Doctors Without Borders Urge Cameroon Government To Prioritize Health Of Citizens

By Raymond Dingana

Doctors Without Border known in it's french acronym as MSF has urged the government of Cameroon to put the health needs of the population first by lifting then ban on its health care services. This is contained in a press release signed Tuesday which indicates that, thousands of people in the North West Region of Cameroon continue to struggle to enjoy adequate health care services.

“We call once again on the government of Cameroon to put the needs of the population first, and to immediately reinstate MSF’s essential medical services in the North-West. Our operations cannot remain on hold indefinitely,” MSF said in the press release.

As indicated by MSF, thousands of people have continued to be denied urgent and life saving health care following the suspension of their activities by the government. 

Doctors Without Borders Providing Health Care Services In Bamenda

Despite all attempts to talk the powers that be in to lifting the suspension, MSF say, their request to resume activities in the region has been denied despite the fact that, thousands of people are still in dire need of adequate health care services.

"Six months after the forced suspension of the activities by Cameroonian authorities, MSF calls on the government of Cameroon to immediately lift this suspension and prioritize the medical needs of the population,"MSF said in the press release.

The release also indicated when the activities of MSF were  suspended and said, they were accused of being too closed to separatist ffighters.

"On the  8th of December, 2020, MSF was suspended from working in the North-West region as Cameroonian authorities accused the NGO of being too close to non-state armed groups in the area. Despite months of discussions to respond to these allegations, MSF has been unable to restart its operations, leaving tens of thousands of people without access to life saving free health care. Vital medical services have been denied for six months now, and this is taking an unacceptable toll on Cameroonian citizens, many of whom have fled to the bush, unable to bear the sights, sounds and threats of violence any longer”, says Emmanuel Lampaert, MSF Operations Coordinator for Central Africa. 

He added that, “This decision represents a substantial blow to medical and Humahumanitarian access. As we speak, our community health workers see people die 

and suffer because of the lack of treatment available in villages and displaced communities, and our ambulance call centre continues to receive emergency requests, which they are forced to decline. What rationale can justify these unnecessary deaths?”  he ask.

In one of her trainings on Peace Journalism and Humanitarian Reporting, the National Coordinator of the Cameroon Community Media Network, CCMN, Rose Obah said, the principles of humanitarian response have to do with Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality and Independennce. Here, Neutrality means that, humanitarian action should not favor any side in an armed conflict.

The services rendered by MSF are also being missed by the population. " I miss their services, one, they are free, two, anytime you ring them, be sure they will answer and come to your aid, something the other health facilities can't do. Ngum Walters said adding that, “my neighbor was undergoing labor pain, we called the Army Rescue, there was no rescue, no one was there to rescue the situation until we got to doctors without borders who came right  to Mulang and she was taken to the hospital where she delivered safely. Their absence has seen many loosing their lives because MSF is no where to be found."

It should be noted that, when a young lady by name Chriataline was shot some months, her family said she was dying until doctors without borders intervened, transferred her from where she was admitted to St. Mary Solidad hospital where she was treated. Her bills at the previous hospital was also taken care of by MSF, a family source confirmed to drayinfos.

“Access to healthcare services is of major concern in the North-West and South-West regions”, says Emmanuel Lampaert. “Because of insecurity, lockdowns, curfews and the targeting of health facilities, access to healthcare is extremely limited, with at least one in five facilities non-functioning. Displaced populations barely dare to move to health facilities, and the economic downturn has made it still harder to travel to hospital, or even to afford treatment. Unsurprisingly, mortality among vulnerable groups such as women and children has increased, and the suspension of our medical support made the situation even worse.” 

At the time of this report, there was a lady with gun shot wounds lying in a health facility in Bamenda. Sympathizers have been pleading and calling on persons of good will to come to her aid.

Victim Of Gun Shots In A Critical Condition In Hospital

Many are now hoping that, the suspension on Doctors Without Borders will be lifted so that, they can resume their activities very much needed by the population.

Drayinfos.com