One of Austin FC’s biggest additions of 2024 is closing his year by giving back to his hometown through soccer Osman Bukari is hosting the Unity Football Tournament in Kwahu Mamfe Ghana aimed at promoting unity and development Bukari funds the tournament himself for 11 women’s and 11 men’s teams providing gear which includes Austin FC kits The tournament runs from December 26 through January 1 with the winning teams receiving cash prizes “Hosting this tournament is a good way for me to give back to Kwahu Mamfe each holiday season,” said Bukari “It has been great to see the community come together through football again this year.” Other attractions at the tournament include live musical performances Unveiling Tomorrow's Cameroon Through Today's News Reports indicate that seven people have tragically lost their lives while several others have been left injured The fatal incident took place when a Hilux vehicle collided head-on with a Carina E vehicle traveling from Ekok toward Mamfe the Hilux was on its way to Nfuni village with the deceased when the crash occurred sources say that 11 individuals have died in similar road accidents in the area recently all involving people on their way from the mortuary to retrieve the remains of loved ones Authorities are urging residents to check on their loved ones while emergency services continue to respond to the scene This incident underscores the urgent need for safer road conditions and heightened caution in the region Our thoughts are with the families of those affected « Prev Next » Comments (0) Listen to Article The initiative is aimed at equipping the youth with different skills in collaboration with Rotary Club of Accra- Ring Road Central and friends of the late Galina Okartei-Akko has renovated and handed over an ICT laboratory to Mamfe Methodist Junior High School (JHS) in the Akuapim North District of the Eastern Region said the initiative aims to give students better access to technology and prepare them for the digital world “The laboratory will give the students opportunities to become ICT experts to leverage on that to become very useful citizens,” he said in an interview with the media after the event The renovation was done in memory of the late Galina a Rotarian who would have turned 53 years old on the day of the handover Asante explained that she was passionate about youth development which are also the key focus areas of his Foundation who is also the Managing Director of FirstBank Ghana and a past District Governor of Rotary District 9104 noted that the project is the first of many the Foundation intends to undertake he said the success of such initiatives depends largely on available funding and partnerships but our ability to deliver them depends on how much we can raise This is just the first of several interventions planned even within this same school,” he elaborated He also emphasised the role of Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III Mamfehene and Kyidomhene of Akuapem traditional area the chief’s passion for education and consistent engagement with the Foundation made it possible to bring the renovation to Mamfe Methodist JHS Mamfehene’s persistence and alignment with our vision made this happen,” he said He also noted that the Foundation prioritises transparency in the use of its funds explaining that- all fundraising efforts are openly declared with internal and external auditors engaged to ensure accountability The renovated lab currently has fans and ventilators but the FirstBank MD disclosed that plans are underway to install air conditioners and ensure stable electricity supply possibly with the support of generators or other power backup systems He said the aim of the Foundation is not to build new schools but to strengthen existing ones to perform better his outfit plans to support students through awards and incentives for academic excellence in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and ICT-related competitions described the inauguration of the ICT lab as a major turning point in the school’s journey toward digital learning she said the facility will serve as a hub for learning technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity This ICT laboratory will help our students develop essential digital skills that will prepare them for the future,” she said She expressed appreciation to Osabarima for his role in advocating for the project and parents for their support and presence at the event She thanked the Foundation for its generous gesture “We are very grateful to the Victor Yaw Asante Foundation for this laboratory It will make a big difference in the lives of our students.” Also present at the event was Florence Maame Hagan the District Governor of Rotary District 9104 She encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunity given to them “To you the students- you are beneficiaries of technology that would open up the world to you and make the difference so that people will know that Mamfe Methodist JHS has produced wonderful A citation by the school in honour of the Foundation partly read: “In recognition and sincere appreciation of your outstanding generosity and commitment to advancing education through the construction of a modern ICT laboratory for Mamfe Methodist JHS.” The Victor Yaw Asante Foundation focuses on health and education The eight-year conflict between the country’s French- and English-speaking populations has its roots in the colonial past and modern injustice a separatist fighter shot by government troops in Bamenda in 2022 “I didn’t want him to join the struggle but separatist fighters threatened to kill him and his entire family if he didn’t join,” Ngum says apologising and saying he joined the struggle for our sake and would get up in the night shouting ‘Daddy Afuh joined the army of Cameroon’s francophone president to quash the secessionist revolt in English-speaking areas “I felt like my world collapsed around me when my husband died,” says Kum “I could barely recognise his legs in the coffin – the rest of his body had been shattered Life is meaningless without him,” she says Kum feels her husband died for a “just cause” although she struggles financially to care for their four children an anglophone separatist movement emerged calling for the independence of the region they called “Ambazonia” Demonstrators from the English-speaking parts of Cameroon protest in Bamenda against discrimination in favour of the country’s francophone majority The war has left more than 6,000 people dead and at least a million displaced internally, while more than 80,000 have fled to neighbouring Nigeria. Children have been deprived of school and the economy is in freefall Broken and pitted roads have become a trademark of Bamenda – a symptom of the economic inequality anglophone activists are protesting over When authorities imposed a curfew on motorbikes in May to curb rising insecurity in the city separatists responded by ordering drivers to respray taxis white and blue – colours of the flag of the revolt Those who failed to comply had their cabs torched The eight-year conflict stems from Cameroon’s colonial past: first occupied by Germany from 1884 to 1916 the country was then a spoil of the first world war French Cameroon gained independence in 1960 joined by English-speaking Cameroon through a federation a year later We try to make separatist fighters understand that we are one … together we can build a better nationGovernment soldierIn terms of territory and population the francophone section represents 80% of the country while the remainder is English speaking But a referendum in 1972 abolished the federal structure which had guaranteed rights of the anglophone minority In the rolling hills of the Menchum area of north-west Cameroon “General Stone” commands 78 separatist fighters Stone voices the anger that drove him to abandon farming to fight: “The francophone government has enslaved us for too long: we have many university graduates roaming the streets; people spend up to six years to obtain simple ID cards; elections are around the corner but we already know who will win Stone says he has repeatedly rejected his family’s requests to lay down his weapon – he is ready to die a “hero” is challenging – with only plants to treat wounds Anglophone separatist fighters during reconnaissance training The English-speaking part of Cameroon accounts for about 20% of the country “Our objective is always to kill as many Cameroonian soldiers as possible,” Stone says We have enough ammunition sent in from abroad Countless numbers have already been killed “I know we will defeat them militarily one day Alabukam is a separatist area outside Bamenda where self-styled “Commander Striker” is in charge The 27-year-old justifies the rebellion on several fronts: francophones “manipulate” the brains of anglophones; francophones squeeze their regions “dry” economically; and francophones deprive them of “lucrative jobs” Striker is cagey about his unit’s tactics but says: “What we want is separation and nothing else We trap Cameroonian soldiers with bombs we fabricate “We blocked the road in Mbengwi for two good years We also chased the military from their base at Commercial Avenue in Bamenda Members of the Bataillon d’Intervention Rapide (BIR) an elite combat unit of Cameroon’s armed forces If the separatists feel that the war is tilting in their favour The staff sergeant has fought in Bamenda and in the volatile Bamessing and Balikumbat areas in the north-west he acknowledges he’s fighting against his “brothers and sisters” but maintains “the army is there to do the job” “The army enjoys the collaboration of the population to put out the separatist fighters,” he says “The only sensible solution to this conflict is dialogue Violence can never satisfy nor benefit either side.” Another soldier of the Cameroonian military now serving in the relatively peaceful southern Tiko area claims they often overpower the enemy in their encounters “The separatist fighters are poorly trained,” he says we don’t consider it a war but rather a misunderstanding between brothers “We try to make separatist fighters understand that we are one,” he says “I advise them to give up fighting so that two motorbikes rush past at breakneck speed “Those