HUMACARE CEO calls for Support in efforts to combat COVID-19 among IDPs

Laisin Joachim Afoni, the Chief Executive Officer for HUMACARE has called on well wishers to support his NGO in its efforts to take care of those that circumstances have pushed to the fringes of society. HUMACARE is an NGO founded since 2005 to help the destitute and the depressed. Speaking recently to Edev Newspaper in an exclusive interview, Laisin Joachim Afoni said he was pushed into the initiative by the situation of the less privileged children. He intimates here that the experience of children in orphanages particularly touched him. He begins this interview by stating how he concretely started his Human Care activities.

"I noticed that children in the suburbs could not afford to go to school. I felt I had to do something so I organised classes under trees. I bought pencils and books for some of these children. This continued for some time until I decided to do things officially. I got an authorisation in 2005. My purpose was to help children from poor areas to attend school."

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You certainly have had challenges along the line. Can you spell out some of these challenges?

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 2005 to 2020 is a long time for an organisation like this one to have remained in the sidelines. When I started, the idea was to give some of the children school bags, books and food to eat in school. All of these came from my little salary. Two schools were created in Yaounde for the purpose of these poor children. It was not easy for people to understand my mission and a good number of people looked at it in a different way. I had to leave Yaounde and when this occoured it looked like an end to my dreams.

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Despite the difficulties you sailed on. How did you do it?

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Back in Bamenda with the onset of the crisis I told myself that I could not sit around and do nothing. Seeing all the suffering orphans and the great number of Internally Displaced People I decided to do something. I continued and I think the first outing I did was on the World Humanitarian day during which I attended to 75 Internally Displaced People in Bamenda. Since then HUMACARE has been lucky and I have called on people to help us in what ever way they can.  Thank God people have been chipping things in and this has been helping IDPs. At the moment, HUMACARE takes care of about 850 IDPs and 1500 IDPs have registered at the NGO.

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What are your immediate future plans?

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An NGO like mine is registered for a periode of 99 years span and can serve in Cameroon and beyond. As at now, we are focused on Bui Division. At the moment we are covering Mbiame, Kumbo, Kom, Djottin and our seat is in Bamenda III where we receive our IDPs.

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We've noticed that you have thrown your weight behind the anti COVID-19 Fight and that you've focused much more on IDPs.

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The fight against COVID-19 is a fight for everybody since the Pandemic is a reality. IDPs cannot be left out of the fight. I happen to have been lucky to have received some gifts from well wishers which constituted of Bucket taps, Soap and face masks. For the past four days, I have been able to give 500 bucket taps, face masks and 880 pieces of savon. About 250 IDPs have been attended to. Because the IDPs do not live together, I had to space them in different days over a periode of four days. They grouped out in groups of fifty. Yesterday we had two groups. Fifty were attended to in the morning while the other fifty were attended to in the afternoon.  

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You certainly should have a message for those out there who are prepared to take part in such lofty Humanitarian gestures.

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You see HUMACARE has as its logo a Peace Plant. One of its goals is the promotion of peace. For those who want to participate in the promotion of these goals, HUMACARE is one of the best place for them. It is a place for them to come so that we can join hands in taking care of thousands of IDPs who are out there. Sooner or later children will have to go back to school and many of them will not be able to afford the necessary uniforms and books. I call on people to look through HUMACARE and see the faces of these children who are languishing in poverty.

Interviewed in Bamenda by Francis Ekongang Nzante Lenjo

"Amba Fighters Should Join Fight Against COVID-19" - Mayor, Nkor Noni Council.

Dr Nchanji Germanus Ndi, Mayor of the Nkor-Noni Council has amongst other things called on Non State Armed Groups NSAG in the Noni Subdivision to join the fight against COVID-19. He was speaking recently in Bamenda during a briefing with the media. He begins by stating what the Nkor Council been doing so far to fight against COVID-19.

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"My Council has done a lot so far to fight this COVID-19. Nkor-Noni Council started by making the people to be aware that this virus truly exists. We therefore wanted the people to understand that since it is real they have to fight against it. So far, we purchased 506 bucket taps, 356 tablets of savon, Hand Sanitizers and 500 face masks. We distributed this to almost all the villages. Unfortunately some villages have not had it due the situation presently prevailing in the field. Villages like Djottin and Din have not had because the Amba Boys have been a stumbling block to us but other villages with the help of the Divisional Officers and the forces of Law and Order that are in place in Nkor received their own packages."

