, but it has been steady. Mr. Biya desires to be described as a great achiever. Just staying in power, democratically elected, for 27 years  is a telling achievement.
Even if he has weaknesses - which is normal as a human being, his successes in the political, socio-economic, diplomatic domains and otherwise are there for any person of good faith appreciate. But to completely dismiss Mr. Biya‘s 27-year stay at the helm of power as wasted years, as leading opposition parties in Cameroon claim, is too unfair.
 Democratic Reforms
Politically, to begin with, when he assumed the presidential office on November 6, 1982, the country was a one-party system. Democracy was barely practiced within the party. But in March 1985, he transformed the lone party – the CNU - into CPDM, introducing democratic reforms within the party. He reintroduced multi-party democracy in 1990, against protests from some learned Cameroonians. 
 Today, Cameroon has over 200 political parties, with citizens free to belong to any of their choice or even to form more. With the multiplicity of parties came greater freedom of expression. Cameroonians under former President Ahmadou Ahidjo did not actually enjoy freedom of expression.
Since 1992 elections - notably presidential, municipal and parliamentary - have been organized for Cameroonians to democratically choose their leaders and representatives. It is true complaints of electoral fraud and rigging have been alleged by mostly loser-opposition parties such as the SDF, but the Supreme Court has always adjudicated on such complaints.
President Biya listened to calls from the opposition, who felt that the Ministry of Territorial Administration charged with organizing elections, was not trustworthy, and created the National Elections Observatory (NEO) to supervise polls. The opposition still doubted its credibility, insisting on the creation of an independent electoral body, which President Biya has created in ELECAM.
To ensure that democratic tenets are respected, President Biya set up the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms to promote Human rights, and abolished administrative censorship of the press.

Improving Infrastructure

On the social domain, the Biya Administration has been doing much to put up social facilities across the nation, to improve living standards.
One can easily find well-equipped hospitals in towns and rural settings. Health centers are spread nationwide. The telephone system has been modernized. Deregulation of telecoms has ushered in MTN and Orange, who now serve millions. Consider computer centers with internet link in many schools. Cameroon has an ultra modern television network (CRTV). With President Biya deregulating the audio-visual sector, there are over 100 private radios and 10 television stations operating in Cameroon.


Major roads have been constructed linking towns and more are still under construction. Electricity and water projects are being extended to rural areas. Almost every village has a primary school. Secondary and high schools as well as institutes are far common in Cameroon now than before. The country now has seven state-owned universities (Buea, Douala, Dschang, Ngaoundéré, Yaoundé I, Yaoundé II and Garoua), plus several privately owned universities. There are many other social facilities that can not be all mentioned here.
 In the economic arena, the Biya administration has created and encouraged foreigners to open companies and industries in Cameroon. His administration, in collaboration with the Brettonwoods institutons, is currently carrying out a structural adjustment program, intended to boost economic growth, alleviate poverty and misery and fight diseases. Cameroon‘s economic growth is steady.

Conscious that Cameroon is endowed with abundant natural and human resources, the Biya regime has set up youth employment programs and projects in different ministries. For civil servants, the Government recently decreed a 15 percent pay raise.
There is no doubt that Cameroon, with one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa, still faces problems such as high unemployment, corruption, and embezzlement of public funds, injustices and human rights abuses. But measures have taken by the Biya Administration to check such ills. Many government officials have been thrown in prison for embezzlement and corruption. Many more are currently detained, awaiting trial.
 Opponents accuse President Biya of lacking the political will to put in place institutions provided for by the 1996 revised constitution, such as the Senate and the Constitutional Council. But they forget to note that President Biya has insisted that these institutions world soon be put in place.

Successful Diplomacy

Under President Biya, Cameroon continues to forge relations and maintain good relations with other important nations and international organizations. Cameroon is known as an island of peace in a turbulent Central African sub-region.


