By Mimi Mefo
Bushes and private homes have become maternity homes for women in Lebialem Division in Cameroon’s South West Region.
The condition in which they make babies is precarious and the chances of survival of the mother and babies are extremely slim. A woman reveals the genesis of the problem to Mimi Mefo Info:
“The military went on to harass the few health units in Lebialem for accepting to treat all patients irrespective of their leaning. As I speak to you now, the health units at Ndungated, Menji, Azi and Lewoh have been abandoned. The military harassment forced the nurses and doctors to run away. We now give birth in the bushes – no antenatal care, no vaccines, no hospitals. As I write we cannot seek medical services in the West region.“
The neighbouring West region of Cameroon via Menoua should have been an alternative for these women in desperation. But it is a no go area for them not even for traders, buyers or those seeking safer places to stay.
“As I speak, all markets in Lebialem are closed down since military harassment started in Lebialem in March 2018. Our parents can’t buy basic needs. The only shop operating in Lebialem is owned by a business man who is not a native of the area (a Beti boy). He is the only one allowed by the Military to move to Dschang to buy food and the military protects him. He sells a packet of maggi for 1500frs. The Military has consistently arrested many denizens who braved the odds to use alternative roads to go to Dschang to buy basic food stuffs. They are set free only after paying ransoms ranging from 500,000 to one million francs. If you are mistakenly caught with a bag of rice, you will be called terrorist or feeding them. And you only have to pay to regain your freedom. Recently, the military has made it known to all that Lebialem political elite has advised them to block all roads so that the Red Dragons do not have access to anything. But it is the entire population which suffers,“ another local told Mimi Mefo Info on grounds of anonymity.
Mimi Mefo Info can however not verify the fact that up to millions are paid to secure bail.
Lebialem has been in the dark for weeks and the people’s right to electricity denied them without justifications. “The entire Fontem subdivision and parts of Alou subdivision have been cut off power since the month of March, how we cope as business men is a mystery. We can barely survive,” a businessman weeps. Lebialem, Manyu, Momo and Boyo Divisions are among some of the hardest hit localities in Anglophone Cameroon since the socio political unrest escalated. The people especially women are deprived of electricity, Medical care, food and to escape from the troubled division is now a suicide mission.
“ Pa Fofang of Lewoh died in the house a few months back because there was no hospital to take him to and no one would dare try to move him out of Lebialem through Menoua as no hospital is functioning here. Mary Health of African Hospital is virtually closed down when the Cameroonian military shot and killed a nurse working there some months back. As I speak to you, anybody who gets sick is doomed. Worse, all tradi-practitioners (who could be another option for patients) are on the run as they have become the target of the military who accuse them of preparing charms for “Amba boys”. One of the tradi-practitioners, Forchiembin was arrested and is now in detention in Yaounde alongside 6 others including women (a certain Aboshuo Gladys),“ a source revealed.
Hundreds of Lebialem residents are now in the bushes, in Nigeria or in other safer towns within the region. As the crisis deepens, the fate of those in the area is uncertain.
It remains unclear how the women are coping without sanitary pads, food, napkins, diapers, and basic amenities. It will appear Lebialem, Manyu, Boyo and Momo has been abandoned to their fate.