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How have you been sensitizing the people on the preventive measures so far put in place?

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I have personally with one of my Counselors resident in the village moved to"Njangi" Houses and talked to them on the necessity of washing their hands regularly. We've gone to "Kwifon" Houses and "Nfuh" Houses and insisted that they should put buckets with water for the washing of hands. We've also gone to market areas where we talked to people in groups of three or four and sensitized them on the importance to put on face masks in the market. 

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You certainly have a message for the Noni people and Cameroonians at large in relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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My message to them is that this COVID-19 virus is real. It has killed many people and so all the citizens in Noni and all over the country should take precautions against this virus.

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Any message to the Non State Armed Groups?

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When I purchased these items and was taking them to the village, they stopped the vehicle, searched it and when they saw the Hand Sanitizers they took theirs. This indicates that they know the importance of Hand Sanitizers. We are appealing that Amba Fighters should also join in the fight against COVID-19. And I think those in my place have accepted and are working with us. 

Interviewed in Bamenda by Francis Ekongang Nzante, Raymond Dingana and Chifu Edward.

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Ngufor Peter Njontor Throws Weight Behind Anti COVID-19 Efforts!

- Equips Bafanji with necessary Anti COVID-19 Gadgets 

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

Against a backdrop of the Presidential Grant of FCFA 2 Billion given by His Exellency President Paul Biya to help in intensifying the fight against the New Coronavirus COVID-19, Ngufor Peter, the CEO of Farmer's House, one of the leading Agro-industries in the Central African Sub Region has thrown his weight behind the dreaded virus. The donation which constitutes a first step in a series of other donations that will follow was made up of 900 Cubes of Soap, 50 buckets and 500 face masks was earmarked for the Indigenes of Bafanji in the Bali kumbat Subdivision.

Speaking during a brief ceremony to mark the occasion at the Head Quarters of Farmer's House in Bamenda, Ngufor Peter Njontor said, "With the New Coronavirus that is attacking the whole world and in particular Cameroon,  we heard that the Head of State instituted the Solidarity Fund so we felt that we have to come together to help him to help the country and to help our population to fight the Pandemic. This is my own little contribution to fight against this Pandemic. This package is to help the people of Bafanji. I hope that others should follow suit and do something like this or even better. Fighting this Virus is more or less like a war and its not a joking matter. Its not a fight meant for a single person but rather its a collective one. The fight is going to be a long and tedious one because the virus will not be going away anytime soon.

 So we've got to fight using every means possible. Many people have done greater than what I did today but this is my own little effort."

Explaining why he chose to start with Bafanji, Ngufor Peter Njontor said "I have started with Bafanji village because that's where I come from. I am not limited to Bafanji and I plan to move to other communities like the area where I stay in Bamenda. I will certainly do something in Nkwen and you should understand that it has to do with means available."

Cognizant of the difficulties that could occur at the level of distribution of the gadgets, he explained that "the Traditional Council to which these goods are addressed will use their discretion in the distribution of these items.

 They actually asked for it. They said they needed support in the fight against COVID-19. They already have their plan on how they are going to distribute them throughout all the quarters of Bafanji so that the population has access to these facilities." 

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Dr Ngong Isidor Comments on the Modern Traditional Healers' Perspective of Combating COVID-19

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

Speaking recently to a group of journalists at his Bamenda office, Dr Ngong Isidore intimated that since the onset of the New Coronavirus dubbed COVID-19,  his main concern as a Modern Traditional Practitioner has been to sensitize people on how to stay safe.

The Traditional Practitioner acknowledged the fact that the Government of Cameroon through the Ministry of Public Health had put in place measures which if adhered to by the population would go a long way to check the spread of the virus in the country. 

He said at the level of Dr Isidor's Modern Holistic Traditional Clinic, he had made available Hand Sanitizers for people visiting the clinic. Bucket taps he said had been made available for patients visiting the clinic adding that washing of hands and disinfecting them with sanitizers constituted an important routine for all those visiting the clinic. 