are the boys [separatist fighters],” Josiah They are heading to the bush to consume it People see the state of the highways as symptomatic of the inequality that affects English-speaking regions of Cameroon Rebel fighters move freely here – under the nose of Cameroonian soldiers Most young men joined the war out of desperation to escape the grind of their everyday life formerly of the Coalition of Cameroon Federalist Groups and Activists (CCFGA) and previously the UN secretary-general’s deputy special representative in Ivory Coast identifies two factors behind the present conflict assimilation and takeover” of anglophone Cameroon by successive francophone-led regimes in Yaoundé and “excessive concentration of governmental power Protesters display the Ambazonia flag during a demonstration in London calling on world leaders to act on the conflict in the region known as Southern Cameroons He says: “Only federalism can address both of these root causes and pave the way to a durable peace and normalcy in all the 10 regions of Cameroon Neither a decentralised unitary state nor the breakaway of parts of Cameroon can adequately address these root causes.” Cameroonians are trapped in a forgotten standoff Both sides have been accused of engaging in village raids and the use of torture and sexual violence The military wants us to report the separatist fighters to them which is a risky thing to do. We live in constant fearMa-Shey Margaret, massacre survivorLast year on 6 November, anglophone rebels killed at least 30 unarmed civilians in a south-west village in Mamfe the separatists were accused of killing 32 civilians during a bloody attack in the Akwaya district Cameroon military and the Ambazonia secessionist leaders traded accusations after the killing of schoolchildren in 2020 and 2021. The government later admitted the army’s role in 21 deaths in February 2020 in Ngarbuh in the north-west – a rare occurrence in a war where denial is commonplace Witnesses say the soldiers accused villagers of sheltering terrorists Survivors of massacres accuse both sides of ignoring allegations of civilian harm the people of Ngarbuh visit the graves of the 21 who died in 2020 and have left a row of burned-out buildings standing as a memorial to the tragedy “I weep each time I set eyes on the mass graves of the innocent people,” says Ma-Shey Margaret I believe those people are in heaven because they were unjustly killed we are still not safe: the military wants us to report the presence of the separatist fighters to them which is a risky thing to do In Mamfe, where the November 2023 massacre took place, Franca Ojong still lives with the trauma. Armed men broke into her house at about 3am. “They shot my husband in the head and set the house on fire.” By dawn, all that was left of her home and more than a dozen others was smoke and ashes. “I have nothing to eat. I have nowhere to stay. I need help,” she says. “My son’s death pains me to this day; he was the pillar of my family,” he says Many young men with nothing to do with the rebels have been arrested or killed “The military considers every English-speaking person a separatist fighter soldiers disguise themselves in civilian attire to arrest anyone they suspect has links with the separatists The military torments rather than protects us.” Separatist kidnappings and killings are crippling social economic and cultural activities and disrupting livelihoods The strategy has attracted harsh criticism even from within the secessionist leadership organiser of the Aspire movement pushing for the peaceful recognition of the sovereignty of Ambazonia says “bad policies” associated with the separatists have turned many away from their cause Burned-out buildings and bloodstains on the ground after an attack by gunmen in Mamfe “Fighters who kidnap, take ransom and kill fellow Ambazonians have lost the grace and support of Ambazonians and their ancestors,” says Achobang, who recently resigned from the Ambazonia governing council in protest over the public killing of two civilians in Guzang “These victims have friends and family who cannot embrace the struggle knowing that their loved ones would be subjected to such treatment,” says Achobang leader of the interim Ambazonia government “Leaders ordering such conditions that exacerbate the suffering of Ambazonians cannot be for Ambazonia Chris Anu, the US-based leader of the interim Ambazonia government and when wars are fought people die or are killed from both sides Anu says the struggle is against “annexation Cameroon did not expect war to last eight years This work was produced as a result of a grant provided by the Investigative Reporting Workshop for Journalists in Cameroon project implemented by the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) A GH¢350,000 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) laboratory has been provided for the Mamfe Methodist Junior High School (JHS) at Mamfe in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region The ICT laboratory provided by the Victor Yaw Asante Foundation in partnership with Rotary Club of Ghana is to honour the late Galina Okartei-Akko who was a member of the Rotary Club of Ghana At a ceremony to inaugurate the ICT laboratory on the school's premises at Mamfe last Friday the Past District Governor of the Rotary District 9102 said the foundation had reinforced its commitment to digital inclusion by fully equipping the ICT laboratory for the school who is also the Managing Director of First Bank Ghana stated that the gesture was to address the digital needs of the schoolchildren since ICT had become a learning tool in the modern day technology-driven world would promote research activities of the teaching staff of the school "This initiative marks a significant turning point by providing a modern ICT laboratory equipped with computers for hands-on digital learning to enhance global connectivity," Mr Asante stated He emphasised that Rotary Club was committed to leveraging technology to drive educational equity adding that access to technology should never be a privilege for the few and that every child regardless of location deserved the opportunity to develop ICT skills for the digital economy The district governor was hopeful that nearby schools would also have access to the facility to gain practical experience The Head of the Mamfe Akuapem Methodist Circuit thanked the foundation and other stakeholders for their support He also expressed gratitude to the foundation for the initiative to fully equip the ICT laboratory to train the future leaders to meet the digital demands of society was full of praise to the foundation and the Rotary District Governors for transforming the school in respect of digital training proposed to the stakeholders to connect the centre to solar power to enable it to be operational at all times The Mamfehene was hopeful that the facility would enhance ICT skills of pupils of the school and others in surrounding schools Osabarima Ansah-Sasraku appealed to the police in the municipality to frequently monitor the facility to prevent criminals from stealing the computers Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh Our newsletter gives you access to a curated selection of the most important stories daily Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 | is the latest victim of kidnappers in Cameroon’s restive anglophone region explained that the Monsignor was abducted upon his return from Kokobuma where he had spent the weekend on a pastoral visitation and for the inauguration of the presbytery of the parish “It is with a very heavy heart that I bring to your notice the sudden abduction of the Mgr Msgr. Agbortoko drove in on Sunday just before 6 pm some young men who “identified themselves as separatist fighters” entered the compound of the Major Seminary and made their way to the residence of Bishop Lysinge they noticed the presence of the Vicar General whom they considered younger and stronger than the Bishop emeritus. The kidnappers are currently asking for a ransom of over 20 million Francs CFA “I call on all of you to invoke the One Family Spirit and pray unanimously for his safety and his subsequent release,” Fr He further seized the opportunity to denounce the attacks on “the Church in general and that of Mamfe in particular,” and called on the stakeholders of the ongoing crisis in the country to “kindly hands off the Church Agbortoko’s kidnapping joins a series of abductions and attacks in Cameroon’s separatist agitations in the English-speaking regions This latest abduction comes just over three months after another priest of Mamfe diocese was seized but later released after nine days the fighting in Cameroon has led to the deaths of thousands and has forced over 700,000 people to flee for their lives to other countries Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here Metrics details Blood transfusion is associated with exposure to blood Transfusion Transmissible Infection (TTIs) The threat posed by the blood-borne pathogens is disproportionately distributed in different healthcare facilities in Cameroon there is a need for continuous surveillance of TTIs in the country This study aimed to assess the screening procedure for blood transfusion and determine the trend in immunological markers of TTIs among blood donors at the Mamfe District Hospital cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted at Mamfe District Hospital from March to May 2022 A total of 165 blood donors were recruited by the consecutive sampling method Donors were screened using both Rapid diagnostic tests,T pallidum haemagglutination test and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of TTIs Data generated was entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed using the statistical software R Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics of percentages and student t-test was used to compare both diagnostic techniques and was considered significant when p < 0.05 A hundred and sixty-five donors were enrolled in the study with a male preponderance giving a male-female sex ratio of 22.5 and a mean age of 32.23 ± 8.60 years The majority (75.2%) of the donors were of the O-positive blood type repeat donors (69.1%) and were mainly family replacement