Cameroon's Sonara Refinery Gets $164 Million for Expansion

June 22 (Bloomberg) -- Cameroon's Sonara oil refinery, the lone crude processor in the central African nation, will receive 75 billion CFA francs ($164 million) from eight banks to fund its expansion, said Charles Metouk, the general manager.

The refinery, based in Limbe, about 350 kilometers (217 miles) southwest of the capital, Yaounde, will increase capacity to 4 million metric tons by 2015 from the current 2.1 million tons, he told reporters in the port city of Douala yesterday.

The lenders include U.K.-based Standard Chartered Plc, Societe Generale SA's unit in Cameroon, Lome-based Banque Atlantique and Commercial Bank Cameroon, Metouk said.

The refinery, which is currently able to only process light crude, will be able to refine heavy crude after the refurbishment, the type pumped in Cameroon, he said

--Editors: Emily Bowers, Philip Sanders.

Inequality between rich and poor in US worse than Cameroon, Yemen

London, June 20: The gap between America's rich and poor is reportedly at an extreme high, much higher than many developing countries like Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, and even Yemen.
According to the Central Investigative Agency's (CIA) World Fact Book, which ranks countries in terms of how 'equally' wealth is distributed, the U.S. is the 42nd most unequal country in the world, the Daily Mail reports.

It has been ranked way behind the European Union and the United Kingdom in terms of equality of pay. In fact, the situation is so extreme that it has even been placed behind countries such as Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen.

It is reportedly just ahead of Uganda and Jamaica.
Although income disparity in the U.S. has been growing for decades, the latest figures show that it has now reached levels not seen since the Great Depression.

Ten percent of the total personal income in America was taken home by the top 0.1 percent of earners in 2008, the latest year for which figures are available.

Research suggests the reason for this extraordinary disparity is a huge rise in pay for company executives.
'Basically, executives represent a much bigger share of the top incomes than a lot of people had thought. Before, we just didn't know who these people were," economist Jon Bakija, a professor at Williams College who with his co-authors is continuing the research, said.

Source: Asian News International/DailyIndia.com

CAMEROON: THE ILLUSION OF AN ELECTION

By Larry Eyong

The selectiveness with which the United States decides on which dictator, must democratize, and which ones may perpetuate their power, is as breathtaking, as it is brazen. So, while the United States is launching one hundred tomahawk missiles, at a million dollars apiece at   Ghaddafi ‘s Libya, it is sacredly prodding the house of Saud in Saudi Arabia, to prop up the tottering edifice of the  Al-Khalifa regime in Bahrain –condoning the suppression of seventy percent of the population that is Shiite, because Bahrain is the base of the US fifth fleet, -the standby force that maintains the Pax American in the Middle East.   

This same skewed logic explains why the United States did assist France to oust the nationalist Gbagbo in Ivory Coast, while at the same time sending troops to prop up the venially dictatorial Biya and Compoare regimes in Cameroon and Burkina Faso respectively.

Thus, in spite of the “Arab Spring”, the United States seems to have decided, in its infinite discretion, that the people of Cameroon do not deserve the benefits of freedom, or the enjoyment of the fruits of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, because the profits of ExxonMobil and the strategic interests of the Unites States pertaining to the Chad –Cameroon pipeline are more important.

Obviously, the foregoing assertion is rebuttable on grounds that the Cameroonian people are supposed to be masters of their own destiny, and that a people have the leaders that they deserve. Well, if horses were wishes, then beggars would ride: the peaceable people of Cameroon, while cherishing the benefits of freedom and the prerogative of democratically electing their leaders through the ballot box, don’t seem to be ready to risk life and limb in furtherance of that goal. At least, not right now. 
 One could argue that the domino effects of the other collapsing dictators could create a contagion that would sweep through dictatorships like the one that has held sway in Cameroon for twenty nine years. Not when the youth are so disenchanted with their  leaders, and so destitute that survival is more urgent than freedom.

When the United States funds a five thousand man strong tribal army for the Biya dictatorship under the auspices of Africom; when security forces attack and kill unarmed demonstrators with sheer wantonness, the fear that is instilled in the psyche of the nation is so paralyzing that even presidential candidates cannot dare travel and organize in most of the country. It is easy to blame Cameroonians for not standing up to the dictator. But standing up with olive branches against helicopter gun-ships spraying rockets does not seem to be a fair fight.

The wounds and scourging of the 1990 multiparty struggle, the betrayal, still evergreen in the memory of the university students who spearheaded the struggle is utterly paralyzing. The greedy opposition leaders are still around, bearing their teeth like hyenas. Eyeing the money that Biya is ready to disburse to them for participating in the election and thus legitimizing his dictatorship, no one is ready to cede place to the most electable opposition leader who could oust Biya and start the process of genuine reform.