"We are equally advising our patients on what to eat and what not to eat so as to help them build their immune system through the rebuilding of their white blood cells so that they can be able to fight infections. The COVID-19 has a PH of 5 to 8.5 and as a result, there are some fruits we have been asking our patients to eat so that it will help to raise their PH to be higher than that of the COVID-19. That's why we have been asking our patients to consume seasonal fruits like Mangoes, Pineapple, Lemon among others."The Modern Traditional Practitioner further said he has constantly advised his patients to clean their systems regularly."

Falling back on his General Health activities, Dr Ngong Isidor said for the seven years that he had been practicing, he had done towards improving upon the health of Cameroonians. He cautioned people not to focus only on COVID-19 but on their health holistically adding that some people may die now not just because of COVID-19 but due to the fear.

"People should not forget about the other illnesses like the Typhoid, Malaria, Gastritis, STDs, (where the clinic has produced lots of antibiotics to help combat the illnesses), Hypertension, Rheumatism and Arthritis among others."

The Practitioner said when you come to his clinic with a complain, he doesn't focus only on the complain. Quoting the example of Hypertension he said they try to know what exactly is the cause of the hypertension considering that it has many causes. "If Gastritis is the cause like its dominantly always the case, then we proceed to treat it."

He advised people to eat only things that get rotten before the things get rotten. "People should go back to nature and eat natural food. The cure for everything is buried in natural medicine."

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Cameroonian Medics Comment on the use of Hydroxy Chloroquine

"The Production of Hydroxy Chloroquine is a good step taken by Government" - Dr Nji Peter, Foundation Family Clinic and Maternity Bamenda.

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

Following the commencement of the mass production of Hydroxy Chloroquine in Cameroon as a means to clamp down on the rapidly spreading COVID-19, some Cameroonian Medics have commented on this move by the Government.

This reporter caught up with Dr Nji Peter of the Foundation Medical Clinic and Maternity in Bamenda who was of the opinion that "it was a good step for the Government to have taken to permit the production of Hydroxy Chloroquine." He said it was a drug that had been used for many years in the treatment of Malaria but explained that for a couple of years now its production in Cameroon had been stopped. 

He said interest had been recently reattracted to the drug, "With some knowledge coming especially from the French Doctors, some of whom have already tried Chloroquine maybe combined with Azithromycine in the treatment of COVID-19. We lose nothing if Government can produce and we use it on people who have been tested positive of COVID 19. We lose nothing because if it doesn't kill the Virus, then it isn't going to kill the person either. It is true that Chloroquine has some side effects just like any other drug but if used in the correct dosages it will not harm the patient."

Harping on the possible effectiveness of the drug, Dr. Nji Peter said "From what I know from the Phamacopia of Chloroquine, it actually enhances the entrance of Zinc into cells so I want to believe that if it is taken, it will open even the cells of the COVID-19 for Zinc to go in. Zinc now weakens the cells of this virus so it can enhance the death of the virus."

He further said that we were in a situation in which we didn't know exactly where we were headed.

"Anything that we can try so long as it is not going to kill the individual we should try it. Other countries are trying it with good results.

There is one study that I learnt of a French Doctor who treated 80 positive COVID-19 cases and about 73% of them got healed. So why don't we try it. If we can produce it locally then lets do it and give it to our patients and see whatever results that we will get."

The Medical Doctor stated that immediately the Government came out with the initial 13 measures, he started implementing them at the Foundation Family Clinic and Maternity in Bamenda. "We made sure that there was a running tap so that when patients came in they had to wash their hands.  After washing their hands, they use hand sanitizers before coming into the clinic.

We equally try as much as possible to space them out just keeping about three persons per bench. We've been continuing with this. When I came here this morning, I threatened to send away some patients who were not putting on masks. We cannot be here doing our best and somebody comes in with the virus from outside."

Dr Nji Peter said they were doing what the Ministry of Public Health and WHO had instructed such as Social Distancing among other things to contribute in thier own little way in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

We have a phrase in Cameroon that "l'impossible n'est pas Camerounais". I advice Cameroonians to simply follow the instructions given by the Government and the World Health Organisation WHO. Prevention is better than cure and now we don't even have a cure. Our habits have to change. Its a necessity so lets do it" Dr Nji insisted.

