CI-NEWS

Mitigating COVID-19: OCEAC empowers Cameroon’s eastern borders.

2020-07-04

No: 509

Mitigating COVID-19: OCEAC empowers Cameroon’s eastern borders.

Two neighbouring localities, Kentzou in Cameroon and Gawboula in the Central African Republic have received anti-COVID-19 protective kits (thermo flashes, hydro alcoholic gel, solar panel devices, buckets with taps, masks, gloves, and lamps, single –use gown, etc.) from the Organisation for the Coordination of Endemic Diseases in Central Africa to boost their fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic along the Cameroon- Central African Republic borders.

The gifts were donated last Sunday, June 21, 2020.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the over 70,000 people that make up the locality of Kentzou in Cameroon, the Head of the Ndélélé Health District, Dr. Rodrigue Lakoa, said it couldn’t have come at a less opportune moment.

“It is a border area. This important donation is very timely. As part of epidemiological surveillance, we have already had two positive cases in our health district, which have been taken care of and cured. Our needs are rapid diagnostic tests. There is an important migratory exchange; there are approximately 100 people who cross the border per day. So these test kits will allow us to screen asymptomatic patients,” he said.

He also reiterated the need for an ambulance to be made available to the health district to transport suspected cases to the hospital.

Four confirmed cases

Receiving the gifts on behalf of the locality of Gamboula in the Central African Republic, the head of the health district, Fidéle Yalimon Ngay, revealed that the unit has already recorded four confirmed cases, including one resident in Gamboula.

The donation of the protective equipment to the neighbouring localities of Kentzou in Cameroon and Gamboula in the Central African Republic is coming after a similar gesture made to the localities of Garoua-Boulai (Cameroon) and Koundé (CAR) in May this year on the Douala-Bangui corridor still by the Organisation for the Coordination of Endemic Diseases in Central Africa.

This is the outcome of a sub-regional response plan drawn up in Douala in March this year by health ministers of the CEMAC zone with a view to supporting national efforts to combat COVID-19.

The ceremony was overseen by the director of studies and planning at the Organisation for the Coordination of Endemic Diseases in Central Africa, Dr. Brahim Issa Sidi, representing the executive secretary of the sub-regional body. Speaking on behalf of the government of Cameroon, the Divisional Officer of the area, Julien Martial Asse, enjoined the population to make good use of the protective equipment.

“We must continue to observe the barrier measures against the spread of Covid-19. There is no question of sagging”, he said.

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Mitigating COVID-19: OCEAC empowers Cameroon’s eastern borders.