Perhaps most distressing, is the crowd of Lilliputians; the lackluster, small time candidates without the resources, clout or name recognition to make a real difference. In their morbid self-love, they have refused to liaise with each other. Without a united front, they are sure to guarantee Biya the appearance of legitimacy. Cameroonians seem resigned to wait for the inexorable death of Biya, to hope to chart a new course in the future. But, the future seems bleak. With the Ivorian example still burnished in the popular imagination of Cameroonians, the specter of an increasing French presence and influence looms large. So too does the probability of violence.

Escapee of forced marriage turns lesbian

By Gbor Tani

Nelly Atia

As educated as Nelly Atia is, she would, no doubt, want to choose a man as her husband but that is not the case: she is imposed one, whom she rejects and that begins her ordeal.Her mother too is against forced marriage.

     But the mother’s village traditions and circumstances would deprive Nelly of the right and freedom to decide whom to marry.

    A graduate of the University of Yaounde, Nelly, daughter of an unmarried mother of six, is said to have refused getting married to Esirikum, husband of her late elder sister Esther. According to the village tradition Esirikum,a septuagenarian and polygamist could marry the younger sister of any of his wives, who died as a replacement for the loss. That is how the old man developed interest in Nelly, when his wife Esther died.

   Even as Nelly’s mother is totally against such a marriage, her uncles insist that tradition must prevail else her daughter would face undesired consequences if she turns down the proposal.She could be bewitched, according to villagers.

   Worried, Nelly’s mother reportedly helped her daughter leave the village in Manyu to bring to futility the planned marriage, to the disappointment of family notables.

   Nelly succeeded to escape to Thailand in 2009 but returned to Yaoundé three years later, only to be accused of lesbianism. She is said to have been caught fondling a female relation named Ebangha, whose father is a government official. She was   detained and later released; but it was unclear to this reporter whether Nelly was released on bail or unconditionally.

   Nelly is said to have been pushed into lesbianism because of threats to her life. The old man she refused to marry him had warned her to have no sexual relations with any other man in Cameroon.

Same-sex relationship for which Nelly is accused is a crime in Cameroon.

   According to Section 347 of Cameroon penal code, "Whoever has sexual relationship with a person of the same sex shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to five years and a fine from 20.000Fcfa to 200.000 Fcfa"

   Cameron is one of many countries that have refused to decriminalize same-sex relationship despite mounting press from some Developed countries.

 Yet, reports of cases of homosexuality and lesbianism are common in Cameroon just as the prosecution of their suspects is gaining grounds in the country.

Cameroon: Njoh Litumbe, 84, Publishes Book on Annexation of Southern Cameroons.

*Says annexation is crime against humanity.

*And challenges Southern Cameroons to claim their independence now.

By Christopher Ambe Shu



Mola  Njoh Litumbe (left) at  Book Press Conference



Senior citizen and Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Alliance (LDA),Mola Njoh Litumbe,84,who is now one of the frontline advocates for the independence of Southern Cameroons, has written a book –based on extensive research, on what he calls the colonization of the then UN British Administered Territory of Southern Cameroons by La Republic du Cameroun.

Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest Regions are what used to be the UN British Administered Territory of Southern Cameroons, which Mola Litumbe strongly argues has never gained independence- going by UN regulations, but has only –for decades, been annexed by a neighboring sovereign state, a Republique du Cameroun.

Mola Litumbe presented his book titled, “Case of the Annexation of the UN British Administered Territory of Southern Cameroons” at a press conference in Buea on May 28.

The 48-page book, written in French and English, according to Author Litumbe, is also a “Critical review of the Formation and Dissolution of the State of the Federal Republic of Cameroon”.

The Book

Mola Litumbe who has been footing his own bills globe-trotting and  meeting those who matter at home and abroad including the UN and are concerned about the plight of Southern Cameroons, told journalists that, he was challenged by the Diaspora to reduce his various presentations in defense of the Anglophone cause, in to a book.

He disclosed that before publishing the book, he had served the Cameroon Government with a copy of the manuscript, in the hope that they would read and appreciate the facts of the problem and begin to consider corrective measures.

“Southern Cameroons has never got independence from Britain. We merely changed our slave master from  Britain to la Republique du Cameroon, “Mola Litumbe, stressed. “We have just been annexed. This is crime against humanity- because colonialism is abolished”.

The author hoped that after reading the book and sharing the facts contained therein, Southern Cameroons-the two English –speaking regions of Cameroon, would more than ever before “assert their inalienable rights and claim their independence”

Although Southern Cameroons were denied their legitimate fundamental right of sovereign independence, “they could only be deemed to have done so if they joined one of the two neighboring sovereign states viz: Nigeria or La Republique du Cameroun. 