One of his latest diplomatic victories was the the return of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon by Nigeria. Cameroon and Nigeria disputed over the legal ownership of the peninsula for years. But conscious that Bakassi belongs to Cameroon, President Paul Biya finally brought the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

In October 2002, the ICJ ruled that sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula lies with Cameroon. And in August 2008, Nigeria finally ceded Bakassi to Cameroon.This was widely considered as a huge diplomatic victory for President Biya.
Due to President Biya’s track record of successes, militants of his ruling party and other Cameroonians are already calling on him to run for re-election in 2011, when his second seven year mandate ends
NB:This Article was First Published at  www.cameroonforum.net

Cameroon :Biya To Celebrate 27th Power Anniversary Tomorrow

By Christopher Ambe Shu
Preparations, at all levels, are in high gear in Cameroon to celebrate Mr. Paul Biya’s 27 years as second president of Republic of Cameroon, commonly referred to as Africa in Miniature and an Island of Peace, in a turbulent Sub-Central African region.

Mr. Biya took office as President on November 6, 1982, following the resignation of former President Ahmadou Ahidjo, who had ruled the country, under one-party system, for over two decades .Upon assuming office, President Biya promised to modernize and democratize Cameroon.

And in 1990, he reintroduced multi-party politics, ealier practiced in Cameroon but abolished in 1966, to maintain just one party, Cameron Nation Union (CNU), which in 1985 was transformed into the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM)

Today, Cameroon, with a population of about 18 million people, has over 200 political parties. The CPDM, created in 1985 in Bamenda by Mr. Biya, who is its National Chairman, is the ruling party since inception.
The anniversary is coming shortly after media reports alleged that President Biya, while in France recently for a three -week holiday, spent over FCFA 700 million on hotel bills, restaurant and shopping.

Although the Government and the hotel (la baule) where the president and aides lodged had quickly dismissed the allegation as false, ruling party officials and militants are expected to use the anniversary celebrations to further dismiss the reports.

Militants and regime apologists will, at various ceremonial grounds showcase the president’s socio-economic, diplomatic and political achievements as well as his Grandes Ambitions Program.

Militants will also reiterate their precious call for President Biya to stand for reelection at the 2011 presidential polls.

NB: First Published on November,4 at www.cameroonforum.net

Cameroon: Opposition Sees Biya’s 27 Years in Power as Harmful

By Christopher Ambe Shu

As Cameroon President Paul Biya clocks 27 years at the helm of power next November 6, the country’s opposition parties, which since early 1990’s with the reintroduction of multi-party politics have tried unsuccessfully to unseat him at presidential polls, say he has since become a spent-force and spendthrift, worth- dumping for retarding the nation’s socio-economic and political progress. Cameroon has over 200 political parties, with just less than ten considered as active

Those that oppose the ruling CPDM argue that Mr. Biya, who is widely said to have been defeated at the 1992 presidential elections by Cameroon’s leading opposition Party (SDF) candidate, Ni John Fru Ndi, is still in power thanks to electoral fraud, endorsed by the Judiciary, which he heads.

Mr.Biya took over from Ahmadou Ahidjo, as Cameroon’s second president, on November 6, 1982 and promised to “greatly improve the lot of Cameroonians, modernize and democratize the country; promises, which many critics think, he has not kept.

They recall that, in declaring President Biya as winner of the 1992 controversial presidential election, largely marred by irregularities, Supreme Court President, Alexis Dipanda Mouele, said “my hands are tied”. This was widely interpreted to mean that, the Supreme Court judge lacked courage to pronounce Fri Ndi winner, for fear of the unknown. Cameroon judiciary is not independent; the Constitution says that the President of the Republic guarantees its independence.

Opposition parties describe the Ministry of Territorial Administration (main organizer of elections in Cameroon) and the now defunct National Elections Observatory (NEO) as rigging machinery, put in place by the ruling CPDM for to prolong its rule.

The opposition claim that, if not of the CPDM rigging machinery, they would have since booted President Biya out of power, won majority seats in parliament and councils to improve on life in Cameroon, which they think Mr. Biya is not ready to do.

The opposition regret that their call for an independent electoral body, forced President Biya to create but a semblance, called ELECTIONS CAMEROON (ELECAM), which Chief Albert Samba Ngwana, Chairman of Cardinal Democratic Party and Ni John Fru Ndi of the SDF, have described as another CPDM organ.ELECAM has been widely rejected in and out of Cameroon, with the opposition calling for the boycott of any elections organized by this body.

But why do the opposition parties badly want President Biya out?