and paid donors as against the voluntary blood donors (39.4% and 37.0% vs overall TTIs prevalence was 18.78% (31/165) () with HBsAg being the most predominant marker at 12.12% (20/165) followed by Treponema pallidum The prevalence of TTIs was higher when using a single RDT than the ELISA test and the difference was significant (p < 0.05) Bloodborne pathogens remain a major menace to safe blood transfusion practice in Mamfe district hospital and their detection could be easily missed if the RDT method alone is used for donor screening the donor screening protocol in Mamfe District Hospital should systematically incorporate a confirmation diagnostic test such as ELISA It remains an important therapeutic option in many of the life-threatening diseases and also in sustaining life after severe blood loss Transfusion of unsafe blood poses a health challenge not only to the recipients but also to the larger society as it adds to the cost of healthcare continuous evaluation of the burden of TTIs among blood donors will help generate evidence-based data upon which protocol for enhancing donor selection strategies and blood safety surveillance systems can be established the objectives of this study were to unveil the demographic profile of blood donors and; determine the trends in immunological markers of TTIs at the Mamfe district hospitalin the South West region of Cameroon This study was carried out at Mamfe District Hospital (MDH) MDH is a public institution situated at latitude: 5°45’4.12’’N and longitude: 9°18’5.5’’E in the Mamfe subdivision It serves as a referral hospital to 14 functional satellite health centres within the Manyu division located along the Besong Abang-Ekok highway the trans-African highway truck 6 bordering the Federal Republic of Nigeria descriptive and analytical study designed to achieve the set objectives of the study Blood samples of all consented prospective blood donors recruited at the MDH between March to May 2022 were used for this study These were prospective blood donors recruited at the hospital-based blood bank of MDH between March and May 2022 All participants had to provide written consent before recruitment Potential donors were excluded if they donated blood on an interval less than 3 months The participants were consecutively recruited into the study within the study period (March–May 2022) Before the participants were recruited for the study a community sensitization campaign was carried out within the Mamfe region and its environs on the therapeutic importance of blood transfusion and the benefits of blood donation to the donors via the local radio station in the subdivision health talks on healthy living for blood donors were organized at the MDH waiting hall for all prospective donors All participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study About 5 mls of whole blood was collected by venipuncture from all consenting eligible blood donors into plain dry tubes (Sarstedt The tubes were centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 5 min after which serum was separated then transferred into an Eppendorf tube labelled with a unique identification number assigned to that participant and stored in a refrigerator at − 200C The stored serum was tested across the RTD and ELISA simultaneously for the detection of HBsAg anti HCV and Treponama pallidum pallidum antibody (Biolabo®) For HBsAg and HCV antibodies we used Fortress HBs Ag for the direct ELISA test and Fortress HCV for the indirect ELISA test All the procedure was done and cut off values determined following the instructions of the manufacturers The overall prevalence of TTIs was calculated as the number of TTIs positive donors to the total number of donors in the study Data was collected, entered into an Excel spreadsheet and analysed using the statistical software R version 4.2.0 [18] means ± standard deviation; t-test and chi-square difference was considered significant at p < 0.05 All participants were fully informed about the study and only those who provided written consent were recruited The protocol was approved by the Cameroon National Ethical Committee for research on Human Health before the commencement of the study The overall seroprevalence of TTIs in the study population was 17.6%(29/165) using ELISA testing (Fig. 2). Unfit donors with at least one infection was 18.18% (30/165) (amongst which 29 single in infections and 1 co-infection); while 81.81% (135/165) qualified as Fit donors who tested negative for both RDTs and ELISA screening. Prevalence of TTIs in the study population The seroprevalence of TTIs were 9.7%and 12.1% for HBSAg, 6.1% and 4.8% for Treponema pallidum, 6.7% and 1.2% for HCV antibodies, 2.4% and 0.6% for HIV antibodies; respectively with RDTs and ELISA (Table 3) The most prevalent TTI using both techniques was HBV Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa including Cameroon are faced with the challenge of blood safety and availability due to the relatively high prevalence of blood-borne viruses and other infectious diseases prevalent in the region continuous monitoring of the TTIs among the donor population using confirmatory tests is an important index for measuring the effectiveness of existing interventions for better and appropriate control measures Several factors have been suggested as responsible for a donor returning for further donation including altruistic behaviour of the donor convenient environment and pleasant donation experience knowledge concerning blood donation and receiving remuneration among others A combination of these factors may be responsible for the donor behaviour in this study given that there is significant representation of the various types of blood donors reported here Several factors may account for these differences in prevalence of these TTIs including differences in the population risk which differ from one country to another and even regions within the same country the donor recruitment strategies may differ from one country or region to another the sensitivity and specificity of the various assay techniques used for the detection of the various TTIs may also account for the differences in the prevalence of these infections The differences observed in the different studies may be due largely to the assay methodology employed in the detection of the HCV in the donor’s sample as well as the endemic nature of this infection in the locality the relatively low sample size in this study constitutes a limitation This may be attributed to the short duration of the study responses from the donors could not be verified Transfusion transmissible infections still pose a major health challenge to safe blood transfusion in Mamfe District Hospital given the relatively high prevalence of viral immunological markers detected duly largely to the donor screening method (RDT) adopted we recommend the use of ELISA as the minimum screening method for all donor units in the centre All data generated and analysed in this study are as presented in the result section of the study Data pertaining to participants personal information are archieved in the hospital blood bank World Health Organization (WHO). Global database on blood safety. Geneva, Switzerland. Available online: http//www.who.int/bloodsafety/globaldatabase/GDBS summary report 2011 Risk factors for Transfusion Transmissible Infections Elicited on Post Donation Counselling in Blood donors: need to strengthen pre-donation counselling Transfusion-transmissible viral infections among blood donors at the North Gondar district blood bank northwest Ethiopia: a three years’ retrospective study WHO. Blood safety Factsheets. Available online: http//www.afro.who.int The degree of safety of family replacement donors versus voluntary non-remunerated donors in an Egyptian population: a comparative study Safety of family replacement donors’ vs voluntary non-remunerated donors in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Eboumbou MCE, Ngo SF, Essangui SEG. HBV, HCV and T. Pallidum infections among blood donors and transfusion-related complications among recipients at the Laquintinie hospital in Douala, Cameroon. BMC Hematol. 2014;14:5. https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-1839-14-5 Trends in serological markers of transfusion transmissible infections in blood donations at the Bamenda Hospital-based Blood Service Pattern of blood donation and transfusion transmissible infections in a hospital-based blood transfusion service in Lagos Ataro Z, Urgessa F, Wasihun T. Prevalence and Trends of Major Transfusion Transmissible Infections among blood donors in dire Dawa Blood bank, Eastern Ethiopia: Retrospective Study. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2018;28(6):701–10. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v28i6.4 Pattern of blood donor deferral in a tertiary hospital South-South Nigeria: a three-year study review Blood donor selection: guidelines on assessing donor suitability for blood donation Guideline on the relationship between the National Blood Transfusion Program and Associations Using for the Promotion of Blood Donation https://www.r-project.org Heyredin I, Mengistie B, Weldegebreal F. Sero-prevalence of transfusion-transmittable infections and associated factors among blood donors in Eastern Ethiopia: an institutional-based cross-sectional study. SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:2050312119834468. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312119834468 Prevalence of blood-borne infectious diseases in Blood donors in Ghana Bisetegen FS, Bekele FB, Ageru TA, Wada FW. Transfusion-Transmissible Infections among Voluntary Blood Donors at Wolaita Sodo University Teaching Referral Hospital, South Ethiopia. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2016; 2016:8254343 https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8254343 Nwogoh B, Ikpomwen OD, Isoa EM. Donor blood procurement and the risk of transfusion transmissible viral infections in a tertiary health facility in South-South Nigeria. Niger Med J. 2011;52(4):227–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.93793 Suemnig A, Konerding U, Hron G, Lubenow N, Alpen U, Hoffmann W, Kohlmann T, Greinacher A. Motivational factors for blood donation in first-time donors and repeat donors: a cross-sectional study in West Pomerania. Transfus Med. 2017;27(6):413–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/tme.12450 Mauka WI, Mahande MJ, Msuya SE, Philemon RN. Factors Associated with Repeat Blood Donation at the Northern Zone Blood Transfusion Centre in Tanzania. J Blood Transfus. 