Constant Concern

The fight against the new Coronavirus has kept world leaders busy, looking for the most efficient solutions to get their people out of harm’s way. President Paul Biya has been one of such leaders ensuring a close monitoring of the situation throughout the country and giving directives at each stage of the evolution of COVID-19 in Cameroon. With 165,939 people killed around the world by the pandemic just within four months following the declaration of the disease during the last part of December 2019, the justifiable scare created by the illness has left no one indifferent. 
From the announcement of the presence of the disease in Cameroon in the first week of March 2020, the number of cases in the country has rapidly reached the 1,000 mark and the number of death by Sunday 19 April 2020 was 42 and 305 treated cases. It may not yet be time for a balance sheet now given that the figures keep changing in Cameroon like elsewhere in the world. Trends across the globe have indicated a situation whereby the malady gets to a peak before witnessing a drop. Cameroonians need to make a radical change of attitude by adopting the barrier measures announced by the Prime Minister, Head of government, Joseph Dion Ngute following instructions from the Head of State and the guideline prescribed by the World Head Organisation (WHO), the situation might be worse. 
Although Coronavirus has so far spared a few regions in the country and the spread has mostly been in urban centres where people who travelled from abroad imported the disease into the country. However, examples from other countries are enough warning signs. No one can afford to take the COVID-19 lightly. This must be why President Paul Biya after creating a Special Solidarity Fund with FCFA One billion and the possibility for Cameroonians of goodwill to support the initiative, has decided to introduce another mechanism. 
Yesterday 20 April 2020, he took another major decision to ensure that the population in the most remote parts of the country should be combat ready to prevent the disease. Consequently, all 360 councils in the country will have the same number of items that range from basic needs like soap, protective and surgical masks to rapid testing kits and hospital respiratory equipment. 
Such provisions are indicative of the level of follow up the Head of State has had since the evolution of COVID-19 in Cameroon. To ensure that all parts of the country are covered in case of need and besides sensitisation measures, President Paul Biya has in his characteristic manner provided the required response that matches the nature of the problem at h...