On the above basis, a UN-supervised plebiscite was conducted throughout the British Cameroons on 11/12 February 1961 and Northern Br.Cameroons voted to join Nigeria and Southern Br.Cameroons voted to join la République du Cameroun.

And it was agreed that on October 1, 1961 Southern Cameroons would gain its independence by joining La Republique du Cameroun, which had gained its independence on January 1, 1960

But Britain –as custodian of Southern Cameroons, failed to guide its mandated territory towards reaching proper agreements with La Republique du Cameroun and getting such registered at the UN as legally required for such to be cited before any of the UN organs.

According to the UN Charter, Article 102(1), “Every treaty and every international agreement entered into by any member of the United Nations after the present Charter comes into force shall as soon as possible be registered with the secretariat  of the UN and published by it”

(2)No party to such treaty or international agreement which has not been registered in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article may invoke that treaty or agreement before any organ of the United Nations”

Mola Litumbe, who is the doyen of chartered accountants in Cameroon, has therefore challenged La Republique du Cameroun that is claiming that Southern Cameroons is part of its territory “to produce the documentary proofs, based on the UN Charter provisions, as well as the constitutive Act of African Union”

And “in the absence of such verifiable proofs”, Mola Litumbe maintains, “La Republique du Cameroun is committing an act of annexation and imperialism over Southern Cameroons by denying the latter their legitimate right of self-determination”

The book, which sells at 5000Fcfa and has been described as a must-read  by first reviewers, also talks about The Concept of Independence by Joining, the Two UN Trust territories of British Cameroons and French Cameroon, The Situation of Southern Cameroons, The Exchange of Notes pertaining to the abdication of Southern Cameroons to la Republique du Cameroon, The heroic all-Anglophone Conferences, The Bakassi Affair and the Green Tree accord, The Banjul Recommendations and much more

The press conference was also attended by several Hunan Rights Activists, such as Senior Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad, who is pioneer Chairman of Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC),Lawyer Ajong Stanislaus- one of the attorneys defending the Southern Cameroons case against La Republique before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’Rights in the Gambia.

Cameroon: Government Bans Public Launching of New “Cure” for HIV/AIDS

                       

By Christopher Ambe shu

A widely publicized launching of Anti-Oxy-Toxin (AOT), said to be a new and very effective cure for HIV/AIDS, discovered by Buea-based award-wining tradi-practitioner Dr. Fru Richard, which was billed for May 27 at Hotel residence Carlos-Muea, did not take place even     as all was set for the event.

The Divisional Officer (DO) for Buea, Chekem Abraham on the eve of the launching, took many aback by banning the ceremony, which was expected to attract hundreds of people from far and wide.

Archives:Dr. Fru with mike stressing importance of traditional medicine

Many critical minds believe the DO’s decision to ban the launching  may have been influenced by hierarchy or some  well-placed detractors of Dr.Fru .They point to the fact that it is the same DO, whose office last  April 29 received and acknowledged receipt of Dr.Fru ‘s declaration  to launch his new drug ,as required by law. They wondered why an issue as sensitive as such would take the DO about one month to react after notification.

The DO, in his letter dated May 26, to Dr. Fru in the evening prohibiting the launching, said he was not yet aware of any institution or researcher that has discovered an “absolute cure” for HIV/AIDS.

Reading between the lines, pundits have been quick to interpret the DO’s justification to mean that he acknowledges that AOT is only a cure and not-in his words, an “absolute cure”

 Apart from repeated media announcements inviting the public to attend the launching, over 200 special invitation cards were extended to traditional, academic ,adminstrative,religious ,security and judicial authorities and other dignitaries-many of whom had promised to witness the launching.

But the crowd  that turned up for the launching on May 27 was disappointed to learn that the government waited until the eleventh minute to say NO to the highly publicized launching of AOT,which already is reportedly in high  demand at home and abroad.

Police men were positioned at the hotel and Dr. Fru’s Garden of Eden International Healing and Research Foundation (Dr Fru’s GEIHR Foundation),to send away people coming for the launching.

“I don’t really understand what is going on in this country. Cameroon has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of over 5 % yet the government cannot encourage research for the cure of this deadly disease. Why must Africans think that a cure for AIDS must come from the West?” fumed an invitee to reporters when told that the launching had been cancelled for unclear reasons.

A disappointed Dr. Fru who preferred to maintain silence over the issue for the time being ,had weeks before  informed  reporters how he was receiving anonymous telephone calls and text messages warning him not to go ahead with the launching of  AOT.

According to Dr. Fru’s Garden of Eden International Healing and Research Foundation (Dr Fru’s GEIHR Foundation), Wonya Mavio-Buea, Anti-Oxy-Toxin is produced from extracts of life-saving plants – and used in the rapid treatment of HIV/AIDS cases.