2015;2015:717653. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/717653 Mohammed S, Essel HB. Motivational factors for blood donation, potential barriers, and knowledge about blood donation in first-time and repeat blood donors. BMC Hematol. 2018;18:36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12878-018-0130-3 Prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donated at Nyeri Satellite transfusion centre in Kenya Prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections in a Nigerian tertiary hospital Sero-prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections and evaluation of the pre-donation screening performance at the Provincial Hospital of Tete Sero-prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and Treponema pallidum infections among blood donors on Bioko Island Sero-epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis infections among first-time blood donors in Edéa WHO. Screening of donated blood for Transfusion transmissible infections: recommendations. Available online: www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789241547888 Prevalence of transfusion transmitted infectious agents among healthy blood donors in Cameroon Kiire CF. The epidemiology and prophylaxis of hepatitis B in sub-saharan Africa: a view from tropical and subtropical Africa. Gut. 1996;38(Suppl 2):5–12. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.38.suppl_2.s5 2017–2018 Cameroon Population-based HIV impact assessment. Available from: https://phia.icap.columbia.edu/countries/cameroon Mbanya DN, Takam D, Ndumbe PM. Serological findings amongst first-time blood donors in Yaoundé, Cameroon: is safe donation a reality or a myth? Transfus Med. 2003;13:267–73. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3148.2003.00453.x Saki MC, Ayangma CR, Voundi VE, Ndoumba AM, Ngogang MP, Eyoum BB. Evaluation of risk of transfusion transmissible infections in blood donors at the Laquintinie hospital in Douala. J Adv Res Med Health Sci. 2022;8(5):20–7. https://doi.org/10.53555/nnmhs.v8i5.1289 Residual risk of HIV transmission through blood transfusion in five blood banks in Cameroon Download references Medecins sans frontiers (MSF) in supply of some equipments and power or energy supply Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences Omer Aurelle Nkengkanna & Henri Lucien Fouamno Kamga Olive Njike Ngo Biyong & Henrietta Mbah University of Uyo/University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Department of Medical Laboratories Sciences TAE analysed data and wrote the manuscript MJWT MH conducted the semi-medical screening of donors HLK contributed in study design and edited the manuscript.All authors read and approved the final manuscript prospective donors were informed of the purpose and process of the investigation (goals and written informed consent was obtained from all participants Standard questionnaires and data collection sheets were used to collect anthropometric This study was conducted in accordance with ethics that govern research on humans in Cameroon Authorization and approval letters were obtained from the Mamfe District Hospital and the Mamfe health service before the commencement of this study An ethical clearance was obtained from the office of the National Ethics Committee of Cameroon The authors declare no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09119-0 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article See what triggers an intervention and how supply and logistics allow our teams to respond quickly Discover our governance and what it means to be an association Find a quick visual guide to our offices around the world Read through our annual financial and activity reports 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Noma is a preventable and treatable neglected disease but 90 per cent of people will die within the first two weeks of infection if they do not receive treatment The TIC is aiming to change how MSF works to better meet the evolving needs of our patients MSF's telemedicine hub aims to overcome geographic barriers for equitable the MSF Sweden Innovation Unit deploys a human-centered approach for promoting a culture of innovation within MSF Your donations pay for millions of consultations A group of young graduates from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and other universities undertook a community mentorship programme aimed at inspiring students in Mamfe and neighboring communities the initiative included the donation of essential educational supplies to primary and junior high schools in the area The programme was spearheaded by the KNUST Alumni Association in partnership with Mentors World a nonprofit focused on youth development through mentorship The young graduates volunteered as mentors sharing personal stories of perseverance and academic success to motivate students to pursue their educational goals supported by prominent organisations including MTN reached schools such as Mamfe Methodist JHS and Primary The mentorship sessions encouraged students to dream big Graduates shared practical advice on goal setting The program also offered an opportunity for interactive discussions where students voiced their aspirations and challenges A student from Mamfe Methodist JHS reflected on the experience: “I have learned a lot today I am inspired to study harder so I can go to university one day.” The initiative also addressed students’ material needs by distributing educational supplies The donations were met with gratitude from students and educators alike A teacher from Mamfe Apostolic School expressed appreciation: “The donations will make a significant difference especially for students who struggle to afford basic school supplies.” The event was made possible through the leadership of Nana Ansah Sasraku III and Kyidomhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area His commitment to education and youth development was pivotal in mobilising support for the initiative he emphasized the importance of collaboration in building a brighter future for the youth “It is our collective responsibility to ensure the children of Mamfe and beyond receive the support they need to succeed,” Nana Ansah Sasraku III remarked Organisers have pledged to expand the program to other communities and maintain long-term support for students through follow-up mentorship “This is just the beginning,” a volunteer mentor said “We are committed to creating a lasting impact by continuing to support these students in their educational journey.” Global President of the KNUST Alumni Association reiterated the commitment to sustaining the initiative: “Our goal is to see these students succeed and eventually give back to their communities as the mentors are doing now.” The mentorship and donation initiative has already sparked positive change in Mamfe inspiring students and providing them with tools to succeed it stands as a testament to the power of education and community collaboration to transform lives Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative alternative news that challenges the status quo © 2024 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom. The note will be updated as more confirmed information comes in an armed attack on Egbekaw village and burning of houses • National authorities reported at least 25 people killed • At least two women were reportedly sexually assaulted • More than 480 people were reportedly displaced to neighboring villages the population of Mamfe gathered for a peaceful march in solidarity of the victims of the attack assessments are ongoing and humanitarian organizations are scaling up response activities in support of local efforts suspected members of a non-State armed group (NSAG) entered Egbekaw one of the villages surrounding Mamfe town in Manyu division They reportedly shot randomly and set ablaze several houses National authorities reported at least 25 people killed The damage and destruction of homes have forced some families to seek refuge in churches and in overcrowded houses with families and friends have reportedly displaced from Egbekaw to Small Mamfe village (Mile 1 and Lala neighbourhoods) Besongabang village (Banya neighbourhood) due to the attack or fear of further attacks humanitarian partners are actively engaged in mobilizing resources to assess the most urgent needs and provide multi-sectoral assistance to the affected population Local partners on the ground play a critical role Source: www.ghanaweb.com « Prev Next » Comments (1) Listen to Article Winger 2024 — In a highly publicized rally in Mamfe Senate Vice President Nfor Tabetando Ndiep Nso urged the local population to support President Paul Biya's bid for another term in the upcoming 2025 presidential elections despite the President’s advanced age of 91 all of whom pledged their support for Biya Infrastructure Achievements or Basic Necessities Senator Tabetando highlighted what he described as significant achievements under Biya's administration particularly infrastructure developments in Manyu Division He cited the tarring of the Kumba-Mamfe Road and the construction of a bridge over the Mfou River as examples of the regime’s commitment to improving local commerce and the quality of life in the region have been met with skepticism by some observers who argue that they represent the bare minimum of what any government should provide Critics point out that while these projects may have facilitated trade the region still suffers from poor access to clean water The celebration of these basic infrastructural developments underscores the broader issue of low expectations that have been cultivated over decades of underdevelopment The rally concluded with a march to the office of the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) where a motion of support for Biya’s candidacy was presented The SDO encouraged the community to continue working towards peace and unity while also