They wonder why Cameroon, which is endowed with abundant natural resources to merit high standards of living, is classified a heavily indebted poor country. Cameroon, they point out, has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. But it faces many of the serious problems common in other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service, unfavorable climate for business, high unemployment, wide-spread corruption, embezzlement of Public funds, injustices and human rights abuses; so many Cameroonians are living in disease and misery. The population living below the poverty line stands at 48 %( 2001 est)

In 1994, the FCFA was devalued, followed by a 70% salary cut for civil servants, making life unbearable for them. Workers had to live in that ugly situation for many years until recently when government re-adjusted salaries by only 15%

Opponents accuse President Biya of lacking the political will to put in place institutions provided for by the 1996 revised constitution, such as the Senate, the Constitutional Council; of not properly separating the arms of Power(Judiciary, legislature and Executive) ;of tribalism, nepotism, inefficiency and inertia.

The opposition and a good proportion of Cameroonians feel so disappointed that the ruling CPDM used its crushing majority in Parliament in February 2008 to revise the Constitution, scraping off presidential term limits. The revision paves the way for Mr. Biya to stand for reelection (and may be become life president) when his second seven-year term comes to an end in 2011.

They consider President Biya’s lifestyle too expensive, as he likes spending long holidays abroad -sometimes for more than one month at the expense of the state, for what many say is for no -good reason, whereas prices of basic commodities remain high, a problem that led to rioting in February 2008

Reports said President Biya on a recent private trip to France, spent over FCFA 700 million-quite a colossal sum, for three weeks on hotel bills and shopping when Cameroon is seeking for loans here and there to finance public-interest projects.

With continued hardship and misery faced by Cameroonians under Mr. Biya for 27 years, the wish of the majority of citizens-election rigging put aside -is for him to quit power soonest. There is need for regime change else President Biya will continue to be viewed as a curse for Cameroonians.

NB:First Published on November 4,2009 at www.cameroonforum.net

Cameroon:JCI Vice-President Tells UB Freshmen To Be Results-oriented!

By Christopher Ambe shu
A total of 5900 newly admitted undergraduate students of Cameroon’s lone Anglo-Saxon varsity, University of Buea (UB), for the academic year 2009/2010, have been challenged to be results-oriented, and shun practices that halt or retard development in society.

Roland Kwemain, International Vice-president of Junior Chambers International (JCI) and candidate for the post of president at JCI coming elections, threw the challenge on October 31 at the 2009 University of Buea Matriculation Ceremony, which took place on campus, witnessed by a host of dignitaries such as Simon Kwemo, Divional Officer for Buea

Kwemain, speaking in his capacity as guest speaker on the theme “Positive Change: Let’s Be The Change We Want To See In Others” at the ceremony, prescribed and elaborated on what he described as the four D’s to success. The four D’s, he said, are: Desire, Decision, Discipline and Determination

“We need change- a peaceful and positive change. Let’s be the change we want to see in others”, he told the freshmen.
He advised lecturers against putting speed brakes on students’ success path for selfish and immoral reasons, insisting that teachers ought to be role models at all times to command respect.

Kwemain used the opportunity to appeal to UB students to enroll en masse as members of JCI, an organization whose main goal is to provide development and employment opportunities to young people below 40 year old.

Earlier in his welcome address, Professor Vincent Titanji, UB Vice-Chancellor, revealed that a total of 5900 students-the highest number in the history of admission in UB, were admitted out of the 8000 who had applied to read at the varsity, which offers 114 degree programs, from bachelor to doctorate degree level.

The Vice –Chancellor noted that the State of Cameroon makes enormous sacrifices to improve UB facilities, and invited students to take good care of school property put at their disposal.
In the past, some ill-intentioned and misguided students, taking advantage of students’ strikes, had destroyed university property, amounting to hundreds of millions of FCFA.

The Vice-Chancellor hailed those who contributed to the “ the peace and harmony” found on campus, hoping that the new students would not trouble –givers.

