Bamenda now has 11 positive coronavirus cases and has recorded its first death from the virus. The North West regional delegate for health says six additional cases were recorded after 58 samples were tested. The patient that lost his life the delegate says was brought in for consultation in a very bad state and passed away before his test results were out. The population has been urged to remain vigilant and avoid crowds as much as possible.
Some traders in Douala have saluted government’s decision not to collect taxes from them for three months to permit them recover financially following the ravaging effect of COVID-19. Owners of beer parlours have equally applauded the fact that they can do business after 6pm. Beside this, there’s fear that the influence of beer might urge some customers not to respect other preventive measures.
The Archbishop of the metropolitan diocese of Douala has expressed satisfaction that a delegation from the Ministry of public health has visited him to know more about his COVID-19 cure. Archbishop Samuel Kleda received the delegation today in Douala. In a closed door meeting, Samuel Kleda says they discussed intensely concerning the drug.
There are fears the spread of COVID-19 in Cameroon may increase following the decision to let bars, restaurants and clubs reopen. Minister Manaouda Malachie has called on Cameroonians to continue to follow preventive measures against the coronavirus. He also praised health workers for their efforts in the fight against the virus. “Your sacrifice and dedication will not be in vain. Good labor day!!” He said.
The Governor of the Littoral Region has distributed health and medical materials to the six Senior Divisional Officers of the region. The materials are those donated by Paul Biya. Governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboa handed over the gifts today.
Some workers in Cameroon’s economic capital Douala have accused their employers of hiding behind the coronavirus pandemic to deprive them of usual Labour Day bonuses and advantages. This category of workers says their employers could not offer financial and or materials encouragement as usual. The employers, qualified as unscrupulous by employees say the government banned public manifestations during the 2020 labour day commemoration in the Country
Continuous gun battles in the conflict hit Anglophone regions of Cameroon are said to be a major hindrance to civilian sensitisation against COVID-19. With access to some conflict stricken localities now impossible, the army is being used by the government to transport Coronavirus test kits and materials to the people. In Bangolan, one of the conflict hit localities, the rapid intervention battalion took the coronavirus kits to the war stricken people as the fight with Separatists persists.
The South West Governor has given a 72-hour ultimatum for President Biya’s material gift against COVID-19 to reach the population of the region.
Okalia Bilai was speaking to SDOs and DOs charged with the distribution of the materials against COVID-19 in the South West. He gave the challenge on Thursday April 30th, 2020 in Buea. However, the administrator general of prisons in Buea demanded the SDOs to extend Biya’s gifts to inmates in the region who he believe are much more vulnerable.
The North West region has received her own consignment of President Paul Biya’s gifts to fight the spread of COVID-19 to all the Sub Divisions of the Country. The gifts arrived in four trucks but observers say the consignment will not serve 1/3rd of the needs of the population of the North West region
The Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie justifies why he refused to welcome SCSI gesture to help fight the Coronavirus in Cameroon. To him, Professor Maurice Kamto must seek authorisation from MINAT boss, Minister Paul Atanga Nji before he collects the medical kits he brought. He added that Professor Kamto is stubborn and he wouldn’t collect anything from a stubborn citizen.
Angry bike riders in Bafoussam set a car ablaze today after the death of one if theirs in an accident with the car. Eyewitnesses however say he was at top speed when he crashed into the parked vehicle. To the angry bikers, the vehicle was poorly parked and caused the death of their colleague.
Residents of Bafut in the North West Region are hoping to have a peaceful night today following the departure of soldiers who took the area hostage for days and left this Friday. A reliable source on the ground confirmed that about 20 armoured cars left Bafut with other military trucks. “We cannot say we are safe, but our fears are gone, we can now return home….the military left Bafut today in 20 armoured cars and trucks, ” he explained. At least seven persons were killed in less than one week amid reports of houses being looted.
Gwei Walters, a bike rider was shot dead at St Mary in Bamenda yesterday evening. A source close to the rider says “the military was on a patrol according to what the people around told us and he was returning from the hospital where he dropped a patient. They just shot him without even stopping him.” Soldiers have been accused of carrying out several extra judicial killings of this sort since the start of the Anglophone crisis.
