Afrique

ENEO’s Power outages Jeopardize Medical Facilities, Endanger lives

Published

3 weeks ago

November 9, 2023

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Cameroon is currently facing a crisis due to frequent electricity seizures, posing a grave threat to the well-being of its citizens. Over the past two weeks, ENEO’s widespread power outages have severely impacted various sectors, particularly the healthcare industry.

Medical facilities across the country have been hit hard by these outages. The Bipindi Integrated Health Center, situated in the South Region of Cameroon, is one such facility affected by this dire situation.

Speaking with Equinoxe TV, the head of the Bipindi Integrated Health Center, Oyongo Bekolo Serge, shed light on the challenges the facility is grappling with. He described the predicament, stating, “Due to the erratic electricity supply, we often rely on flashlight apps on our mobile phones. We do have a backup generator, but its operation depends on the availability of funds. If we don’t have the funds, we resort to using torchlights.”

Oyongo Bekolo emphasized that the unreliable energy supply, coupled with inadequate equipment, has deterred many patients from seeking care at the health center.

Adverse Impact on Multiple Sectors

Apart from the healthcare sector, ENEO’s power outages have dealt a severe blow to other domains within the country. This includes the economic sector, which encompasses businesses reliant on electricity, such as cold storage facilities, and various activities that depend on a steady power supply.

Additionally, the daily lives of countless Cameroonians, who rely on digital devices for their daily activities, have been disrupted due to difficulties in charging their phones and gadgets.

ENEO’s Response

In a recent official communication, Cameroon’s electricity supply company ENEO attributed the recurring power seizures to the “complete shutdown of two major facilities in the country’s electricity network as of October 31, 2023: the Dibamba oil-fired power station and the Kribi gas-fired power station.”

The communique further explained, “In response to the decline in energy generation, Eneo has initiated rationing of electricity in certain towns and cities across the Centre, South, Littoral, West, North-West, and South-West Regions. These rotations are expected to last an average of six hours, though the duration may vary based on the evolving situation.” This statement was released on November 2, with no specific end date mentioned.

Cameroonians remain hopeful that a resolution to this issue is swiftly reached, allowing them to resume their daily activities without the hindrance of persistent power outages.

Mimi Mefo Info

Afrique

“Those devilish spirits trying to take North West Region hostage have failed” Lele L’afrique

Published

4 hours ago

November 30, 2023

Thomas Mbida

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The Governor of the North West Region of Cameroon, Adolphe Lele L’afrique, has vowed to crush separatists who attacked a Nigerian actor and his movie crew in Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon.

While addressing officials in the region in a security meeting in Santa, near Bamenda, on Thursday, the governor said they would not relent until the masterminds of the attack were arrested.

His statements followed the separatist attack on Nigerian actor Sylvester Madu, also known as Shina Rambo, on Saturday, November 25th, 2023, in Bamenda.

“We have come up with a security strategy that will permit the security forces to secure the population and ensure free circulation. We have reinforced security across the region, where terrorist groups targeted the innocent population,” Governor Lele Lafrique stated.

“Investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators of such an act and sanction them within the laws of the country,” he added.

“Those devilish spirits who are trying to take the North West Region hostage failed yesterday; they are failing today, and they will fail tomorrow because the state is there to reassure the population,” asserted Governor Lele Lafrique, while also urging collaboration from the public for enhanced security.

Sylvester Madu, known as Shina Rambo, was released from custody on Wednesday after being held by nearly all the members of the movie crew.

The attack resulted in five fatalities and numerous injuries. The security measures devised during the meeting aim to address the ongoing challenges faced by the region.

The separatist conflict, known as the Anglophone Crisis, has resulted in over 6,000 casualties and displaced millions within and outside Cameroon. It is spearheaded by those who have been advocating for an independent state called Ambazonian since 2016.

Mimi Mefo Info

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Afrique

70-year-old woman gives birth through IVF

Published

8 hours ago

November 30, 2023

Thomas Mbida

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The Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre in Kampala has confirmed that a 70-year-old Ugandan woman recently gave birth to twins through IVF treatment, making her the oldest woman in Africa to achieve this feat.

The hospital shared on Facebook, “We successfully delivered a boy and a girl through a cesarean section. This story showcases not only medical success but also the strength and resilience of the human spirit.”

Safina Namukwaya, the nursing mother, revealed in an interview with the privately owned NTV channel that she had given birth to her second child in three years. She had previously welcomed a girl in 2020. Ms. Namukwaya faced multiple challenges during the recent pregnancy, including the desertion by the children’s father, but she expressed her joy at the arrival of the twins.