“Studying in the University calls for a lot of discipline and commitment”, Professor Titanji said, wishing the freshmen a happy and fruitful stay in UB, which started in 1993

An ecumenical service, during which clergymen dished out moral lessons to students, preceded the Matriculation Oath by freshmen, “to obey the rules and regulations guiding student conduct and discipline in the University of Buea”

Cameroonian Health Educator's View on Medical Doctors & Traditionla Healers

Collaboration between Medical practitioners and Traditional healers: Views of a Cameroonian Health Educator.

Before the beginning of the 19th century, medicine consisted of exclusively of what is considered today as traditional medicine. Traditional medicine is generally the old healthcare practices linked to a culture. It had been practised in different forms by all cultures and so we can talk of African medicine, Asian or Chinese medicine. Traditional healers consider health as the intimate association of the physical, mental, social, moral and spiritual wellbeing. In traditional medicine, emphasis is on the moral and spiritual aspect of existence and this gives a new dimension to healthcare and permits man to maintain good health.

When the Whiteman introduced western medical science, the tendency was to condemn all native beliefs and practices as backward and unacceptable. In so doing, traditional practices were largely driven underground and a valuable opportunity to learn their good points – such as community approaches to handle diseases and the role of the family in the care of the individual- were all lost. However, some gains were made since practices such as cannibalism and human sacrifice to appease gods were eradicated.

Western science brought with it the concept of strictly organic or materialistic causation of disease, i.e. the germ theory, deficiency disease and diseases of excess. This, however, cannot explain to Africans and Cameroonians alike issues of health and diseases that they are confronted with daily. The whole area of mental health and illnesses cannot be explained away; nor is it possible to explain why two people faced with the same organic disease react differently. Why should lightning strike one of two people walking in the rain?

The theme of the 4th Edition of the African Traditional Medicine Day which was: “Reinforce collaboration between modern medicine practitioners and traditional healers”, demanded that to resolve some of this rationally, health policy makers need to research more intensely the issues raised by the intersection of western science and traditional beliefs and practices.

In practice there is hardly any question of real collaboration and exchange between modern and traditional medicine in the framework of Primary Health Care.

As far as Cameroon is concerned, traditional healers and traditional medicine are facing the problems of illegality, charlatanism and the non-ratification of the law on traditional medicine in parliament.

Critical observers have shown division of opinion on the plea for reassessment of traditional healers and traditional medicine. Some have criticized their practice as being romantic and unscientific and a questionable way of economizing. Again, others are of the opinion that the WHO’s guidelines are only a beginning and are still characterized by ethnocentrism and scientism. They take the view that policy-makers still make too extensive use of the biomedical yardstick when evaluating traditional medicine.

All said and done, is there any great need for medical practitioners and traditional healers to collaborate?

One time WHO Director General, Dr. Halfdan Mahler, had this to say concerning “The Health for all by the Year 2000” slogan. “WHO member states are actually defining and applying strategies so that all their inhabitants attain a level of health permitting them to live a socially and economically productive life…

To realize this, it will be necessary to make use of all the useful means and mobilize all the possible resources. Amongst these means and resources are diverse types of indigenous practices and practitioners and traditional birth attendants”.

This concept was approved by the International Conference on Primary Health Care that took place in 1978 in Alma Ata. In that document [5, p33], collaboration with traditional healers is recommended in the following terms:” Traditional medical practitioners and birth attendants are found in most societies. They are often part of the local community, culture and traditions and continue to have high social standing in many places, exerting considerable influence on local health practices. With the support of the formal health system, these indigenous practitioners can become important allies in organizing efforts to improve the health of the community. It is worthwhile exploring the possibilities of engaging them in primary health care and training programmes accordingly”.

In addition, WHO has devoted a report to the integration of western and traditional medicine. Although some skepticism still exists, the idea seems to prevail internationally that additional training and involvement of traditional practitioners can make up the great shortage of personnel in the health system or ease it.

Another advantage is that they will be less inclined to leave the community than specially trained modern health workers who will want to seek for further career opportunities elsewhere after training. Their close relationship with their fellow villagers is yet another advantage.

The Alma Ata Declaration in its description of PHC, stressed on the need of bringing together all those involved in health care, if need be, traditional healers, prepare them technically and socially to work as a team and to respond to the health needs of their locality.

