By Mildred Wung
The Northwest Region counts 1403 positive cases, about150 deaths with March 2021 alone recording 37 deaths.
The loose enforcement of barrier measures against COVID19 in the Northwest Region – Cameroon has been cited as the reason for rising cases. This was proven during an inspection tour by officials of the region led by the Governor – Adolph Lele Lafrique on March 24, 2021.
When the inspection team went visiting ten different establishments many people were without face masks, there was scant respect for social distancing, buckets without water for handwashing and few hand sanitizers.
The tour took the officials to markets, schools, a bus stations, a military sector and the Northwest Regional Delegation for Secondary Education.
Picture: a man begins washing an abandoned water container meant for hand washing at Nkwen market after officials find it dirty, without water and a malfunctioning head tap
At each stop, the officials including Doctor Kingsley Che Soh – Regional Delegate of Public Health, Fru Angwafor Fobuzshi -president of the Regional Assembly and Fon Yakum Kevin Vice President of the Regional Assembly (and also President of House of Chiefs all talked to people to reinforce COVID19 barrier measures and to go for screening when the disease symptoms pop up.
Picture: using megaphone officials do outdoor sensitization of COVID19 at Mendankwe Park
A warning note was sounded by the governor who said a curfew would be imposed if safety rules continue being violated. “Now that we have sensitized the population we are going to move one step forward to start sanctioning. Reason why I instructed the head of the task forces spread all over the Nothewest region to start sanctioning those who are not observing the barrier measures. And I should recall here that we have recorded close to forty deaths this month and if it continues like that we are going to suggest to the head of States to take stringent mrasures including proclaiming curfews” he said
To encourage the observation of COVID19 rules, buckets, face masks, and soaps were handed to the visited establishments during the tour.