Health

The health sector in Cameroon and the world at large is faced with the inflation of contraband drugs in markets, hospitals, streets and pharmacies.

Despite Government efforts to check the importation and sale of illicit drugs in the country, contraband drugs in pharmacies and streets remain a major scourge to the population and society at large.

Man is vulnerable to some diseases and infections, causing illnesses such as; malaria, typhoid, stomach disorder, headache, among others.

Most inhabitants turn to look on to the ‘local chemists’ who sell drugs on the streets, rather than going to the hospitals.

They say going to the hospital is quite costly. 

Speaking to this reporter, Elizabeth Shuri, said roadside drugs are cheaper.

“I prefer buying drugs from the ‘chemists’ on the roadside, because, it is less expensive and saves huge sums of money, which I ought to spend in hospitals for so called consultation and tests,” she said.

Another inhabitant, Edmond Fru, said he prefers getting drugs from the ‘local chemist’, because, most hospitals, nowadays, focus more on selling their drugs, rather than treating patients.

In an exclusive interview, the Administrator of the Southwest Regional Fund for Health Promotion,   Ngondo  Musenja,  warned inhabitants of the Region to beware of counterfeit, stolen and illicit medications which put their health and life at risk.

The World Health Organisation, WHO, estimates that up to 30 percent of medicines available in developing countries are likely to be imitations. 

 

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Abeh Valery

29.Jul.2017

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Plans are underway to introduce a vagina ring in Africa which is expected to curb HIV infection  by 56%.
The ring has already been tested in teenage girls in the US, reports the BBC.
Infused with microbicides, the ring, which sits on the cervix, has been shown to cut infections by 56%, according to the BBC.

The six-month US trial gave the ring to 96 sexually active girls aged 15 to 17, who had not used it before.

Data presented at the IAS Conference on HIV Science, showed:
◾87% of the girls had detectable levels of the drug in their vagina
◾95% said the ring was easy to use
◾74% said they did not notice the ring in day-to-day life, the BBC reports.
Reports say the ring enhances satisfaction, contrary to initial concerns.
The ring which is removed every month, will help  protect women from the 'dishonesty' of some men, who can't be trusted when using condoms.
In fact, some men tend to break condoms when making love to women.

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Rita Akana

25.Jul.2017

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Over 100 kidney patients, Monday, July 17, besieged the Yaounde General Hospital, calling on Government to provide them with dialysis machines and other kits.

The machines in the hospital are all dilapidated and can no longer meet the needs of the patients.

The July 17 incident is the third in a series that the patients are staging for their conditions to be ameliorated.

Three weeks ago, the patients crowdedthe General Hospital entrance asking for haemodialysis machines and water oxygenated rooms to evacuate their waste.

Addressing the disgruntled patients during last week strike action, the Minister of Public Health, Andre´ Mama Fouda,assured them that the broken dialysis machines will be repaired and other kits brought in beforetwo weeks.

“Three weeks ago, we were here to claim our rights to life. We complained about the lack of dialysis equipment in our hospital. The Minister promised us that our problem will be solved in a week’s time. But that was a fake promise.

Here we are today because we can no longer take it,” one of the depressed patients said

Some of the patients have vowed to remain in front of the hospital until their problem is looked into.

The depressed patients carried placards bearing messages such as: why have we been neglected? Save our lives, we just need a life like any normal human being, why are we treated like this?

They bemoaned that kidney patients are dying every day in Cameroon due toGovernment negligence.

“Many of us are dying every day in hospitals due to lack of haemodialysis kits. All we need is life and something must be done to save us,” a 14-year-old girl cried out.

The Yaounde incident is just a microcosm of what is going in the other Regions of Cameroon. In the North West and South West Regions, for example, such occurrences are witnessed on a daily basis. 

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Abeh Valery

23.Jul.2017

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Plans are underway to create a cancer treatment centre in Cameroon.
It was disclosed on Thursday in Yaoundé when the director of civil cabinet at the presidency held talks with an Italian professor.
Professor Vittorio Colizzi , a renowned research fellow in Europe, revealed during a press conference after the meeting that some Cameroonian and Italian universities are already collaborating in research.
The plans had been nursed several years ago and were revived when President Paul Biya visited Italy months back.
Cancer is fast becoming a real headache for the entire world.
The body in charge of cancer in Cameroon says about 14000 new cases were diagnosed in 2016 in the country.
About 15000 people are believed to contract cancer in Cameroon every year.
This comes just hours after the former  candidate for the US presidential election was diagnosed with brain Cancer. John McCain, who is reportedly considering treatment options, was beaten by former President Barack Obama in 2008.
Cameroon is good at misplacing priorities. Currently, she is celebrating the rehabilitation of the Yaoundé Conference Centre, where a huge sum of money has disappeared.
And unfortunately, the idea of this cancer treatment centre may remain in the air for the next couple of years.

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Rita Akana

22.Jul.2017

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Over 100 kidney patients, Monday, July 17, besieged the Yaounde General Hospital, calling on Government to provide them with dialysis machines and other kits.

The machines in the hospital are all dilapidated and can no longer meet the needs of the patients.

The July 17 incident is the third in a series that the patients are staging for their conditions to be ameliorated.

Three weeks ago, the patients crowdedthe General Hospital entrance asking for haemodialysis machines and water oxygenated rooms to evacuate their waste.

Addressing the disgruntled patients during last week strike action, the Minister of Public Health, Andre´ Mama Fouda,assured them that the broken dialysis machines will be repaired and other kits brought in beforetwo weeks.

“Three weeks ago, we were here to claim our rights to life. We complained about the lack of dialysis equipment in our hospital. The Minister promised us that our problem will be solved in a week’s time. But that was a fake promise.

 

Here we are today because we can nolonger take it,” one of the depressed patients said

Some of the patients have vowed to remain in front of the hospital until their problem is looked into.

The depressed patients carried placards bearing messages such as: why have we been neglected? Save our lives, we just need a life like any normal human being, why are we treated like this?

They bemoaned that kidney patients are dying every day in Cameroon due toGovernment negligence.

“Many of us are dying every day in hospitals due to lack of haemodialysis kits. All we need is life and something must be done to save us,” a 14-year-old girl cried out.

The Yaounde incident is just a microcosm of what is going in the other Regions of Cameroon. In the North West and South West Regions, for example, such occurrences are witnessed on a daily basis.

 

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Abeh Valery

20.Jul.2017

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Andre Mama Fouda, the Minister of Public Health made mention of that on Thursday 13 July 2017 while he was chairing a press conference dedicated for the sensitisation of the public on family planning methods.

The Minister in the presence of the Chief of Communication in Cameroon Issa Tchiroma Bakari, explained that family planning “refers to measures put in place for women to permit them manage their fertility”.

Considering the pre-eminence of family planning and the high rate of maternal mortality now in Cameroon, Mama Fouda disclosed that in the National budget that will be adopted in a few months from now, family planning financing will be included.

   

One of the key things which were announced was the reduced costs of contraceptives. “...it’s for this purpose that I signed a circular, rendering contraceptives more accessible. One condom costs 5Fcfa that means 10 at 50Fcfa, pills or oral contraceptives 125Fcfa, injections such as Depo provera 255Fcfa” the Minister Explained.

Cameroon concord was made to know that, this campaign falls in an international context generated by a high profile summit on family planning which is taking place in London, with Cameroon as one of the partakers. It equally falls in line with an operation initiated by the United Nations Population’s Fund which has as objective to have a world where pregnancies would be wanted and where putting to birth will be without complications.

 

 

 

 

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14.Jul.2017

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