In certain developing countries some health administrators have recommended the association to PHC of traditional healers who understand the socio- cultural context of the local population, who are well respected and who must have acquired a considerable experience. Economic consideration, the distances to be covered in certain countries, including Cameroon, to get to a health facility, the influence of traditional beliefs, the lack of health professionals particularly in rural areas are some of the factors that contributed to this recommendation.

Traditional healers have long played an important role in Cameroon and Africa in general as far as health care is concerned. They have long term bonds of trust with their communities. They serve at least some of the health and education needs of 80-85% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa giving them wider influence and reach than modern health practitioners with more training. It is clear that traditional healers like religious leaders should be involved in African strategies for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Anti retroviral treatment alone will not be able to prevent or solve the multiple aspects of this disease.

The donor community has recently become keen to harness the positive influences of religion and tradition for, particularly in the delivery of health messages. As far as traditional networks are concerned, traditional healers will have to be at the forefront as links in the communities.

When looking at how services can be delivered through these networks, it will be important to see them as complements to and partners with rather than substitutes for state systems of delivery.

Traditional healers are part and parcel of our cultural heritage.

The inattention to culture in health policy making by planners, decision makers and many donors goes some way to explain the failure of so many health and development initiatives. Culture is about relationships between ideas and perspectives, about self respect and a sense of security, about how individuals socialize and values are formed and transmitted. Culture is about shared patterns of identity, symbolic meaning, aspiration and about the relationship between individuals and groups within a society. Culture is both dynamic and reactive. A people’s attitudes and the choices they make. Culture is how the past interacts with the future. As Stephen Ellis and Gerrie ter Haar have put it, “No more than anyone else do Africa and Africans have an authentic, unchanging culture that is transmitted from one generation to another, or ought to be.” What is at issue in contemporary Africa therefore is not a clash between “tradition and modernity” but between different paths and different conception of modernity. This also applies to the relationship between medical practitioners and traditional healers. It is not convincing to try to make a stark distinction between tradition and modernity.

Furthermore, history shows tremendous interactive and evolving nature of African cultures. They have been able to absorb a wide range of outside influences and impositions and have found ways to survive often difficult natural, environmental, and social conditions including conflict and disease. Traditional healers form an integral part of these cultures and medical practitioners cannot successfully work with the local population on health issues without using them as a bridge to attain their goal.

It is well known that the scourge of AIDS will not be combated in Cameroon and Africa by the use of modern medicine alone. Modern medicine prescribed by medical practitioners is essential, but will not be sufficient. What is necessary is the outstanding view that, alongside medical or biological explanations of a disease, many Cameroonians and Africans will also look for an explanation that is spiritually or culturally related. The traditional healers are often consulted for an answer. Much in reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS turns on cultural attitudes. Learning this will be a two way process as was exemplified by a workshop run by UNESCO in Angola with youths from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

The purpose was to discuss traditional norms regarding sexuality, social reactions to people living with HIV and AIDS, existing knowledge about transmission and prevention and cultural practices that might contribute to the spread of HIV. But in the process, those running the workshop obtained new understandings of cultural practices, such as initiation rights, scar-tattooing, blood brother practices, circumcision, means of breaking the umbilical cord, polygamy and traditional marriage and healing practices. HIV/AIDS has a narrow link with most of the issues mentioned above. Participants spent time discussing cultural values and practices associated around virginity, condom use, monogamy and the like. Discussions like this help to explain to outsiders amongst whom are medical practitioners, who had designed the education and awareness programmes why these had not resulted in lowered prevalence rates or higher use of condoms. It became clear that the education methods had been distorted by local cultural norms and values regarding sexuality that had previously been overlooked and underestimated by health strategies.

The overall lesson is that outside prescriptions succeed only where they work with the grain of local views. They fail where they ignore or do not understand the cultural supposition of the people they seek to address. Policy- makers and modern health practitioners should recognize the need for greater efforts to understand the values, norms, and allegiance of the cultures of Cameroon and in their health policy making display a greater flexibility, open-mind willingness to learn and humility. Such an approach will pay respect to traditional healers and pave the way for full collaboration between medical practitioners and traditional healers who must be partners in health care. It will also be more likely to produce the results that policy makers want to see in the fight against HIV/AIDS in particular and the burden of disease in Cameroon in general.