contributing to the region’s development Despite the strong show of support at the rally there is ongoing debate within the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and among the general population regarding the appropriateness of extending Biya's tenure Biya's potential re-election has sparked concerns about the stagnation of democratic progress in Cameroon a prominent figure in African legal and business circles voiced his disappointment with the continued push for Biya’s presidency he questioned the mindset of those who resist change describing it as a deeply ingrained mentality that accepts poverty and suffering as normal Makongo lamented the challenge of changing these entrenched attitudes likening it to the futile task of trying to remove the spots from a leopard’s skin Makongo’s sentiments reflect a broader frustration with the state of leadership in Africa where long-standing regimes often prioritize personal and political survival over meaningful progress for their citizens He argues that the real issue lies in the collective ignorance of the African people about their own potential and the possibilities for a better future pointing out that many citizens have been so impoverished by years of economic mismanagement that they are easily swayed by the promise of small He observed that the desperation for daily sustenance has led some to support leaders who offer little more than temporary relief in exchange for long-term stagnation Felix’s remarks highlight a troubling reality in many parts of Africa where economic hardship has become a tool for political manipulation undermining the democratic process and perpetuating cycles of poverty the debate over President Biya’s potential re-election is likely to intensify While his supporters continue to champion his leadership the growing chorus of voices calling for change cannot be ignored The outcome of this debate will have significant implications not only for Cameroon but also for the broader trajectory of democratic governance in Africa with the choice between continuity and change hanging in the balance Mary’s Catholic Nchang Parish in Mamfe and set it on fire Mamfe is in the troubled anglophone region of Cameroon The regional body of Bishops -the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference (BAPEC) have called on those that abducted the five Catholic priests a religious sister and some lay persons to set them free We learnt “with great shock and utter horror the burning down of the St one religious sister and two lay faithful by unknown gunmen (and that they have been) taken to an unknown destination in the surrounding forests of Nchang village on the evening of 16 September 2022,” said a statement released by the Bishops Mamfe’s Diocesan Radio Evangelium announced that over 60 fighters descended on the Catholic community in Nchang The nine persons abducted represent five priests and a young girl of about 15 years living with the nuns After learning about the arson attack and the abduction of the pastoral workers Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo of Mamfe Diocese went to the site of the burned Church He took away the cross and consecrated hosts still in the charred building “What happened here,” the Mamfe prelate said in a video released after he visited the Church God has been made to understand that we do not want him in our country,” Bishop Abangalo says in the video The Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda includes the Archdiocese of Bamenda Marie José Muando and Paule Valérie Mendogho - Vatican City All were released after 38 days in the hands of their captors A few hours after the release of the hostages the Bishop of Mamfe Diocese thanked all those who contributed to the release of the hostages Pope Francis called for the release of hostages in Cameroon at the end of the Angelus on 25 September soon after he celebrated the Mass to mark the end of Italy’s National Eucharistic Congress in Matera Bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda called for chain prayers in the dioceses asked the faithful to continue with communal prayers in thanksgiving to the Lord for the release of the pastoral agents fail to condemn the desecration of the Church of Nchang He reiterated his plea for respect of the human dignity of all persons The Bishop of Mamfe further warned the Catholic faithful to be weary of those who explicitly or implicitly encourage abductions “To deprive our brothers and sisters of their freedom in order to make money at any price is inhuman,” he said revealing the captives looking emaciated and showing signs of violence They begged the Bishop to give in to their captors’ demands because their lives depended on that with great surprise and relief that the news of their release Sunday was received At least two women were reportedly sexually assaulted More than 380 people were reportedly displaced to neighboring villages and bushes one of the villages of Mamfe town in Manyu division Two women were reportedly sexually assaulted Most severely injured people were referred to health facilities in Kumba while others have been admitted to the nearby public health facility in Mamfe for intensive care Medical supplies were provided to the urban integrated health centre (Preventive hospital) in Mamfe to enable the other injured to be taken in charge were reportedly displaced from Egbekaw to Small Mamfe village (Mile 1 and Lala neighbourhoods) Timely and full access to affected population remains challenging due to security and logistical constraints humanitarian partners are mobilized to help assess the most urgent needs and provide multi-sectoral assistance to the affected population Information reported on ongoing and planned humanitarian activities will evolve according to the situation on the ground Regular updates will be provided according to partners' reporting and data collection On 7 November the Food Security Cluster conducted a food security rapid assessment through the mobilisation of national NGOs IOM collected preliminary findings as part of the alert system coordinated through the Inter-Cluster Working Group The assessment will be carried out based on the MIRA approach (Multi sectoral Initial Rapid Assessment) by local clusters’ partners Preliminary analysis suggests that the most critical needs include protection services Pre-positioning of relevant supplies has been carried out Humanitarian partners are scaling up response activities The support of local partners in the affected areas is playing a key role in providing first hand informing on the evolving humanitarian situation orienting needs assessment and providing first response to affected communities particular attention will be paid to Do No Harm All fingers point to the government’s security forces a Mill Hill Kenyan missionary based in Mamfe Diocese was shot in front of St “Eye Witness accounts say that he was killed by Government Soldiers (Gendarmerie Nationale) who were shooting at random from their passing vehicle A certain Mr Johnson Ndip Nchot was also shot in front of his house a few meters from the Church building,” said Bishop Nkea Bishop Nkea explained that at about 3.00 pm local time who was in front of the Church of the Parish of St was shot and killed on the spot in cold blood Ondari was the Assistant Parish Priest of the St It was to be his first and last appointment Ondari joined the Missionary Society of St Joseph (Mill Hill) and was ordained on the 26 March 2017 in his home Diocese of Kisii when the security situation in Kembong was very tense The village of more than 5000 people was almost completely abandoned in a bid to give hope to the desperate population many of whom were living in the bushes in horrendous conditions Ondari and his Parish Priest courageously opted to go back to Kembong so as to encourage the people to return Some of the people with whom they ran to Mamfe went back and sought refuge in the closed down premises of the Catholic School in Kembong Ondari was brutally and recklessly murdered,” narrated Bishop Nkea “I visited Kembong Parish on Thursday 22 November 2018 and I personally counted 21 Bullet holes made on the Church building of Kembong where at the time the Catechist and many Christians were carrying out various activities in the Mission compound The blood of the murdered priest was still clearly seen on the cemented entrance to the Church just at the door and it is our prayer that the God whom he served so well will welcome him into his eternal kingdom I call on all the Christians of the Diocese of Mamfe especially the Christians of Kembong Parish The forces of evil are on a rampage against the Church of God we believe in the promise of Christ that the gates of the underworld will never prevail over the Church While we mourn with the Mill Hill Family and the Natural family of Fr we trust that he died doing what he had offered his life for,” said Bishop Nkea The Mill Hill Missionaries corroborated the circumstances leading to the killing of Fr “Cosmas was standing outside his Church while meeting (internally displaced persons) At that moment soldiers entered the Church compound at high speed in an army vehicle Cosmas was still outside when he was hit in the thigh and chest but on arrival there (was) pronounced dead,” said the Mill Hill Missionaries on their website the Daily Nation of Kenya reports that the news has cast a very sombre mood among family members and relatives of the slain priest saying they received news of his death with absolute shock His father Charles Omboto said his son was on a missionary mission when he was killed Ondari as a “very spiritual” and a man fired by the missionary spirit Kisii’s Diocesan Bishop Joseph Mairura said the deceased priest was dedicated to the work of the Church “He was a young priest fired with the missionary spirit but death has snubbed him at a time we knew he had much still left to do in reaching out to lost souls,” Bishop Mairura told the Daily Nation a Central African nation of approximately 24.68 million people Eight of these regions have French as their national language The central government of Cameroon is located in the francophone part of the country Tensions between the Anglophone regions and the rest of Cameroon have been growing