“Men don’t like to be told that you are carrying more than one child. Ever since I was admitted here, my man has never shown up,” she revealed.

Ms. Namukwaya acknowledged the difficulties ahead in raising the children but emphasized her happiness after enduring years of stigma and ridicule for her childlessness. She shared a past incident, saying, “One time, a very young boy heckled me, saying my mother had cursed me to die without a child.”

According to the NHS, In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby. During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman’s ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilized egg, called an embryo, is then returned to the woman’s womb to grow and develop.

Mimi Mefo Info

Afrique

Meet rising photography star Ngwe Angel, UB’s best photographer

Published

12 hours ago

November 30, 2023

Thomas Mbida

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Ngwe Angel, a 20-year-old student at the University of Buea (UB), gained the admiration of many when she was crowned the university’s Best Student Photographer for 2023.

The award-winning picture she took captured a male and female student raising their hands together in the middle of the yellow star on the Cameroon flag.

She captured the moment during the Buea Interschool Arts and Cultural Competition that took place in UB from October 25-26, 2023.

Angel’s award-winning photograph carries a profound message, reflecting the essence of her work.

Ngwe Angel’s award-winning photo during UB’s Interschool Arts and Cultural Competition

She explained that the photo bears a “message of peace, cultural tolerance, unity, national integration and living together regardless of which tribe or region in Cameroon we are coming from”.

The award she received for it, alongside a token of FCFA 30,000, was Angel’s highest recognition since she decided to pursue a career in documentary photography last year.

It gave her an opportunity to represent UB at the 2023 University Festival of Arts and Culture (UNIFAC) that was held in Garoua from November 15-19.

Her dedication to her craft and her unique approach to documentary photography have earned her not only recognition but also a sense of encouragement to continue her artistic journey.

Ngwe Angel capturing the moment during 2023 UNIFAC Games in Maroua, where she represented UB

“I felt really excited after receiving the award because I dedicated my efforts into it. I had this feeling of encouragement to keep working hard, which I’d never gotten since I started documentary photography,” said a thrilled Ngwe Angel in an interview.

She spent her formative years in the mass settlements of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) of Kompina, Mbonge, Tombel and Pendamboko, where her parents worked.

Life at the CDC camps inspired her drive into documentary photography, as she longed to capture the simple, communal life at the camps through the lense.

“Pictures are a spectrum through which memories are shared,” Angel passionately stated.

“I believe our stories can be best told by us. No one will tell our stories better than we do.”

Documentary photography became Angel’s passion at the age of 19, evolving into a medium for telling stories that resonate with daily life.

Ngwe Angel says her dream is to work with big photography channels like *National Geographic*

The final-year student of Journalism and Mass Communication initiated the blog “Everyday Cameroon”.

Through the blog, she shares the daily experiences and hidden stories of Cameroonian communities while raising awareness about humanitarian issues.

He work encapsulates themes of peace, cultural tolerance, unity, and national integration, irrespective of tribal or regional backgrounds in Cameroon.

“What drives me to keep on with documentary photography is the authenticity I find behind every photo,” she emphasized.

Angel saw the award as a catalyst to continue documenting everyday life in Cameroon and beyond.

“It has pushed me to want to keep documenting everyday life in Cameroon, Africa, and anywhere I find myself.”

Despite her achievements, Angel faces daily challenges as a documentary photographer.

“Because it’s documentary photography I do [face challenges], a moment past can never be gotten. So there are times I’ll picture a moment and after getting the photo, I’m asked to delete it, even after explaining the purpose to which the photo is to be used,” she explained.

Acknowledging financial constraints, Angel, a student balancing academics and photography, revealed the hurdles she encounters.

“Traveling from place to place as an independent documentary photographer is not easy, considering the fact that I’m a student,” she said.

One of Angel’s pictures captured during 2023 UNIFAC Games in Maroua

Winning the award at UB has brought a newfound seriousness from others, but challenges persist, especially in acquiring equipment.

As a female photographer in a field often perceived as male-dominated, Angel admits the journey isn’t easy.

Yet, she found support and collaboration within the photography community, with mutual respect and encouragement.

At the 2023 UNIFAC Games, Angel emerged fourth overall best photographer among dozens of student photographers across Cameroon.

She says her dream is to work for big institutions like National Geographic where she can learn from the best and fully showcase her ingenuity to the world.

Mimi Mefo Info