COVID-19 Prevention : Government, UNICEF, Catch Them Young

From August-September 2022, 88 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 in Doume Subdivision in Upper Nyong Division of Cameroon’s East Region. They include 31 elderly people. “Sensitisation against COVID-19 in Doume Subdivision held so well in July and August 2022. September 2022 marked the end of the pilot phase, with children returning to school. The Divisional Officer for Doume, Baba François Roger, joined health staff and youth in the campaign,” explains Abada Etaba Collins Bruno, Head of the Doume Social Affairs Centre. He oversees the implementation of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID-financed project in the area.  

Role Of Vaccinated People  
“Those who accept to be vaccinated against Coronavirus serve as our mouthpieces to the public on the need to also get vaccinated. Interestingly, we have had instances whereby pregnant women asked to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but we told them it was not advisable. Also, some of those vaccinated don’t realise they need to take the second dose,” Abada told a team of media tour journalists in his office on September 29, 2022. 

Assuring Project Visibility
“Visibility for our efforts is by social media. We have a team for that. They accompany us on sensitisation missions. We also sensitise on Sundays in order to meet more people at home. The project is going on well. We take advantage of every opportunity to sensitise the public on Coronavirus. We have created COVID-19 clubs to reach out to more people. We also organise public events to which local artistes are invited to perform. Then, we use the opportunity to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic,” Abada revealed. “However, occasional administrative bottlenecks tend to hamper our work,” he added.

Prevention, Better Than Cure
“Though the pandemic is no longer at its peak in Cameroon, prevention is better than cure. We must always be on the watchout and take preventive measures. Some 21 members of the Doume Social Behaviour Change, SBC platform were trained to sensitise on Coronavirus as part of the project. The challenges we face include frequent power outages, and fuel and commercial motorbike scarcity,” said Njombe Kelly Fidelie, the leader of SBC Doume COVID-19 awareness group.

Targeting Pupils  
“Concerning COVID-19 sensitisation, the team has been to our school twice. Pupils respect preventive measures. We hope the message will be passed on to their relatives back home. We are so grateful to UNICEF and its partners for this initiative,” commented Wassom Jean Pierre Leduc, the Head Teacher of Government Primary School Doume Group II.

School Challenges
Wassom however raised a number of challenges the school, which was created in 1982, faces. They include insufficient teachers, old buildings that they were constructed way back in 1918, and lack of water. “We will be grateful if development partners can electrify the school, given that we are in the era of Information and Communication Technology. The Parent-Teacher Association, PTA has promised to offer us a photocopier and printer, but these will be useless without electricity on campus,” the Head teacher said.

Damaged School Roof
Meanwhile, Government Primary School Doume Group I, which was founded in 1918, suffered a disaster last academic year. A palm tree fell on one of the classrooms, destroying the roof. Pupils had to be moved to a new site. As a result, all palm trees on the school campus were cut down to avert any further accidents. “We appeal to government and partners to come to our help,” Wassom Jean Pierre Leduc pleaded.
“The Head of State in 2001 created school councils, which are expected to look for partners to help in their development. The State is doing much, but cannot do everything. We hope UNICEF will come to their assistance,” Mr Mombol, from the Doume Inspectorate of Primary and Nursery Education, appealed.

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