there have been complaints about the marginalisation of Anglophone areas The ‘collapse’ of the two-state federation in 1972 is sometimes cited as the origin of the current conflict matters came to a head in 2016 when citizens protested the increased number of French-speaking teachers and judges being sent to their areas It is said about 400 civilians have died in the last year alone A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that dialogue was the best solution going forward “We call on armed secessionists groups to refrain from the use of violence We urge the Government to respect and protect the rights of all to address the long-standing grievances of the communities in these regions to promptly investigate all cases of violations reportedly involving its security and defence forces Myanmar earthquake: Working to meet the biggest needs 90% of our funding comes from individual donors. Learn how you can support MSF’s lifesaving care with a gift. We need your support to continue this lifesaving work After suspending activities in March 2022 to focus on securing the release of four detained staff members MSF will close projects in Kumna and Mamfe on August 1 Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has made the difficult decision to close our projects—which were suspended in March— in Kumba and Mamfe This closure will take effect on August 1, 2022, and will result in the termination of contracts of the majority of MSF’s staff. The closure follows the suspension of MSF activities in the region three months ago MSF has been working to secure the release of four colleagues who were unjustly detained in December 2021 and January 2022 while carrying out medical humanitarian activities in in the South-West region While two of our four colleagues were conditionally released in May A small team will remain in the South-West region to support the release and resolution of the cases as well as to continue dialogue with the authorities as MSF seeks to re-establish conditions that will enable our teams to carry out medical activities in a safe environment MSF made this decision as are unable to indefinitely maintain our teams with no clear vision of when we may be able to restart our activities or when our staff will be able to work without being prosecuted for providing medical assistance to those in need. MSF will consider reviewing this decision following the trial and based on our exchanges with Cameroon’s government We continue to seek to improve the humanitarian notification system so that staff can hopefully return to their jobs in confidence that their lifesaving work will not put them at risk of legal prosecution MSF remains hopeful that we will be able to find an understanding with the authorities that could enable MSF to support the local health system and deliver medical assistance to local people. As an international medical humanitarian organization MSF provides impartial medical support to every patient in need in line with medical ethics and international humanitarian law. For almost five years, South-West Cameroon has been impacted by violence between separatist armed groups and state armed forces MSF provided free health care to people in the region until March 29 when we made the difficult decision to focus on obtaining the safe release of our colleagues as a neutral and impartial medical organization it has supported wounded patients from both sides of the conflict in South-West Cameroon including those from the state armed forces MSF always provides free medical to those who need it most Haiti violence pushes MSF trauma hospital to its limits South Sudan: MSF strongly condemns deliberate bombing of its hospital .. © Médecins Sans Frontières 2025 Federal tax ID#: 13-3433452 Unrestricted donations enable MSF to carry out our programs around the world we will reallocate your donation to where the needs are greatest speaks about the attack by gunmen that left at least 20 people dead houses and various properties set on fire and looted by the gunmen Local media quoted a local government official women and children were killed as they slept The village of Egbekaw is in the neighbourhood of the town of Mamfe “In the early hours of Monday 6th of November 2023 others gravely injured and a good number of houses burned down by unidentified Gunmen at Egbekaw village in Mamfe Central Subdivision we cannot find any reasons to justify this heinous act,” Bishop Abangalo explained but some local media outlets suspect Anglophone Separatists who may have wanted to disrupt Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s 41st anniversary The countrywide celebrations were slated for Monday -the very day of the Mamfe early morning attack Bishop Abangalo has since invited prayers for the deceased solidarity with the injured and with bereaved families. About 6,000 civilians have been killed by both government forces and armed separatist fighters since late 2016 in the North-West and South-West regions as armed separatist groups seek independence for the country’s minority Anglophone regions Government’s security forces have been criticised in the Human Rights Watch World Report 2023 for responding to separatist attacks with a heavy hand often targeting civilians across the Anglophone regions Separatist fighters have also been condemned for killings and kidnap of civilians – the very people they seek to liberate Cameroon (OSV News) — The bishop of Mamfe in Cameroon’s volatile Southwest region has strongly condemned the Nov 6 “massacre” in Egbekaw village in his diocese that left at least 20 people dead and several others injured we cannot find any reasons to justify this heinous act,” Bishop Aloysius Fondong Abangalo of Mamfe explained The attack was carried out by gunmen suspected of being separatist fighters “It was a very horrible incident that started around 3 a.m when we started hearing threatening voices,” said Enu Hannibal a security officer working for Caritas Mamfe “They started knocking on people’s doors threatening to kill all of them and we later on discovered charred bodies in those burnt houses I was a witness to what happened,” he told OSV News Bishop Abangalo vehemently condemned “the atrocious act that brought about the destruction of the lives of so many innocent men “The massacre of human beings is an intrinsically evil act because it violates the Fifth Commandment of the Decalogue: ‘You shall not kill,'” the Cameroonian bishop said The bishop also expressed his condolences “to the bereaved families” and assured them of his prayers The diocese’s communications director who in 2021 spent about two weeks in separatist captivity questioned the efficacy of the Cameroon military with respect to the latest attack It took place not far from the military camp yet soldiers only arrived at the scene after the assailants had fled “It was a timid and inexperienced kind of response,” the priest said “Where the ‘boys’ (separatists) were operating is not very far from where the gendarmerie brigade is and not very far from where the military base is That the ‘boys’ would carry out such an attack and then go away before the military gets there speaks volumes about thealertness of our military and the military intelligence,” Father Eboka told OSV News He said the latest incident illustrated the changing dynamics of the conflict He said the area has for the past two years enjoyed relative calm but noted that such calm could be deceptive “The attack tells me that the dynamics of the fight keep changing and so we cannot at any point say that because there is calm … I have been saying for the last two weeks that the way places have been calm for a long time we need to be very careful,” he said said the security forces have launched a manhunt for the attackers and that when they are found Residents said they suspected the attack was meant to disrupt celebrations marking the 41st anniversary of Paul Biya becoming Cameroon’s president that were to take place in Mamfe and other centers on Nov Cameroon’s two English speaking regions have been gripped by separatist violence since 2017 when the government took a hard line following strikes by Anglophone teachers and lawyers Ngala Killian Chimtom writes for OSV News from Yaoundé Suspected separatists opened fire and set several homes ablaze in an attack Monday on the town of Mamfe in southwest Cameroon killing at least 20 people and injuring many others we woke up to a terrible tragedy…At around 3 a.m compatriots were the victims of a major secessionist attack in Egbekaw district We've already discovered 20 charred bodies," prefect Viang Mekala told the press He declared it "inadmissible" to attack the population in this way a local traditional authority in the Central African country also promised a response to the alleged secessionists we're going to tell the women and men to use tradition openly to try and stop this situation once and for all," he said Mamfe’s hospital received around 10 victims in intensive care according to national television station CRTV which reported that children and pregnant women were among the dead Mamfe Mayor Tabenchong Robertson Ashu said a search is continuing to see if there are any other victims and the death toll could rise Several media outlets and local sources reported a higher death toll A resident of Mamfe told Anadolu by phone that 52 people are dead and others are seriously injured and hospitalized he said that many of the victims who had seen their homes burnt down and those afraid of further attacks were on the streets "This tragedy occurred just as the military were crisscrossing the city to mark Nov the 41st anniversary of (President) Paul Biya's seizure of power," he added He recalled that separatists always take advantage of major national events to mark their presence and attack the population The country’s South-West and North-West regions have been ravaged by the Anglophone crisis since late October 2016 The English-speaking minority of this bilingual country who are mostly concentrated in these two regions feels marginalized by the French-speaking part. The so-called "Anglophone crisis" has claimed more than 6,000 lives and forced more than a million people to move according to the non-governmental organization the International Crisis