 “AOT supplies the body with both natural and supernatural energy to quickly revitalize itself; acts in dual capacities by releasing instant light energy and acts as a raw material for the body to process and release other forms of energy.

“It revives the cells of immune-depressed individuals. It has a holistic approach in handling HIV/AIDS or a variety of immune-depressed diseases in the body.

 It is worth noting that, AOT is anti-oxidative, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal.anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-toxin and anti-negative radiations.

It cleanses the blood and boosts the immune system both naturally and supernaturally.”

 Dr.Richard Fru, a renowned Cameroonian traditional doctor, has to his credits many effective made-out- of plant drugs such as Try-Me, a miraculous and holistic healing panacea. He is on record to have cured hundreds of patients suffering from deadly diseases.

Cameroon:Buea Mayor accords hectic reception to Bloomsburg University President and Students

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Professor David Soltz, President of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, USA, Professor Ekema Agbor and twenty two students from the same varsity were on Saturday, May 21, accorded a hectic reception at Capitol Hotel Residence in Buea,by Charles Mbella Moki,the town’s mayor.

The Bloomsburg University officials and students are in Cameroon in line with a partnership the American university signed with University of Buea, Cameroon‘s lone Anglo-Saxon varsity.

And Mayor Moki thought that treating the American visitors to hectic reception was the right thing to do.

“It is our duty as a council to receive those who visit our municipality in a manner that is typical of our spirit of legendary hospitality

 “The president of a university as large as Bloomsburg ought to receive the kind of attention we have given him and his entourage”, Mayor Moki told reporters at the party, hoping that the partnership between the people of Buea and Bloomsburg would grow from strength to strength.

Professor Soltz said, “My University has developed a partnership which is very productive with the University of Buea. We have hosted the UB Vice-chancellor Professor Titanji.”

He noted that in addition to sending students to University of Buea for learning and teaching practices, “we are going to receive faculties and students at Bloomsburg University and have collaboration in instructional technology”.

Professor soltz said as President of Bloomsburg university he came to Cameroon to sign the agreements  with University of Buea, adding that it was his first visit to Cameroon, which he described as a beautiful country.

Initiator of the partnership Professor Ekema Agbor,a Cameroonian, who teaches at Bloomsburg university, reiterated that the “partnership will not just be students-to students, but we will be introducing programs to University of Buea,which it does not have”

Tamika Austin, one of the visiting students told The Recorder, “Cameroon is more developed than we had thought. I will go back with a better impression about this country.

“The experience of having a different teaching style and environment is amazing. We appreciate the professors of University of Buea for making the experience realistic and one to remember”

For her part, KeAire Nelson, who spoke on behalf of all the visiting American students, at the party, was positive about Cameroon. “We appreciate the opportunity to experience a different culture and we thank the people of Cameroon for being so welcoming to us”

Also speaking at the party, University of Buea Vice-Chancellor, Professor Titanji expressed happiness that the American students were here to learn from Cameroon’s experiences.

An elated Mayor Moki got the visiting professors attired in dresses sewn with Buea council fabric. Professor Soltz was given the Bakweri indigenous name of Mola Moki-so he now becomes Professor, Mola Moki David Soltz.

 A cheerful Professor Soltz promised to consider visiting Cameroon regularly

Other speakers at the  party included: Barrister Ekontang Elad, Board Chairman of Cameroon OIC, an affiliate of the US-based OIC international; Ngale kinge,Senor Cameroonian  citizen and Magdalene Agbor,a noted civil society leader

The visiting students will make two weeks in Cameroon before returning to the US, and for some to serve as Cameroon’s ambassadors there as they promised in discussions with journalists.

Cameroon: cholera epidemic and the politics of disease control

By Mofor Samuel
Since May 2010, the Ministry of Public Health has been working overtime to put the cholera epidemic under control across the nation. In spite of all the efforts put in place by the government and some of its partners, the cholera germ has become so defiant punching its way from one locality to the other like a wild wind across the window. Going by the statistics from May 2010 to the present day, more than 10,000 affected cases have been reported nationwide with close to a thousand deaths.
    
Sanitary amenities like pure water supply, safe disposal of human wastes and adequate housing with the population affording to live in conditions which reduce the degree of contact between members of the community and disease producing agents are just some of the ways to prevent and control cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases.


The Growth Strategy and Employment Document, a guide to governmental action for the period 2010-2020, has this to say concerning water and sanitation. Big towns with the majority of the population have potable water supply system. This gives a coverage rate of 82%. The situation on the ground as far as access to potable water supply to households in urban areas is concerned stands at 29% with an estimate of 226,638 consumers. But for some actions aimed at building structures for the evacuation of rainwater in Douala and Yaoundé, there is practically a non-existent network for the collection and evacuation of wastewater.


