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The quality of many of Cameroon’s medical laboratories leaves much to be desired. Either the equipment is obsolete or the staff has not undergone enough refresher courses to cope with fast-evolving technology and other developments in the profession. As a result, some test results are erroneous. This lays the foundation for every other thing to go wrong. Because of the misleading nature of the medical laboratory scientist or technician’s result, the consulting nurse or medical doctor is most likely to give a wrong prescription. This can only be avoided if they ask for a second opinion, by demanding another test – probably from a different laboratory.

Understandably, the patient whose test result is erroneous and prescription wrong cannot expect anything better. The likelihood is that their disease or sickness will be poorly treated. This could result in continuous sickness, temporary or permanent incapacitation or even death. And if discovered, the victim or their relatives might take legal action against the erring medical practitioner. If the case is proven in court, the Medical Doctor and Medical Laboratory Scientist or Technician at the origin of the error might be sanctioned by their various professional bodies. All this does no good to the image or reputation of their professions.

Above all, it creates lack of trust in the ability of laboratory and medical staff to deliver. According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, 70 per cent of wrong diagnoses of diseases by doctors is traced to incorrect laboratory results. Given the seriousness of unreliable tests, WHO on July 20, 2011, issued a policy recommendation, warning that the use of currently available commercial blood (serological) tests to diagnose active Tuberculosis (TB) often leads to misdiagnosis, mistreatment and potential harm to public health. WHO urged countries to ban the inaccurate and unapproved blood tests and instead rely on accurate microbiological or molecular tests.

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Ngwa Bertrand

06.Jan.2016

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Two thirds of the 30 candidates standing for president of Central African Republic on Monday demanded the authorities halt the vote count because of what they said were irregularities in the ballot. Many voters hope the Dec. 30 poll will restore peace after three years of conflict between Muslim rebels and Christian militias in which thousands of people have died and around 1 million have fled their homes. The protest by the candidates could mean the final result is contested, but it may be seen by some voters as a last cry by people who see their chances of winning the election slipping away.

"The election ... revealed a grave lack of organization, multiple irregularities and intimidation in the way the vote took place that fundamentally call into question the sincerity and transparency of the election," said candidate Theodore Kapou. "We demand pure and simply that this set-up be stopped and we invite all relevant actors to sit round a table to figure out the best way to save the nation," said Kapou, who spoke on behalf of the others. Results have trickled out slowly but with 34 percent of the vote counted, former prime minister Faustin Archange Touadera was leading with 139,498 votes, followed by another former prime minister, Anicet Georges Dologuele, with 96,728 vote.

The most prominent candidate at the news conference was Bilal Nzanga-Kolingba, son of a former president, who was running fourth with 50,332 behind Jean Serge Bokassa, the son of a late dictator, who had 66,229 votes, said Julius Rufin Ngouade Baba, national election authority spokesman. Mainly Muslim rebels from a group called the Seleka seized power in the majority Christian nation in early 2013, provoking reprisals from Christian anti-balaka militias and a cycle of religious and inter-communal killings. A U.N. peacekeeping mission and French forces are active in the impoverished country whose resources of cotton, gold, diamonds and uranium are under-exploited.

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Ngwa Bertrand

05.Jan.2016

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Pierre Tankam, the General Manager of the Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA), was sacked on Wednesday in Yaounde. He was replaced by Paule Assoumou Koki, 49 years old daughter of a former baron of the CPDM regime. She previously was director of aviation and safety within the same structure for over a decade . The new General Manager of the CCAA was installed even before the publication of the communiqué dismissing Pierre Tankam.

Cameroon Concord Intelligence Unit learnt the firing of Pierre Tankam was linked to the Chinese MA-60 planes bought by Camair co. Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo'o, appointed Minister of Transport on the 2nd of October 2015 felt Pierre Tankam, Cameroon's aerospace boss for the last 5 years failed to commission the Chinese MA-60 aircraft acquired for over 35 billion FCFA. PierreTankam had reportedly sent a letter to President Paul Biya seeking more time to give certification to those aircrafts and hinted in the said correspondent that some doubts remained as to their reliability. The Minister of Transport still carries with him the same administrative style he had while serving as Defence minister.

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Ngwa Bertrand

31.Dec.2015

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The high command initiated over a year ago for the training of Cameroon troops to deal with explosives devices often used by the Nigerian Islamic sect, Boko Haram has graduated 41 service men and women (6 officers and 35 non-commissioned personnel).

The program that lasted over fifteen days and focused on destruction, operational search and route opening was held at the Ngouandere military center.

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Ngwa Bertrand

25.Dec.2015

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They are accused of embezzling 175 million FCFA, being funds meant for the production of secured National Identity Cards and Residence Permits and Passports. The first hearing in the case between the State of Cameroon/the General Delegation for National Security (DGSN) against Jean Claude Fabre, former Director of Thales Security Systems and Gondang Marie, Director of Gomas, took place at the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde on December 21, 2015. Jean Claude Fabre and Gondong Marie are accused of embezzling 175,142,100 FCFA, being State funds. According to the Magistrate’s Committal Order, the crime was allegedly committed between 2011 and 2012. The offence is punishable under the law according to Articles 74, 96 and 184 of the Penal Code.

The hearing before a panel of judges led by Mrs. Justice Eloundou Virginie, assisted by Mr. Justice Nyoh Matthias and Mr. Justice Awoung, began with the verification of the prosecution and defence counsel. However, all two accused people were absent. Counsel for Fabre Jean Claude, Barrister Pierre-Alexis Bayebec, said his client is 85 years old and is sick. As a result, he could not appear in court. He pleaded with the court to adjourn the case to a later date to give his client time to recover and appear in court. The Presiding Judge then adjourned the matter to January 5, 2016. Thales Security System Cameroon signed a contract with Cameroon in 1995 as technical partners for the production of secured National Identity Cards and Resident Permits.

The sum of FCFA 175 million was paid to Thales by government in 2011. The money was meant for material needed to produce Identity Cards, Resident Permits and Passports. Investigations by the National Gendarmerie and the Police revealed that under the management of Jean Claude Fabre from 2006 to 2012, the company paid 175 million FCFA to Gondang Marie, who headed GOMAS, a Thales subsidiary. The operation was effected by Thales Security Systems through cheques worth 112 million FCFA and other payments worth FCFA 62 million. These transactions were allegedly on the instruction of Jean Claude Fabre, whereas GOMAS had neither supplied the equipment nor carried out any work. As a result of certain problems, especially the production of fake identity cards, passports etc, the General Delegation for National Security in 2014 ended the contract with Thales Security System.

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Ngwa Bertrand

23.Dec.2015

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The President of the Republic, Paul Biya signed and published on Monday 21 December 2015, a decree which appoints Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, Director General of the Cameroon customs. Before his appointment, Fongod Edwin served as head of information technology department at the Directorate of customs. Fongod Edwin Nuvaga replaces Minette Li Kikeng, promoted on October 02, 2015 as Ministers of Post and Telecommunications.

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Ngwa Bertrand

22.Dec.2015

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