Cameroon Health Emergency Operations Centre : Working To Safeguard Human Life

With several confirmed symptomatic cases of COVID-19 in the country, the Cameroon Health Emergency Operations Centre, charged with the management of incidences in Cameroon is working at guaranteeing the health safety of the populace. The Centre, under the control of its Director, Dr. Etoundi Mballa Georges Alain, who doubles as the Incident Manger for the virus in Cameroon, brainstorms on strategies to be adopted, evaluates the effectiveness of those taken, secures procurement of equipment and related material (medication inclusive), analysis samples, carries out surveillance of persons and sensitises the population with important information about the pandemic. Diverse categories of persons work at the Centre including, health personal like medical doctors, pharmacists, specialised nurses for psychological reasons, laboratory staff, paramedical practitioners, administrators, engineers, support staff, community health workers and information and communication technology experts. 
For the apt management of the situation in Cameroon, the Incident Manger is assisted by two deputies and three sub sectors comprising the liaison section, security and health section and the public affairs section. 
The liaison section works on three main principles which include the development and coordination of partnerships, assuring communication with the national focal point on international health regulation, and providing judicial support to responses. The Centre works with traditional partners like the World Health Organisation, other United Nations agencies, public and private partners like mobile telephone companies for the sending out of significant messages to the population.  The security and health section observes all those working in the promotion of health, ensures the environment is secured health wise, see to the respect of healthy prescriptions and makes provision for physiological stability. Public affairs section manages relations with the media and the general public. 
Four principal branches render the operationalization of the incident management system at the Centre which are the operations section, logistic section, administration and finance and the planning section. 
Two briefings are held daily at the Centre presided at the Director with the Secretary of State in charge of Pandemics and Epidemics at the Ministry of Public Health, Alim Hayatou, sometimes present as was the case on April 13, 2020 when Cameroon Tribune visited. The first briefing is held in the morning to set priorities for the day and the second in the evening to have a balance sheet of the situation nationwide. A total of 2 289 calls were received at the call center of the Centre on April 13, 2020 with 14 alert cases identified. Globally, close to 40,000 calls have been received on the toll-free numbers and over 8,000 persons have...