Group (ICG) 10 June 2022 – The Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in Cameroon strongly condemns the destruction of the district hospital of Mamfe in the South-West region suspected elements of a non-State armed group (NSAG) reportedly carried out an attack in the locality of Egbekow and in the course of the event the hospital was also set on fire and destroyed All patients had to be transferred to other medical centers The Mamfe district hospital is covering more than 85,000 people living in the area The hospital serves as main medical reference covering medical needs of remote areas in Manyu division Its destruction will deprive people of urgently needed care and further weaken the local health system There has been at least five attacks against healthcare since January 2022 The crisis in the NorthWest and South-West regions of Cameroon has seen a large number of attacks on healthcare with health workers or patients threatened as well as medical infrastructures damaged or destroyed patients and facilities are serious violations of international human rights law they must be investigated and perpetrators must be held to account,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator a.i “Health care workers are every day saving the lives of thousands of people and must be allowed to work without fear or concern for their safety or that of their patients.” he added in Cameroon calls on all parties to protect healthcare and refrain from hindering access to medical services The humanitarian community remains mobilized to support affected populations in the region Press releases from OCHA are available at www.unocha.org/rowca and www.reliefweb.int Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is taking the difficult decision to close our project bases in Kumba and Mamfe, in the South-West region of Cameroon This decision will take effect as of 1 August and will result in the termination of contracts of the majority of our staff This closure follows the suspension of MSF activities three months ago The Mamfe Methodist Girls Senior High School (MEGHIS) in the Eastern Region is currently grappling with three major challenges The challenges are a dilapidated dining hall insufficient campus residential facilities for teachers and inadequate classrooms to accommodate the ever-growing number of students The outmoded structure of the dining hall is too small to enable the students totalling 2,796 to have their meals comfortably while the insufficient campus residential teachers’ bungalow has compelled most of the 203 teaching staff to stay outside the school's premises Such a situation has led to the teachers trekking to and from school daily thus negatively affecting teaching and learning These challenges came to light at the celebration of the school's 40th milestone which coincided with the speech and prize-giving day at Mamfe last Saturday on the theme: "Transforming girls' education through Wesleyan discipline in digital age -- MEGHIS in retrospect" Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; the Executive Director Joyce Aryee; the Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Methodist Church the Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem North and the Mamfehene who is also the Akuapem Kyidomhene In an interview with the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of the event indicated that due to the limited space within the dining hall the students had to go for their meals in batches which had been negatively affecting class hours She stated that the classrooms were also not adequate for the student population of nearly 3,000 was insufficient campus residential facilities for the teachers and as a result most of them reside outside the school's premises and trek daily to teach in the school such major challenges should be urgently addressed to provide a serene environment for academic work in the school highlighted the academic performance of the students which she indicated had been high in recent years in the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) 98.46 per cent of the students passed in English Language 98.42 per cent in chemistry and 100 per cent in elective ICT The General Manager of the Methodist Schools Francis Kojo Ennuson Jnr intimated that the transformation of the students anchored on the Wesleyan discipline of excellence morality and service which were of benefit to the Ghanaian society and the individual students in particular said empowering women and appreciating their efforts in nation-building was important for national development the Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries trust and loyalty and told the students that in their endeavour Writer's email haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh an upsurge in violence in Upper Bayang (South-West region) coupled with threats from non-State armed groups (NSAGs) forced inhabitants of 15 villages in Upper Bayang (SW) and Widikum (NW) subdivisions to flee their villages a massive influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Upper Bayang subdivision to Widikum town (North-West) and Mamfe (South-West) was reported most of the IDPs initially sought shelter at the Divisional office and the Widikum district health centre while others either slept in open air or with host families deployed teams in the field to provide a first rapid response in the health and non-food items (NFI) sectors and to get a first overview of the needs and the general situation supported by the InterCluster Coordination Group under the coordination of OCHA carried out a rapid multisectoral needs assessment in Mamfe (Banya Egbekaw and Mile 1) and Widikum (Boffe and Diche 1) The Mamfe and Widikum teams comprised the following organisations: Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) Environmental Protection and Development Association (EPDA) Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation (LUKMEF) Research and Advocacy for Gender Justice (RAGJ) Community Initiative for Sustainable Development (COMINSUD) led an awareness raising session on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) with 172 affected persons (including 111 women and 4 girls) They were referred to the Caritas Mamfe GBV case worker for appropriate case management and follow-up ▪ Protection Cluster also met with the Delegate of Social Affairs (MINAS) in Mamfe to discuss the current situation and their response ▪ The Protection Cluster and UNHCR IM coordinated the finalization of the Egbekaw Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) results with preliminary data analysis which was shared with NWSW Inter-Cluster members and key stakeholders on 17 November 2023 By Jude Atemanke The protracted Anglophone crisis in Cameroon has taken a heavy toll on the pastoral activities of the local churches where the Bishop has had to take the painful decision of closing down over a dozen parishes I had to close 16 parishes because all the people in those parishes ran away and we had to take out the priests for their own security,” Bishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Mamfe Diocese told ACI Africa “In one of the parishes, one of my priest was shot and killed,” Bishop Nkea said in reference to the death of Kenyan-born Fr Cosmos Omboto Ondari a Mill Hill Missionary killed on November 21 Although nine of the 16 parishes have recently been reopened the Cameroonian Bishop disclosed and added He also said that the Church is doing her best to get people who had fled their homes to return and noted that those returning find nothing since they lost everything “We are getting people to have a bit of confidence in themselves and the society,” Bishop Nkea told ACI Africa in Nairobi last Wednesday where he was taking part in the continental conference on trauma among Church personnel Mamfe diocese has also the pastoral challenge of looking after the significant number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as those who fled to neighboring Nigeria as refugees and still rely on support from Cameroon “There is a lot of instability with regards to the population some have run into the bushes,” Bishop Nkea said if you go to the refugee camp for example in Ogoja (a Local Government Area in Cross River State in Nigeria) there are about 5000 or more people there,” He explained and wondered He narrated the intervention by the Church saying “We still have these problems of bringing food to the various communities and bringing medication to those who are sick.” we persevere to remain there as a sign of hope to the people,” he said and added “If the Church also disappears then the people are now not just like sheep without a shepherd but they are like they have lost the last ray of hope they had.” According to Unicef over 80% of schools have been shut down as a result of the Anglophone crisis denying more than 600,000 children access to education Commenting on the challenge with schools in his Mamfe diocese “I would say that in Mamfe town my schools are working My primary school of Saint Joseph has over 500 children although it is not easy; we are getting threats every day from the boys (the Separatists Fighters) to close down the school “Children cannot be out of schools for three years this is the fourth year and we still talk about no schools,” he said in reference to efforts taken to keep children in school and regretted “In some areas where roads are completely blocked Underlining the challenge of insecurity and its impact on the ministry of the local Church but now because of the insecurity some of the roads are completely blocked the Prelate said the Church “needed a change of strategy in bringing the gospel to the people.” “Thanks be to God I have a diocesan radio (Radio Evangelium) so I do a lot of evangelization on the radio,” the bishop disclosed “When I say Mass in the Cathedral it is always (broadcast) live and after that the message will be played over and over for almost a week so that it goes everywhere,” Bishop Nkea narrated to ACI Africa “I think many people have been appreciating the radio and the evangelization we are doing through it,” he added The diocese of Mamfe also organizes prayer sessions catechesis and pastoral activities in the center of the diocese wherever it is safe