 Access to potable water and basic sanitation in the rural areas is limited. There is a real need to rehabilitate the existing infrastructure most of which are more than 20years old, extend the existing network which has not been following population increase and the expansion of urban areas, facilitate the realization of large scale connection and distribution programmes.

Government intends to increase access rate to potable water to 75% by 2020. Certain priority actions have to be undertaken within this timeframe- the realization of 700,000 connections in the urban areas, 40,000 water points in the rural areas, 1,200,000 latrines and the rehabilitation of 6,000 water points in the rural areas.


The urban hydrology policy letter of 2007 saw the creation of a state owned corporation- Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation (Camwater) which is incharge of construction, maintenance and management of water catchment infrastructure, transportation and storage of potable water. Camerounaise des Eaux on her part as a private concern is incharge of production, distribution, maintenance of equipment and the commercialization of potable water.
 Finally the document talks of the government aiming at increasing the access rate to sanitation infrastructure from 15-60%. This shall be achieved by putting in place a programme for the construction of latrines having water points in public facilities. The concept of total sanitation piloted by councils is in its pilot phase and has to spread in the country.
Public health activities which are suitable for the prevention of cholera are: the construction of protected wells, protection of springs, composting of wastes and construction of houses of better design etc.
        
Cameroon government’s inability to prevent and control the cholera epidemic for close to a year now is a classic example of conspiracy and collusion of the different arms of society to participate in the national pastime of looting and pillaging, of fiddling with the national treasury while cholera kills poverty-stricken Cameroonians from north to south with all impunity. How can one explain the fact that in the face of an outbreak of a water borne disease, instead of the Minister of Mines and Water Resources to lead the Minister of Health to the affected area, he is instead trailing him?
As Minister of Water Resources was he not supposed to be the first person to go and assess the situation on the ground before bringing in other ministers and partners to salvage the situation? There is equally this callous indifference exhibited by the authorities of Camwater and Camerounaise des Eaux in the face of the epidemic. Just like their supervisory ministry, they are just procrastinating.


How can one imagine that the Far North Region which is one the region hardest hit by the epidemic for years has its own son the Speaker of the House of Assembly going around in a bid to raise one hundred million francs to enable the population to make ID cards to enable them vote in upcoming presidential elections when this same population is dying under the scourge of cholera for want of potable drinking water? Can this same House Speaker not campaign for his colleagues, bigwigs of the ruling party to raise money to enable their poverty-stricken people to have access to potable drinking water? The same applies to all CPDM big wigs currently going round the nation under the cover of raising money to enable their followers to establish ID cards to enable them to vote for their party’s natural candidate.


Health statistics have ceased to be of any value for planning, intervention and monitoring the state of health. They have become instruments of looting national resources, manipulative game for pillaging and raiding the national treasury by civil servants, administrators and politicians. Cameroon is rejoicing in squalor, celebrating her disease burden, exulting in self-inflicted pain, a nation that is pleased and satisfied with its deplorable health situation.


Apart of telling Cameroonians how low we stand in our respect for human life and the welfare of the nation, our policy makers and health authorities also use WHO and UNICEF Reports to get more funds which they use to worsen our already bad health situation. We are neither able to prevent nor control cholera for which we have everything it takes to put it under control.


From where did we start? Where are we going? Have we missed the way? If so, are we prepared to retrace our steps and rediscover ourselves? Are we ready to be what we once were- the untainted and self-respecting, reliable and trustworthy nation? We are a people who now have little respect for learning, a near disregard for excellence and a disdain for quality. We live in a nation that generally and daily celebrates mediocrity and places the mundane on the golden pedestal of repute.
 The story of this nation in the 21^st century where the talk of the day is attaining the Millennium Development Goals and becoming an emerging nation by 2025 is one of missed opportunities, ignored chances and abandoned vision. It is the unbelievable but true tale of misplaced priorities, lost hope and unfulfilled expectations. It is the chronicle of a nation going astray. As we mourn for a lost past, lament about a disastrous present and agonize over an unknown future, we must ask ourselves these questions (governors and the governed): where did we come from? What direction should we take?


And unless we put the train back on the rail now, then rather than becoming the emerging nation we look forward to by 2035, we would have submerged into the abyss of underdevelopment by then.
Meeting the needs of the present and future Cameroonian populations for food, water and energy without depleting or damaging the national resource base, while avoiding the adverse health and environmental consequences of industrialization and uncontrolled urbanization, can be achieved if only people have the knowledge and the means to influence action.


This calls for changes in the way government plans and manages national development. Participatory partnerships between local authorities and community organizations need to be developed. People dependent on natural resources like water, forest, land etc should be fully involved in decision making about their use and protection. Major determinants of development include economic, social, technological, institutional, attitudinal and political variables. Secondly, there is much in common between the factors or condition that determine both health and development.