NB:The above paper was presented by Mofor Samuel,a health Education Specialist,at a Buea-Cameroon workshop on: Indigenous Knowledge and HIV/AIDS Management: the case of Traditional Medicine ,which held from 23rd-24th Oct, 2009 orgainiseed by AFRICAphonie

Collaboration between Traditional Healers and Medical Practitioners: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Being a paper presented by Prof G.L Monekosso at worksohop on Indigenous Knowledge and HIV/AIDS Management; the case of Traditional Medicine from 23rd-24th Oct, 2009 in Buea-Cameroon, by AFRICAphonie


A traditional healer is one who uses natural materials and traditional knowledge transmitted to him by his forefathers to relieve pain and treat the sick in his community. He lives and practises within that village or community and this is where he gets his legitimacy.

A medical practitioner is that individual who has undergone training in the school of medicine and is qualified to practise medicine everywhere in the country. The same applies for nurses and midwives all over the national territory.


Strengths

Coverage and access to health care is increased (medical practitioners still in short supply and traditional healers potentially exist in all communities).
Collaboration provides choice because of the socio-cultural beliefs of a large part of the population
National authorities would be in a better position to legislate
If traditional healers live and practise within their villages and communes, they will better collaborate with medical practitioners who are qualified to practise any where
Collaboration allows for affordability and simplicity, the cost of expensive technology is avoided
Cooperation would facilitate research for new methods of health care (clinical trials)
Collaboration would make it easier to track down and eliminate quacks and charlatans who are a nuisance to both traditional and modern medicine and a danger to the population


Weaknesses

Absence of the law makes collaboration difficult
Most health personnel do not often have any knowledge of traditional medicine and vice versa
Resistance on the part of medical practitioners


Opportunities

Collaboration will facilitate legislation
Easier to eliminate quacks and charlatans who damage the reputation of traditional healers and do harm to the population
Exchange of patients between the two systems making maximum use of their respective strengths
Traditional culture will collaborate with modern scientific culture
Short cuts to the discovery of new drugs from medicinal plants
Integration of traditional medicine into the national health system
Fake drugs will be easily tracked down with the collaboration of pharmacists


Threats

One system absorbing the other
Invasion by one or the other of the other’s territory.
The population will mix up traditional and modern medicines

BCA-USA launches funding boost for education in Bali Sub Division

The Bali Cultural Association – USA on October 16,2009 announced the disbursement of close to $15.000USD (7.5million CFA) to advance primary and secondary education in Bali Sub Division.

The money will go towards funding merit scholarships for students in primary and secondary schools in Bali Sub Division and the sponsorship of 18 teachers for underserved primary schools within the sub-division.

A total of CFA 875, 000 is being made available as part of merit scholarships recognizing student achievement for the academic year that ended May 2009. Top performing students in forms one through lower six in GBHS Bali, CPC Bali, Unity College Bali, SRCHS Bali, BCHS, GBSS Bawock, DCC Bali and GTC Bali will each receive a CFA25, 000 scholarship award. An award of CFA 200, 000 is presented to GTC Bali for disbursement to best forming students in skilled trades of Carpentry & Joinery, Commercial, Home Economics, Electricity, Building Construction, Accounting and dressmaking industry.
In addition, CFA 1,250,000 will go towards merit scholarships for pupils in five primary schools in the Bali Subdivision. GS Bossah, GS Naka, GS Mbufung, GS Mantum and GS Bawock will each receive CFA 250,000 to cover scholarships for 50 merit pupils in their respective schools.

Primary School Teachers Sponsorship Program

Whilst BCA’s merit scholarships continue to encourage pupils and students to study, the association is also aware of the growing crisis facing the educational system in Bali Sub Division owing to the severe shortage of primary school teachers. Unfilled vacancies in many primary schools have left hundreds of children without a permanent teacher. This seriously endangers children's education. In response to this crisis, BCA-USA’s Education Committee in September launched a sponsorship program to fund the special recruitment of primary school teachers for hard-to-fill teaching posts in primary schools. BCA members, chapters and individual families responded to the call to partner with BCA in sponsoring teachers to teach at underserved schools. As a result, BCA-USA is today proud to announce that it will be sponsoring 18 primary school teachers to teach at primary schools in Bali Sub Division for the current academic year. Four of these teachers will go to GS Mantum whilst the remaining 14 will go to schools where the need is greatest at present. This initiative will be coordinated by BCA-USA’s community development partner BANDECA through its President General Ni John Fomuso who will work collaboratively with the various PTAs of the participating schools on behalf of BCA-USA.