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“Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity Bamenda” célèbre son 26e anniversaire

Rencontre avec le Dr Nji Peter, Gynécologue Camerounais

Le Dr Nji Peter est médecin et gynécologue de formation. Il est propriétaire de “Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity”, Clinique et maternité à Bamenda, dans la région du nord-ouest du Cameroun. Il est le PDG et le médecin en chef du même établissement de santé. Il commence cette interview en mettant en lumière ses premières tentatives.

"J’ai fait mes études primaires à l’école primaire catholique de “Small Mankon” à Bamenda, puis à “Sacred Heart College” de Mankon, toujours à Bamenda. Plus tard, je suis allé au Collège Saint Gravis, à Obalende, à Lagos au Nigéria. J’ai ensuite poursuivi mes études à la Faculté des Médicines à l'université de Lagos, UNILAG, où j'ai commencé la premier étape de mes études en médecine, puis à “Kenyatta National Hospital” de Nairobi, au Kenya, où je me suis spécialisé en obstétrique et gynécologie."

Pouvez-vous nous parler de votre Clinique et maternité et de ce qui vous a incité à vous y aventurer?

  Lorsque j’ai terminé mes études de médecine au Nigéria et que je suis rentré chez moi, j’ai eu l’expérience de travailler dans une clinique privée ici à Bamenda, puis après, lorsque j’ai suivi une spécialisation au Kenya et que j’y suis retourné, le gouvernement camerounais ne pouvait pas employer un certain catégorie de personnel de santé. Un spécialiste comme moi ne pouvait pas rester au chômage ni travailler pour quelqu'un d'autre, c'est ainsi qu'est née l'idée de créer une clinique et maternité. Incidemment, en ce jour du 8 novembre 2019, cette clinique a 26 ans. C’est ce qui m’y a poussé car le gouvernement ne pouvait pas m’employer à ce moment-là.

Quelles sont les services de santé spécifiques proposées par la “Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity”?

En gros, nous proposons des consultations médicales générales, des consultations pédiatriques, des consultations spécialisées en gynécologie et en obstétrique. Ensuite, nous procédons également à une vaste gamme de testes de laboratoire, d’échographie et de radiographie.

 Avez-vous aussi une maternité?

 Nous offrons également des services prénatals et une maternité. Nous effectuons des accouchements et effectuons des opérations, à la fois des opérations obstétriques et gynécologiques et certaines opérations chirurgicales générales ainsi que les opérations simples comme apendicectomie, entre autres.

Où les nécessiteux vous trouvent-ils?

Nous sommes situés à Bamenda. Le moyen le plus simple de nous contacter est d’abord de vous rendre au très populaire “Hospital Round About.” De là, vous suivez la route qui mène à Bali. En montant, vous vous arrêterez à l'église presbytérienne Azire sur votre droite. Juste en face de cette église se trouve l'entrée à Atuakom. Lorsque vous suivez cette entrée, le deuxième bâtiment en étage sur votre gauche est l'emplacement de la clinique.

Vous pratiquez depuis 26 ans au Cameroun. Que pouvez-vous dire avoir été les expériences les plus difficiles de votre carrière?

La chose la plus difficile que je devrais dire a été l'économie, les finances. Cela signifie que les patients viennent et sont malades, mais il leur est généralement difficile de passer les différents tests et examens nécessaires pour qu’ils soient traités. Cependant, nous essayons de vivre dans la société. Parfois, nous accordons des rabais pour permettre aux patients de suivre leurs traitements afin de rentrer chez eux mieux et en meilleure santé qu’ils ne sont venus. Sinon, nous n’avons que les maladies générales qui touchent les Camerounais, comme le paludisme, la typhoïde, les rhumatismes, la fièvre rhumatismale, l’arthrite et des problèmes d’infertilité, en particulier chez les femmes.

Vous avez certainement un message pour les Camerounais malades?

Je conseillerai à toute personne malade de se rendre au centre de santé conventionnel le plus proche et d’obtenir un véritable diagnostic de ce dont vous souffrez. Lorsque cette ligne de traitement échoue, vous pouvez alors chercher des solutions ailleurs. Tout d’abord, les personnes malades devraient toujours se rendre d’abord à l’hôpital. Ne commencez pas à vous soigner à la maison. Une fois le diagnostic effectué, tout est mis en place à partir de là.