Current approaches to development, each with its own constraints are economic growth, basic needs and people centred strategies. How are policies determined by health authorities and policy makers correspond with local health needs?
                                                             

Cameroon:Pushing SONARA Towards Social Responsibility

By *Zama Gordon

With recent developments in the Petroleum industry in Cameroon such as the Green Tree
Accords and the eventual decision to hand over Bakassi to Cameroon, the petroleum Industry 
has been taken to the fore and more Public attention is being paid to SONARA social
policies. SONARA is Camerooon's National Refining Company

For Cameroon to benefit fully from its increase Oil potentials and avoid the usual ills
accompanying Oil production in Africa it is important that its Oil companies take steps to
avoid the failures and problems faced by neighboring countries.
Social investment is not only the responsibilty of  Government,which receives taxes but also
that of the companies that exploit these resources and the banks which finance their
investments.

The African Center for Research Development and Climate Change (AFREDECC) carried out a 
research which showed a great disparity between SONARA and the local communities. The local
communities showed great a lack of Knowledge of SONARAs activities and the impacts of her
activities on their lives. They also declared their desire for an improvement in social
investment by one of Cameroons most profitable enterprises and an overall majority of those
sampled said the relations with the corporation was poor.
The research ,it should be noted ,showed that 75% of the respondents were not aware of the
environmental impact of SONARA’s activities on their lives.
It further revealed that 88% of them did not think that the presence of SONARA in the South
West reduces local unemployment.Sixty-four(64%)of the respondents described as weak
relationship bewtween SONARA and its surrounding communities

 AFREDECC has therefore invited SONARA, local administrative authorities, traditional 
authorities and representatives of the civil society to attend a consultative meeting during
which proposals for improvement can be discussed. But SONARA is yet to respond to the
invitation at the time of posting this article.
We are therefore calling on the population of the Southwest Region  in general and Limbe in
particular to join all the other stakeholders and attend the planned consultative meeting.

The traditional authorities, Civil Society groups and the Limbe II Council amongst others
have given their full back up for the project since the views expressed by the population is
a clear reflection of what they think obtains in the area –Mokundange which hosts the
Company

For the relationship between SONARA and the surrounding communities to improve there has to
be an improvement in the level of communication. SONARA has to privilege
Communication of SONARAs activities so that the communities can understand what SONARA
really does and how SONARA generates her income.
There has to be a total increase in the level of communication of safety and environmental
issues affecting the company and how these impacts the life’s of the local population.
People have to understand how they relate with SONARA negatively or positively.
SONARA has to comply with national and international regulations and standards on
environment and safety.

SONARA has to create a public fund from its public relations budget. This fund has to be
managed independently with representatives from SONARA, local administration, civil society
and traditional council. This fund would be responsible for social investment in the
localities were she operates and would have to give a report of her activities to the
general public for accountability. Priority areas for funding should be discussed on the
board.
SONARA should create a code for local and youth employment. The should be a clear strategy
for integrating locals into the Corporations labour force.

We therefore call on all the stakeholders who share our view to mobilize and be part of the
consultative meeting, put their voices together and produce a memorandum as well as follow
us in the next phase of our advocacy project- mass media campaign and peaceful street
protest.

* Zama Gordon is Director of African Center for Research Development and Climate Change
(AFREDECC),Limbe -Cameroon

Star Actress Stella Damasus in Cameroon to help develop movie industry.

Also working with Splash Networks International to assist cancer patients

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Stella Damasus, a popular Nigerian film actor, singer, producer and  TV presenter arrived in Douala-Cameroon on May 17 to begin a two--day or more working session with Cameroon movie promoters in her new resolve to help the film industry in the Central African country grow by leaps and bounds.



Nigerian Movie Star :Stella Damasus



Conspicuously present at the Douala International Airport to receive Actress Stella Damasus and her manager Bunmi Ayeni were: Cyril Akonteh,a Cameroonian movie producer and Chief Executive Officer of Splash Networks International, a Buea-based organization that promotes youth and women empowerment;Mrs. Ndjitcham Beatrice Bamedig,host of Actress Stella Damasus and proprietress of White House Restaurant-Akwa-Douala; Mrs. Tricia Oben,President of Cameroon English Speaking Journalists(CAMASEJ) and  a crowd of journalists and movie fans.

A beaming Actress Stella, upon arrival at the Douala Airport, told reporters that, she was already feeling relaxed and comfortable with her first visit to Cameroon, because -according to her, Cameroonians are very hospitable and neat.

“This is my first visit to Cameroon. I want to familiarize myself with this country, meet with the people whose culture is close to mine, to work together and collaborate-because we are planning a project here. We want to meet with the people and see the kinds of talents they have and see what we can do to support the movie industry here”, she said, noting that Cameroonians have been supportive of Nigeria, watching and buying Nigerian films as a mark of love.