BCA-USA community development partner Nkumu Fed Fed  was expected to oversee the official launch of the merit scholarships and sponsorship for primary school teachers  scheduled for  Saturday October 17, 2009, at 11.00 a.m at the Grand Stand in Bali Nyonga.

Launched in 1988 in Atlanta, Georgia, BCA - USA is an apolitical, nonprofit, charitable organization comprising of Bali people of Cameroon and friends of Bali throughout the United States of America and the world. The association seeks to foster fraternal relations among all people of Bali Chamba heritage as well as friends of Bali. Through its contributions to various projects in Bali, the association has made significant contributions towards the development and welfare of the people of Bali.

To achieve its projects at home, BCA-USA works with key development partners. Partner organizations Nkumu Fed Fed and BANDECA along with their respective executives have been vital in helping coordinate and oversee the successful implementation of BCA-USA projects in Bali. These collaborative partnerships are valued by BCA as a means of facilitating the effective delivery of comprehensive projects that strengthen our community. Some of BCA-USA’s achievements till date include:

Funding the construction of a community water project to provide filtered water via a Borehole Well to the residents of Bei’sen this year.

An ongoing sponsorship of 30 unemployed youths to acquire skills in trades such as woodwork, building construction, flooring, modern tailoring, welding and hairdressing.
Conducting an annual health fair in Bali Nyonga and Bali Kumbat, where our physician members offered free consultations, medications, screening for prevalent illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, vision, and hearing problems, and counseling related to HIV/AIDS prevention and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Providing assistance towards the construction of a modern mortuary at the main hospital in Bali in 2004.

Assisting with the purchase of a vehicle for His Royal Highness, the Fon of the Bali.

NB:The above article is a press release issued by  BCA-USA, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Cameroon to Open More Institutes to Boost Agriculture

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Cameroon, with a population of over 18 million people, has favorable agricultural conditions. Over 70% of this country’s labor force is in the agricultural sector. And, according to 2006 estimates, agriculture contributes 45.2% to the Cameroon’s GDP.

But unfortunately the agricultural sector is not as developed as expected, leaving many people in poverty and hunger.

That is why the Government is now determined to open five more institutes of agriculture, to add to existing ones, in the country’s five agro-pastoral zones.

Dr. Iroume Roger Noël, of the Department of Scientific Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Scientific Research, who led a mission to Buea, on October 22, for a workshop to collect data on the agro-pastoral profile of the region, said Cameroon wants to greatly improve its agricultural production.

Peter Nde, representative of Southwest Regional Governor, chaired the Buea workshop, which held at CEFAM Conference Hall, bringing together agric and livestock experts, leaders of NGO, government officials, and local traditional rulers.

“The project of creation of five institutes of agriculture falls within the framework of government strategy geared towards the development and modernization of agriculture in order to optimize agro-pastoral production in Cameroon,” he said.
Dr Iroume disclosed that, the institutes would be based in Liongo-Buea for the humid forest with monomodial rainfall distribution; Batouri for the humid forest with bimodal rain fall distribution; Mbouda for the highlands; Marma for the Guinnee savannah and Doukoudje for the soudano-sahelian zone.

Dr. Iroume said the institutes, considered pilot centers, would be well equipped. They will offer full-time training and short courses designed “to fit specific requests of all those seeking to update their skills in a particular area of agro-pastoral techniques”. No specific time when the institutes will go operational was made known. But government officials insist their creation is an urgent need.

Prime Minister Philemon Yang chairs the steering committee of the project implementation.

Cameroon:PCC Partners With Gov’t To Fight Climate Change

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The Presbyterian Church In Cameroon (PCC), with a membership of over one million Christians, is leaving no stone unturned in its resolve to promote environmental protection. As such, it has signed a tree-planting protocol with the National Forestry Development Agency (ANAFOR), headquartered in Yaoundé. ANAFOR is a public institution charged with environmental promotion- by supporting reforestation and promoting forest plantations in Cameroon.

