BY NDIMUH B. SHANCHO&IKOME CHRISTIE-NOELLA EPOSI
Over 300 people in Bokwaongo and other neighbouring villages have received free screening on diabetes, high blood, malaria, minor surgeries, eye disease, HIV etc and drugs from the Buea Military Hospital. This was during a two-day free health campaign at the Bokwaongo Integrated Health Centre, July 18 & 19, 2019, organised by the 21stMotorised Infantry Brigade in Buea, in line with the Civil-Military Action known by its French acronym ACM.
Addressing the population of Bokwaongo and its environ, who came to benefit from the free health facilities, the Commander of the 21st Motorized Brigade in Buea, Colonel Eyenga Severin said the gesture is necessary to reinforce the links between the population and the army: “There are some people who have no means to take care of their health, so we think that by doing so we encourage them by making available these basic health amenities”, he noted.
Corroborating his colleague, Colonel Dr. Ewane Paulin, Chief of Military Health Department in the South West Region clarified that “we are not just doing this because of the crisis. Our aim as military health department is to settle somewhere and give help to the population and military at the same time; to tell the population that we are together; that there is no separation between the population and the military. To make them understand that the military is here to carter for the people and their property. So they should not be scared of the militarybecause we have the same future, the same aim, and the same vision for the country”.
As to what extent this exercise will bring the military closer to the population, many of which see the military as cruel and barbaric, Colonel Dr. Ewane noted that “80% of those who come to the military hospital are civilians. It is true that in times of crisis some members of the military can misbehave but that is not our aim. It may be that the population attacked them and they had to respond but our aim is to protect everybody, their property and the nation”.
Impressed with the turn out, the Chief of Centre of the Bokwaongo Integrated Health Center, Sally Itoe, on her part, encouraged the population to make use of “the rare opportunity at their doorstep.
The gesture by the military was greeted with joy by the population. 74-year old Bokwaongo-based John Njie Martin, who was sick of malaria, could not hide his joy after receiving free consultation and drugs: “I have been having malaria now right inside my bones. That’s why I came to see the doctor. They have given some drugs. I think the military is doing a good job. That they decided to offer free treatment means they have a good heart,” he testified.
Ngoh Judith, who came with her three children for consultation, said “It’s a great initiative because there are people in their homes sick, but can’t have access to medical care because they lack the financial might. I am suffering from cough and catarrh same with this child. This other child has rashes on her body,” she said while waiting to be attended to.
While enjoying the largesse of the military, the utmost desire of Ndum Thecla from Isu, in the North West Region, is that the crisis comes to an end so that her relatives and friends in the bushes can also benefit from the free health campaign.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Officer of Buea, KouamWokam Paul, revealed that the military medical team will move to the Bonavada area and all other communities in the municipality as soon as the exercise is over in Bokwaongo.
Before coming to Bokwaongo, the army had previously carried out a similar humanitarian activity in Mbouma and in Kupe Maneguba division in the South West Region of Cameroon.