“I think the best thing to do is to find a way to give back to this country-by working with Cameroonians to see how that can happen, providing jobs, skills and training for young talents.”

 “Cameroon can also make the kinds of good movies we Nigerian make, because our cultures are similar”, she stressed, hoping that, “very soon Cameroonians will be watching their own movies everyday on TV, not only in Cameroon, but in other parts of Africa and the world.

Actress stella ,who has made 15 years in the movie industry and has so many films to her credit, said her success story is based on the fact  that “I am real…I try to be as natural as possible and people like the fact that I put my all in what I am doing”

Actress Stella, a Christian mother of two, has just opened her own production company Stella Damasus Archives (SDA) Production Ltd.She is now also a TV presenter, with her first TV shows currently being aired in UK.

Cyril Akonteh, who is now working in partnership with the Nigerian actress, said Stella Damasus “is willing to invest a lot financially, materially and morally in developing the showbiz industry of Cameroon”.

Akonteh said the Actress was expected to visit and donate to some cancer patients at Douala Reference Hospital.

 “We are jointly going to present a common front in fighting against cancer in Africa. She will attack the western front of Africa while Splash Networks will conquer the central African Nations all in a bid to give hope and courage to cancer victims, survivors and their families,”Akonteh said in a statement before the arrival of the Nigerian film star. “Stella Damasus loves children and supports underprivileged kids as well”

Speaking to journalists, shortly before a night party that was organized in her honor in the Akwa-Douala residence of host Mrs.Ndjitchma Beatrice and attended by dignitaries including the Nigerian consul-general in Douala during which the need for improved collaboration between Cameroon and Nigeria was emphasized by various speakers, Actress Stella, disclosed:



Stella Damasus talking to reporters in Douala



 “I am also here to work with Splash Net works International, whose website I came across and discovered they are doing a lot of things about cancer awareness. I am also doing a lot on that because many people in the industry have died of cancer. And I find that there are some cancers that can be treated if detected on time. I believe in the project that Splash Networks is doing-so I want to see how we can sit down and plan together on cancer awareness campaign”.

In Buea today, the star actress -accompanied by Splash Networks officials, visited CRTV (Radio Buea), some hotels and schools such as St Therese International Bilingual Primary and Secondary school, before proceeding to the coastal town of Limbe, where she was programmed to visit the Limbe Botanical Garden, the Limbe Zoo, Seme Beach and other tourist attractions. 

If everything goes as planned, then Actress Stella and her Manager will leave Cameroon for Nigeria tomorrow, May 19

Cameroonian Dr. Thompson KINGE NJIE:'' No reason for patients to die of cholera''

Dr. Thompson  Kinge Njie

 “There is no reason why patients should die of cholera...”

-Dr. Thompson Kinge Njie, Director, Regional Hospital Limbe, Cameroon

The Regional Hospital Limbe –Cameroon is one of cleanest hospitals in the country, its staffers are not only duty-conscious but also polite .The hospital is also well- managed. Dr.Thompson Kinge Njie, a respectable medical doctor and Switzerland-trained infectious disease specialist, is the hospital’s director now for six years. With the recent outbreak of cholera in Limbe-Cameroon, The Recorder Editor, Christopher Ambe visited the hospital  to find out about the situation and more.

Hospital Director, Dr.Kinge Njie, despite his busy schedule, sat down for an interview with the editor. Read on:

Dr. kinge, thank you for accepting to talk to The Recorder despite your very busy schedule.

 Let me also thank you for the concern your newspaper has for this hospital and the services it renders to the general public.

We are always open to the public and ready to serve, and to save lives!

Mr. Director, how would you present this hospital to the public?

The Regional Hospital Limbe is a government owned tertiary care health institution with a capacity of 200 beds. Its primary mission is to offer quality care to patients. As a reference hospital, it is also, as expected, involved in offering pedagogic support to training institutions of health personnel in the country and in operational research within the context of improving patient welfare.

Would you say this hospital is OK in terms of equipment and personnel?

No. I would certainly like to see the latest diagnostic equipment with plenty of precision and personnel (doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians etc) with fresh training and regularly updated knowledge in medicine. You know the profession of medicine is very dynamic and being entirely satisfied today with present technology and knowledge without the quest to improve is tantamount to staying obsolete without any future. However, as a level three hospital, I can say with thorough satisfaction that with the equipment in place now and personnel put at our disposal by the minister of public health, His Excellency Andre Mama  Fouda, we are capable of handling 85 – 90% of all the pathologies seen at the Regional Hospital Limbe. Between 10 – 15% are referred to Douala or Yaounde.

We learned of  an outbreak of cholera in Limbe. What is the situation at your hospital this far?