By the convention, ANAFOR shall give full technical support to PCC in its tree-planting project, and build the capacity of PCC technicians on environmental protection. ANAFOR shall also contribute to enhance the PCC as an environment-friendly institution

In his opening remarks at the signing ceremony, which took place recently at the PCC head Office in Buea, Rev Dr Festus A.Asana, PCC Synod Clerk, noted, “We have to be caretakers of God’s Creation, not abusers or destroyers; We are not only out to preach the Gospel but to live it”.
The Synod Clerk stressed that, addressing the concerns of climate change is not an individual, but a collective responsibility. The PCC, he said, continues to stand on the forefront in the development of communities. He said it was not the first time the PCC was getting involved in tree- planting. “ANAFOR has only come to encourage the PCC to restart its tree nursery project, which was kind of in slumber”, he said

For his part, Njombe Ewusi, Deputy- General Manager of ANAFOR, who sat in for the General Manger, lauded the PCC for its environmental protection efforts. Mr.Ewusi noted that the PCC “is elaborating a seven-year environment plan, and tree-planting is part of it.”
He added that tree planting is one of the ways to fight the effects of climate change, largely caused by man’s activities. Mr. Ewusi echoed an earlier remark by the Synod Clerk that, environmental protection requires collective responsibility.

Mr. Denis Kumbo, PCC Development Secretary signed the Memo of Understanding for his institution, while Mr. Njombe Ewusi, did same for ANAFOR, as officials of both institutions, journalists and members of the Public witnessed it.

Bakassi: C’River Accuses Cameroon of Violating ‘Green Tree’ Agreement

From Ernest Chinwo in Calabar

Cross River State has accused the Republic of Cameroon of violating the Green Tree Agreement that set the terms for the handing over of Bakassi Peninsula, saying the country is responsible for the violence in the area.
Nigerian nationals in the Peninsula have been complaining of harassment by the Cameroonian Gendarmes whom they say are not allowing them fish in the high seas.

Members of the Bakassi Freedom Fighters (BFF) also said last month while surrendering their arms to officials of the Federal Government at a ceremony at the temporary headquarters of the Bakassi Local Government Area at Ikang, Cross River State under the amnesty programme, that they came into existence to protect themselves from the violence of the Gendarmes.

Addressing journalists in Calabar, yesterday , the Director-General of the Cross River State Border Communities Develop-ment Commission, Mr. Leo Aggrey, also said the lack of co-operation by the Cameroonian authorities has been responsible for the non-development of the border communities in the Peninsula.

He said Cameroonian Gendarmes have been harassing Nigerian fishermen at the high seas contrary to the terms of The Green Tree Agreement on the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that ceded the territory to the Republic of Cameroon.

According to Aggrey, “The Cameroonians are not living with the terms of the Green Tree Accord and that has been the problem.
The things that are contained in the Green Tree Accord which would have allowed our Bakassi fishermen to fish in the high seas are not being observed by the Cameroonian authorities and that is putting pressure on the Federal Government.

“It is not that the State or the Federal Government has abandoned the Bakassi people. There are intricate issues of the Green Tree Accord which up till now the National Assembly is very vexed over because the Treaty ought to be passed by the National Assembly which was not done.

And most of these things are the set backs what we are facing”. Aggrey, a former Attorney General of the State, however said the State Government was working with the Federal Government to seek a review of the ICJ judgment in line with the procedure of the Court.

“We can still ask for a review of the ICJ Judgement from The Hague. There is a 10-year gestation period from judgement for you to apply to The Hague for a review. I think we still have two years on our hands to appeal for a review of the judgement if we are serious and I think Governor Imoke is taking that up with the Presidency”, he said.

On reports that the United Nations has released funds for the resettlement of displaced persons of Bakassi, the Aggrey said he was not aware of the release of any funds by the United Nations.
“If any funds have been released I am not privy to it. But I know that Governor Liyel Imoke will plough every kobo that is meant for the resettlement of the displaced people of Bakassi into it because I know his feelings towards the plight of the people”, he said.

Courtesy:THIS DAY Online,Nigeria