It is over three months now since the world was thrown off balance by a strange pandemic which has taken millions of lives even among the big and powerful nations of the world, powerful nations who are, under normal circumstances expected to provide the impetus to encourage the weaker and smaller ones, particularly in Africa. Such big nations in which science and technology abound are even more devastated. This is where our misery and fear of the unknown begins to manifest, with our health services barely managing to face the challenge with the scarce means at our disposal, in the face of such an emergency situation.
We however appreciate Government for the measures and efforts so far put in place, but we think such measures should equally be accompanied by direct action on the ground. One of such government measures is an instruction from the Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie, that, suspected patients should not be taken to public or private Hospitals, only to specialised centres recommended by government. The irony of it all is that, in these specialised centres, the necessary equipment and even services are either not available or are in adequate. A typical example is a case that was discovered at the Middle Farms Hospital in Limbe recently, and there was little that could be done to save the situation.
Besides, as it has always been the case, particularly in public medical services, the attitude of most medical staff has always been, in terms of reception and services, a contrast to their sworn commitment to the welfare of the patient. It is only, by the Will of God that, the situation of this invading epidemic has not, as we are being informed by government, done much damage, and that, we are making some progress.
Recently the Prime Minister announced that government has relaxed some measures earlier taken that were counter-productive on the economy. One can therefore easily be tempted to believe that this could well mean that, the pandemic has been put under some measure of control, and that, Government’s claim that we are making progress in the war against COVID-19 is credible. The truth is that government itself does not seem to be standing on solid ground to determine where exactly we now find ourselves in this struggle. There is obviously still much to be done, and one with all openness, and no effort should be spared towards this goal. This means that, no pretext, no pride or prejudices should be given a place on this battle-front.
This is therefore where we think the news about the Archbishop of Douala’s announcement of a likely cure for the pandemic is good news. It is even more consoling that the Archbishop’s initiative is already attracting government’s attention so abruptly. To cynics, most of whom have never entertained any credibility on traditional herbal cure, this is not the time to claim monopoly of wisdom. Such should hold their peace. The Archbishop states that within the last three decades he has discovered herbal treatment for ailments affecting the human respiratory system. With fever, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing, among other symptoms of the novel coronavirus . The Priest has taken time to explain the process of his experiment, based on the fact that he already knew the plants according to the symptoms of COVID-19, he simply had to put together these combinations, prepare them and give to persons with the symptoms and they were relieved. It would be unfair therefore to doubt a man offering contribution freely towards a major project such as this involving human life. We salute government for having been pricked by this offer.
We certainly believe that there may be other Cameroonians of good will out there, who may have one or two things to offer. Our wish is that let politics and sentiments be left out of this. We regret the case of Professor Maurice Kamto, whose donation was turned down by the minister of public health under whose ministry the war command responsibility lies. We can clearly see the dirty hand of politics at play here.