We are still receiving patients with cholera at the hospital. Since the outbreak was noted on  April 19, 2011, our hospital has registered about 420 patients among whom 400 have been discharged after receiving adequate treatment. It is said to note also that five  of the 420 patients have died.

What are the measures taken by the hospital or the government to check the spread of this fatal disease?

The hospital is here to treat patients and we are doing so in accordance with President Paul Biya’s vision to offer quality health care to all Cameroonians. Remember, in his end of year message of 31^st December, 2010, he reiterated once more, and I quote: “The fight against major pandemics is not slowing down... The living conditions of our people remain our main concern. I believe that access to water should improve with the commissioning of infrastructure under construction, especially in urban centres”.

Within the context of this cholera outbreak, I am once more experiencing the concrete match of his words with action. Like in other places where we have had cholera outbreaks in Cameroon, all the patients are receiving free treatment following strict instructions by the minister of public health. Facilities have been provided for capacity building of our staff. These measures explain the good outcome noted with nearly all the patients who have been registered so far in our hospital.

In the community, means have been provided by the government to the district health services for mass sensitization, disinfection of contaminated environments and to distribute freely, prophylactic treatment to relatives and friends who have had close contacts with cholera patients. Local administrative authorities like the Governor and SDO as well as other stakeholders like the government delegate to the Limbe City Council have been fully involved also in mass sensitization campaigns and in efforts to increase potable water supply to the community. These measures as you can see, are in consonance with President Paul Biya’s prescriptions to improve the living conditions of Cameroonians.

So far as cholera is concerned, what advice do you have for the public?

I wish to stress the fact that cholera can kill within a short time but the treatment is very simple in its concept and execution. It simply says that all the water and salts that a patient has lost in cholera stool should be replaced in comparable amounts and concentrations. With free treatment provided by the government and the well trained committed staff we have in place, there is no reason why patients should die of cholera. All the patients who have died since the cholera outbreak started about two weeks ago were brought late to the hospital. They could not respond to treatment. I am therefore using this opportunity to say that once patients notice the first signs of diarrhoea and or vomiting, they should be rushed immediately to the hospital where adequate treatment will be started without any payments. Beside that, people should continue to respect simple rules of hygiene – washing hands after using the toilet and before using them to eat anything. They must avoid the use of stream water and only drink clean potable water.

What makes the Regional Hospital Limbe special or different from other hospitals operating in the region?

I do not think the Regional Hospital Limbe is different from other state -owned hospitals operating in the region. All the hospitals including ours are expected to operate within the vision and health policy road map of the head of state, President Paul Biya. That is why the Minister of Public Health has been insisting on quality health care in all tertiary care hospitals like the Regional Hospital, Limbe. The concrete expression of this policy in the Regional Hospital Limbe is seen in our work organisation efforts, regular in-service training of our staff, the fight against corruption and the special attention to respect the dignity and privacy of our patients.

What would you like to see improved in the hospital by government?

First of all, I would like to appreciate the constant efforts by the minister of health to improve on the infrastructure and equipment of the hospital. For example, last year, 2010, the minister of health disbursed 100 million francs CFA for the phase I construction of an out patient and an emergency department. However, it is important to note that when the hospital was first built in 1948, the population Limbe was estimated to be about 15.000 inhabitants. In addition to the fact that today, the Regional Hospital Limbe has a referral status in the entire South West Region; the population of Limbe has grown so much to about 150.000 inhabitants. Space has therefore become small. We need more wards and offices. We need complete renovation of some of the very old buildings to take care of regular plumbery and electricity problems from old installations.

Specialist doctors seem to be in short supply – what is the situation in the Regional Hospital Limbe?

Our hospital like several others in the country needs more doctors – not only specialist doctors. For a hospital like this to run smoothly, we need about 8 general practitioners but we only have 4 at the moment. The need for specialist doctors cannot be overemphasized. Top on our list is an urgent need for a paediatrician, an internist, a second surgeon, a third gynaecologist, a radiologist, an ENT specialist and an ophthalmologist. These will further reduce the number of referrals to other health institutions in and out of the Region.

Before I leave you, could you tell the public a bit about your career profile?

I graduated from the University Centre for Health Sciences (CUSS) in 1987, and was immediately posted to work in the Sub-Divisional Hospital Puma in the then Littoral Province, as the chief medical officer. In 1991, I was moved to the Divisional Hospital in Mamfe until September 1994, when I went to the University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland for a specialization course in infectious diseases. As soon as I completed studies in December, 1999, I started work with the assignment to open an infectious diseases unit at the Central Hospital Yaounde in May 2000. I occupied the post of a chief of service in that unit until September 2005 when I was appointed the Director of the Regional Hospital in Limbe. As you can see, it is not a long page of profile but I am comfortable in my responsibilities and learning processes that go with them.