three days and they go back,” the Bishop recounted The Catholic Church in Mamfe has also launched a financial initiative dubbed “Una Familia Microfinance” which seeks to alleviate poverty and ensure economic recovery for the people The bishop traced the decision to launch the initiative to a diocesan meeting saying “I talked with my (finance) Council and we talked with our people and decided to launch this financial initiative which is a source of assistance to economic recovery.” “Practically all the banks in Mamfe are closed,” he added “We launched this microfinance institution so that people can have access to some kind of cash that will help them restart their lives again,” Bishop Nkea said and continued we must put in place programs that will help them start life all over again.” “We are hoping that the war will end soon Already things are getting a little bit better in some parts,” Bishop Nkea concluded Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church Bishop Edward Hiiboro Kussala of South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY) has praised the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (MSBVM) In the Central African country of Cameroon where the Anglophone crisis has affected livelihoods and the functioning of institutions Christian Cardinal Tumi and Bishop Andrew Nkea who recently spearheaded a peace delegation to the North West.. This report is produced by OCHA Cameroon in collaboration with humanitarian partners It covers the period from 1 to 30 June 2022 The next report will be issued in August 2022 intercommunal clashes in the Akwaya subdivision in the South-West region (SW) resulted in more than 30 civilian casualties • The Mamfe District Hospital and the Ballin Integrated Health Centre in the Manyu division (SW) were destroyed by fire in two different incidents • At least five humanitarian workers were abducted in two separate incidents in the SW • Multiple cases of interference by State security forces (SSFs) on NGO movements were reported in the SW • At least 1,119 gender-based violence (GBV) cases were referred to specialized services providers The security context in the North-West and South-West regions (NWSW) remains volatile as affected people continue to flee their homes seeking safety in the bushes and neighbouring communities Humanitarian access has been negatively affected by several incidents a truck transporting humanitarian supplies was shot at by alleged NSAGs elements AGs elements along the Kumba-Mamfe axis in the SW and the driver and his assistant were abducted The two persons and the supplies were released on the same day and proceeded to deliver the assistance to the targeted community three humanitarian enumerators were reportedly abducted by NSAGs in Alou and on 26 June another two were abducted in Mbonge subdivision The five humanitarians have since been released safely Multiple cases of interference in the movement of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at checkpoints of SSFs in SW were also reported an international NGO was stopped at a checkpoint in Kumba and kept for about an hour an international medical NGO was stopped at a checkpoint in Kumba and not allowed to proceed with its mission despite holding the required authorization They were obliged to return to their base escorted by armed SSFs another international NGO was stopped at a checkpoint in Mabonji village in the Meme division and kept for over an hour for failing to present an authorization from the divisional authorities despite having an authorization from the regional authorities The final confirmed toll may change according to new updates • At least 2 women were reportedly sexually assaulted • 465 people fled the village after the attack • Partners provided food assistance to more than 1,000 people affected in Egbekaw • 205 shelter and NFI kits were provided to affected population in Egbekaw suspected members of a non-state armed group (NSAG) entered Egbekaw National authorities reported 25 people killed and in overcrowded houses with relatives and friends but figures may change following further updates and assessments On 9 and 10 November a multi-sectoral initial rapid assessment (MIRA) coordinated through the NWSW Inter-Cluster Working Group was conducted by partners from Protection (UNHCR/INTERSOS Shelter (IOM/Caritas Kumba) and Nutrition (Caritas Kumba) Clusters The most critical needs reported were protection services humanitarian partners continue to mobilize resources to provide multi-sectoral assistance to the affected population Local partners on the ground continue to play a critical role Mamfe — "The value of human life is diminishing and the human person is wasted away for any flimsy reason or even for sport This has to stop and we call on all those involved in killing innocent civilians to refrain from these inhuman and monstrous acts," bishop Andrew Nkea of Mamfe has said The bishop expressed his sentiments in a statement sent out on November 23 following the killing of Fr You have selected an article from the AllAfrica archive, which requires a subscription. 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To address comments or complaints, please Contact us Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you There was a problem processing your submission The 2024 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party and the Parliamentary Candidate for Akropong Constituency 3rd August embark on the second edition of the gargantuan walk dubbed ‘’Ofie Mega Walk’’ This year’s walk will commence from Mamfe at exactly 5am and end at Mampong where Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will address the participants the Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Parliamentary candidate for the Akropong Constituency Samuel Awuku embarked on the first edition of the ‘’ Ofie Mega Walk’’ in which there was overwhelming support for the candidacy of Sammi Awuku It started from Amanokrom Park through the Mamfe Roundabout and finally ended at the Ofie High Street at Akropong which saw several thousands of young people wearing T-shirts with the inscription Sammi Awuku and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and other inscriptions showing support for Mr Awuku The walk is expected to be attended by the National Executives of the party a senior Presidential Adviser to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has so far kickstarted his campaign by engaging the chiefs and the volunteer groups in his constituency The purpose of the engagement is to reach the unreached to share Dr and also to reassure the party faithful of hope by urging them to put in their utmost best to make the “breaking the 8” mantra a reality and make the Flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party Sammi Awuku is also undertaking series of developmental projects in the areas of health as well as engaging with various stakeholders and dressmakers associations in the constituency to listen to their concerns and take measures to resolve them On comparative records between the NPP and NDC Awuku noted that the data shows that the NDC comes nowhere near the NPP in many sectors He listed the NPP’s superior record in education He has explained that the party has contributed greatly to the people in the Eastern Region with developmental projects and he pleaded with the party members not to disappoint the Presidential candidate but rather work hard to make him the next President of Ghana He called on Ghanaians to massively vote for Dr Bawumia for a new era of development in the country adding that John Dramani Mahama and NDC have nothing good to offer Ghanaians since he (John Mahama) will be going on a honeymoon as he stated when elected he will come back in 2028 for renewal of mandate subject to his performance Mr Awuku in his various meetings indicated that the party would rally around the chiefs and people to develop Okuapenman In a heartfelt gesture of respect and admiration and Christ lay faithfuls from the Diocese of Mamfe to celebrate the 85th birthday of Emeritus Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge was not only a commemoration of a significant milestone but also a poignant reflection on the rich history of the Diocese Emeritus Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge holds a distinguished position as the first residential Bishop of Mamfe His consecration in April 1999 marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Diocese which had been officially created just two months prior Mamfe's ecclesiastical landscape consisted of six parishes and eight priests and it was under the visionary leadership of Bishop Lysinge that the foundations of a diocesan structure were laid.As the Diocese of Mamfe approaches the pinnacle of its 25th-anniversary celebration on February 22nd the visit to Emeritus Bishop Lysinge becomes more than just a birthday celebration exhibited remarkable resilience in building and nurturing the Diocese.{loadmoduleid 377}The journey from the humble beginnings of six parishes to the flourishing community it is today stands as a testament to Bishop Lysinge's unwavering commitment The visit by Bishop Fondong and the delegation symbolizes a passing of the torch acknowledging the enduring legacy of the Diocese's founding father.In an exclusive interview with Bishop Fondong he expressed profound admiration for Emeritus Bishop Lysinge "His leadership laid the groundwork for the vibrant and thriving Diocese we have today we also celebrate the indomitable spirit that has guided Mamfe through its formative years."The entire Diocese of Mamfe is urged to join in the celebration recognizing not only the birthday of a revered figure but also the shared history and growth that bind them together The visit to Emeritus Bishop Lysinge serves as a reminder of the Diocese's journey—a journey marked by dedication and the collective effort of its members.As New York Times captures the essence of this joyous occasion Mamfe echoes the sentiment: "Join the Diocese of Mamfe in celebrating the 85th birthday of Emeritus Bishop Francis Teke Lysinge—a man whose vision shaped our history and continues to inspire our future."{loadmoduleid 378} Source: starrfm.com.gh « Prev Next » Comments (0) Listen to Article File photo