DRay INFOS

Community Spokesperson Talking To Community Members At Old Town By Raymond Dingana The inhabitants of Mtambang, commonly referred to as Old Town in the Bamenda II Council area of the North West Region of Cameroon, have committed themselves to the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM). They assert that this practice remains prevalent in some communities throughout the region and across Cameroon. Their involvement at this critical time is driven by the negative impact this age-old cultural practice has on women. For over a month, community spokespersons in the Ntambang neighborhood, commonly known as Old Town in the Bamenda II council area, have been conducting a door-to-door sensitization campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).  The campaign addresses critical issues such as Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), toxic masculinity, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) amongst others.Community spokespersons are dedicated to educating residents on these important topics. ...

Dr. Atangcho encourages winner of the Pa James Bowen Atangcho Intellectual competition By Sah Terence Animbom The village of Akum in the North West Region of Cameroon witnessed a momentous occasion on August 22, 2024, as Dr. Atangcho Celestine, a distinguished son of the soil, fulfilled his promise to the community by awarding scholarships and distributing school supplies on behalf of Akum Cultural Association Tristate, USA (ACAT) to students in need. This event marked the culmination of a series of community-driven initiatives that began in December of the previous year, all aimed at fostering educational excellence and providing much-needed support to the youth of Akum. The highlight of the event was the awarding of scholarships to the winners of the Pa James Bowen Atangcho Intellectual Competition, held in December 2023. The competition, organized in honor of Dr. Atangcho’s late father, saw the participation of close to 100 primary six pupils from various schools in Akum. The two to...

Dr. Atangcho donates laptop to ICT trainee with disabilities in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria By Sah Terence Animbom  In a gesture of solidarity and commitment to humanitarian causes, Dr. Celestine Atangcho, Board Chair of the Community Refugee Relief Initiative (CRRI), visited Nigeria from August 18 to 19, 2024. The visit marked a significant milestone in CRRI's ongoing efforts to support Cameroonian refugees who have fled the protracted Anglophone crisis in their homeland. The initiative, which began as a birthday act of kindness led by Dr. Atangcho and two others, in 2019, has since evolved into a vital lifeline for thousands of displaced individuals seeking refuge in neighboring Nigeria.  The Community Refugee Relief Initiative was founded in 2019 by Dr. Celestine Atangcho and a concerned group of Cameroonians in the United States, as a response to the dire conditions faced by Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria. Initially, a trio, led by Celestine Atangcho intended to pr...

L-R Mayor Chenwi And Emmanuel Ntoko In Canada   By Raymond Dingana In one of his outings in Canada, Mayor Chenwi Peter Of Bamenda II met with business magnet, Emmanuel Ntoko in Aurora Ontario in Canada. During their intercourse, the two development stakeholders handled topical issues including how to better forter development back home, promote peace, and unity among Cameroonians in Canada, and also to encourage Cameroonian to massively take part in upcoming elections in Cameroon. Mayor Chenwi Tabling The Development Needs Of His Municipality  Speaking to drayinfos all the way from Canada, Mayor Chenwi Peter said Ntoko invited him to encourage others in Cameroon to contact him for collaboration. He said there are many Cameroonians in Canada whom if given the opportunity, they would in less than no time transform their municipalities to Eldorados in Africa. This latest move by Mayor Chenwi Peter is coming weeks after he signed a cooperation agreement with the City Council of Br...

  Dr Fokam Pius, Orthopedic Surgeon, Douala General Hospital By Fozoa Vaniela  A team of experienced Orthopedic Surgeons and technicians from the USA recently concluded a health mission to Cameroon. The team was in Douala from August 13th to 17th, 2024, where they performed surgeries and guided local physicians in knee replacement procedures, introducing cutting-edge technology to address the high demand for knee surgery in the region. According to Dr Fokam Pius, an Orthopedic Surgeon at the Douala General Hospital, the campaign was out to ease the burden on those suffering from knee related illnesses.  “We have discovered a lot of patients suffer from knee related diseases. This campaign comes as a means to alleviate the suffering of Cameroonians. It entails replacing the knee and giving it a new look. This surgery is aimed at alleviating knee related pain by resurfacing the knee cap and putting the knee in order, " explained Dr Fokam. During their stay, the team treated...

  L-R:City Council Mayor of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, Chenwi Peter Of Bamenda II Council  By Raymond Dingana  Mayor Peter Chenwi of Bamenda II Municipality in the North West Region of Cameroon has signed a cooperation agreement with the City Council of Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The signing ceremony whose aim is to forster sustainable development in the Bamenda II Municipality took place on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The journey kicked off in 2022 when Mayor Chenwi embarked on a maiden visit to Victoriaville and Montreal, Canada, as part of the Forum on Decentralized Cooperation and Development (FOCODDEV) organized by the Network for Decentralized Cooperation and Sustainable Development (RC3D). Recognizing what collaboration could bring to his municipality,Mayor Chenwi later visited Brampton, and Kitchener in December 2022, laying the groundwork for the agreement. The areas of cooperation outlined in the cooperation agreement include amongst others; Manpower and human re...

Media, Community Spokespersons Strategizing On Strengthening SRHR Advocacy  By Raymond Dingana In the months ahead, the alliance between Common Action for Gender Development (COMAGEND), Media professionals, and Community spokespersons is set to bolster sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) advocacy in selected neighborhoods of Bamenda in a bid to tear down barriers to SRHR in the community. These three advocates have taken it upon themselves to educate communities on sexual health rights, toxic masculinity, and other forms of gender-based violence plaguing today's communities. Participants At The Workshop The decision to form this alliance against societal norms that pose barriers to SRHR services was made during a one-day gathering organized by COMAGEND for media professionals and community spokespersons at the conference room of Bamenda II. The discussion session, facilitated by COMAGEND's Executive Director, Sally Mboumien, addressed critical topics like toxic masculi...