Au cours de cette période où le Cameroun a traversé la période la plus tumultueuse de son histoire, en quoi les activités de votre hôpital ont-elles été affectées?

Énormément. Je dirais que notre taux de rotation des patients est tombé à environ 50%. En effet, la plupart des patients venant d'autres villes ne le font plus. Ceux de Bamenda sont constamment bloqués en ville à cause de difficultés pour se déplacer pour des raisons liées à l'insécurité et parfois aux villes mortes. Cela nous a beaucoup affectés. 

  Propos recueillis par Francis Ekongang Nzante

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Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity, Bamenda Clocks 26

Meet Cameroonian Gynecologist Dr Nji Peter

Dr Nji Peter is a Medical Doctor and a Gynaecologist by Training. He is the proprietor of the Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity in Bamenda in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. He is the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the same Health Institution. He begins this interview by bringing to light those first tentative steps that he took.  He was interviewed by Francis Ekongang Nzante. Excerpts:

"I did my Primary School Studies at the Catholic Primary School Small Mankon in Bamenda and later on moved to the Sacred Heart College Mankon still in Bamenda. I later on moved to Saint  Gravis College, Obalende in Lagos. I proceeded to the College of Medicines at the University of Lagos UNILAG where I began my first stage of studies in Medicines. I then went to the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya where I specialized as an Obstetrician and a Gynecologist."

Can you tell us about Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity and what inspired you to venture into it?  

  When I finished Medical Studies in Nigeria and returned home, I had the experience of working in a Private Clinic here in Bamenda then afterwards when I went for specialisation in Kenya and came back, the Cameroonian Government could not employ a certain caliber of Health Personnel at the time. A specialist like me could not remain unemployed or work for somebody else so that's how the notion of starting up Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity came about. Incidentally, this day the 8th of November 2019 makes this Clinic 26 years of age. That's what pushed me into it since Government could not employ me at that time.

What are the specific health facilities offered at Family Foundation Clinic and Maternity?

Basically we offer General Medical Consultations, Pediatric Consultation, Specialist Gynaecology and Obstetrics Consultations. Then we also go ahead and do a lot of wide range of Laboratory Tests, Ultrasonography and X-rays. 

Do you also run a maternity?

We also offer Antenatal Services and a maternity. We conduct deliveries and carry out operations, both Obstetric and Gynaecological Operations and some Minor General Surgical Operations like Apendisectomis among others. 

Where do the needy find you?

We are located in Bamenda. The easiest way to get to us is to first get to the popular Hospital Round About. From there you follow the road going to Bali. As you move up, you will stop at the Azire Presbyterian Church on your right. Directly opposite this church is the entrance to Atuakom. As you follow this entrance, the second storey building on your left is where the clinic is located. 

You have been practicing for 26 years in Cameroon. What can you say have been the most challenging experiences in your career?

The most challenging thing I should say has been economics, finances. This means that patients come and are sick but it’s usually challenging for them to go through the various tests and examinations necessary for them to get treated. However we try to live within the society. Sometimes we give some discounts so as to permit patients go through their treatments so that they go home better and healthier than they came. Otherwise professionally we just have the general ailments that people suffer from in Cameroon like the Malaria, Typhoid, Rheumatism, Rheumatic Fevers, Arthritis and problems of infertility especially in women.

You certainly have a message for sick Cameroonians out there?

I will advise any sick person to get to the nearest conventional health facilty and get a true diagnosis of what you are suffering from. When this line of treatment fails, then you can look for solutions elsewhere. First things first, sick people should always go first to a hospital. Don't start treating yourself at home. After diagnosis are carried out, every other thing falls in place from there. 

During this period that Cameroon has been passing through the most tumultuous period of her history how have the activities of your hospital been affected?

Tremendously. I would say our patient turn over has dropped to about 50%. This is because most of the patients who used to come from out of Bamenda do not longer do so. Those in Bamenda are constantly blocked in town because of difficulties to move for reasons related to insecurity and sometimes due to Ghost Towns. This has greatly affected us but by God's grace we are there foraging on. 

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