Two months after being questioned at the National Gendarmerie Secretariat (SED) in Yaounde, Ayah Ayah Abine has been summoned at the Judicial Police in Yaounde for questioning on grounds of suspicion for financing terrorism. Reacting to the invitation, the humanitarian said he and the Ayah Foundation will not be intimidated by anyone. He is expected to be there at 11AM on Wednesday May 6th.
Commercial motorcycle riders in Bamenda say they are waiting to see what the City Mayor will do from tomorrow to ensure that motorcycles impounded by security forces are released. Commercial motorcycle riders carried out a peaceful protest today in Bamenda. They read their grievances to the Mayor of the city.
Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has told its MPs to self-isolate for at least a fortnight and stay away from parliamentary buildings in the capital Dodoma and main commercial city of Dar es Salaam. Chadema has also been urging the Speaker to suspend sessions as a safety precaution during the pandemic. Three MPs have died in less than a fortnight, though their deaths have not been linked to coronavirus. However the government has been criticised for downplaying the virus and not imposing strict measures to curb its spread. There are now 480 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Tanzania, 16 of whom have died.
Africa’s largest mobile operator MTN has asked a court in the US to dismiss a case which accuses the company of breaking anti-terrorist legislation in its business in Afghanistan. The lawsuit, lodged by families of American military personnel and civilians who were killed in Afghanistan, alleges that MTN and other companies supported the Islamist militants by making payments to ensure their infrastructure was protected. MTN is one of six companies from which the families are seeking compensation. But the South African telecoms firm says the case should be withdrawn because the American court has no jurisdiction as MTN does not operate in the US. It also says the complaint does not allege any conduct that would have violated the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Zimbabwe has granted clemency to more prisoners, broadening the conditions for release in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a government notice, those who are facing life sentences and who have served at least 20 years of that sentence could be released. Some 1,500 prisoners were released in March but prisons remain overcrowded, with a total of 20,000 inmates against a capacity of 17,000. The amnesty frees all female prisoners save those convicted for violent crimes. All juveniles and the terminally ill will also be released. Men who have served at least a quarter of a three-year prison sentence will also be freed.
Sudan has criminalised female genital mutilation (FGM) and imposed a three-year prison sentence for offenders, according to a newly amended law. The procedure is the cutting or removal of a female’s external genitalia. It often involves the removal or cutting of the labia and clitoris. The amendment to the criminal law was approved on 22 April, the Reuters news agency reports. Sudan is one of the African nations where FGM is believed to be highly prevalent. The procedure is practised in at least 27 African countries, according to the United Nations Population Fund.
One of the few African countries without any reports of coronavirus has now confirmed its first case. Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani said the patient is a man who came in contact with a French-Comorian national who’d recently travelled to France before being hospitalised on 23 April. His condition is improving and the authorities are tracing those who came into contact with him, President Assoumani said. Lesotho is the only remaining African country that hasn’t reported any cases. There have been reports of people dying from “respiratory distress” in Comoros, but the president last week said no case had been registered in the country’s three islands.
The majority of health workers in Kenya have been forced to reuse personal protective equipment (PPE), according to a study by Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network (Kelin). Most of the health workers interviewed in the study said there is a lack of regular supply from government. Only 17.8% said they were regularly supplied with protective equipment. More than half of those interviewed said they had received training on how to prepare and handle a confirmed case. The World Health Organization’s Emergency Operations Programme Manager Dr Michel Yao told the BBC that governments need to offer refresher programs to health workers regularly so that they are better equipped to take care of patients, as well as protect themselves.
South Africa will from Friday start easing some of its coronavirus restrictions after five weeks of lockdown. Some businesses will be allowed to reopen, restaurants can deliver food and families will be allowed to leave home to exercise. But the government will deploy more troops on the streets and impose an overnight curfew. The sale of alcohol and cigarettes will remain banned. South Africa has imposed some of the continent’s most stringent measures to contain the pandemic. Just over 100 people are confirmed to have died from Covid-19 but the lockdown has had a devastating effect on the economy.
(Foreign news: BBC)
