“True poverty in this country is often the parents’ ignorance.” It’s what nurses and doctors whisper as they cross the courtyard overlooked by wards and departments with its many outdoor corridors divided by blooming gardens The hospital staff’s tenderness towards the child patients is almost disarming Their rebukes of fathers and mothers are not accusations but rather a painful observation people continue to die because they turn to the witchdoctor rather than hospitals in the Adamawa province in Cameroon’s central region one of the main commitments is precisely that of saving lives by ripping them from the hands of healers Opened in 2016 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret the hospital is a point of reference for nearly 95,000 people and it does not discriminate based on race The facility focuses primarily on fighting tuberculosis “The most widespread and frequent illness is malaria,” explains the hospital’s director “We also find many respiratory pathologies and a growing number of tuberculosis cases “There are children who arrive here with oedema a sign of a protein deficiency,” caused by the abject poverty in which families live in this part of the world given that the majority of the population is Muslim or if the husband prefers one over others,” explains the sister “financial resources are not equally distributed and children are often the ones who bear the consequences.” Poverty is by far the most tragic wound in Ngaoundal as in all of Cameroon “We have not received our refunds in 11 months and the government has a debt equal to about 46,000 euro,” explains Sister Christine their large dark eyes looking at the world despite the fact that for some of them even walking is difficult weighed down as they are by the weakness caused by malnutrition and disease doctors and nurses—lay people and religious sisters—are always discreetly by their side they do all they can for patients and families because there is no mother who does not stay by her own children which is prepared in the structure built by the hospital “One of the reasons we as a hospital do not offer food to the sick,” continues Christine “besides the fact that it would cost too much will not eat anything that they themselves have not prepared.” Influx remains the great tragedy of this place including dedicated spaces for ophthalmology though people really benefit from it.” In 2023 the average influx was equal to 33 percent of the annual capital of the facility “is far too little to allow us to live serenely.” makes the hospital an option only when it is already too late to guarantee survival the sick do not have enough to pay the fee Sister Christine’s face cannot hide her concern “Our hospital was built thanks to the help of various benefactors,” she concludes without which we would not have been able to buy some of the equipment just as we would not have been able to build certain structures and wells which allow us to address another important urgency Thank you for reading our article. 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Just click here Whether it be early marriage or a life on the streets almost all the girls who arrive at the women's training centre in Ngaoundal in the Adamaoua region of central Cameroon It is in this village that the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antida Thouret who have been present in the African country since 1987 set up the project aimed at supporting these young girls who risk being married off by their parents or "But once you have made them independent it is difficult to trap them," Sister Claudine Boloum says with conviction The Chadian nun who has been in Cameroon for four years explains that "school opens the eyes of these girls who begin to think," at which point they are unable to be married them off before their time it is difficult to trap them in prostitution mostly Muslim girls from the Foulbé or Mbororo ethnic groups arrive They are nomads who "work and live with animals they have no work and often cannot even feed their children” the nuns have tried to support the families and there have been some improvements Sister Claudine continues: "Now the women also want to work they have understood that they can be responsible and have started to send their daughters to school These young women are taught cutting and sewing they will be able to express themselves in both English and French One example of these courageous young women is that of Ina who is married and has decided to study in order to be able to leave home and then to work - a goal she will naturally only achieve with the consent of her husband and parents "do not have the means to send her to a normal school and when she heard about ours she will be able to return home and give life to her dream this will only be possible if someone gives her a sewing machine which is what the Sisters of Charity do when it comes to young people from very poor families the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antida Thouret have set up two outpatient clinics the 'Pietro Pecora' and the 'Santa Agostina' It is here that less serious cases of malaria are treated and it is here that children are given vaccines and pregnant women are cared for "The reason for two clinics," explains Sister Claudine "comes from the fact that so many do not believe in modern medicine to those who treat them with 'traditional medicine' and therefore with leaves and it is only when they realise that the person is in danger of dying that they decide to take them to the hospital,' which is the presence of the two clinics among the inhabitants has so far helped to save several lives tuberculosis and malnutrition is what most of the patients are suffering from "They only drink raw milk," Sister Claudine continues "they get TB and cannot feed themselves enough" "Here at Pietro Pecora," explains Nestor Sadoli and we also provide vaccinations in the villages typhoid fever and sometimes hypertension and diabetes among the elderly' One of the most serious problems is the availability of medicines "They cannot be found," Nestor continues "but we do what we can to get at least the essential ones 'We have suppliers,' continues Sister Claudine but we never manage to pay everything immediately we do it after we have collected from the patients," except that in most cases the patients have nothing to offer in exchange for treatment the purchase of medicines and no support from the state which has made so many promises over the years all this comes thanks to the annual grant from Gruppo India (a non-profit organisation founded by the Jesuit Mario Pesce) which helps us to give the girls a better life although the India Group is far away," Claudine concludes "it is present in our hearts every day and every day these girls pray for what they receive" (Business in Cameroon) - Cameroon’s National Mining Company (Sonamines) through its Director-General Serge Boyogueno a memorandum of understanding with China Railways No will support Sonamines in the development of bauxite deposits in Ngaoundal and Makan "Cameroon has three world-class bauxite deposits in Adamaoua (Minim-Martap Their combined resources are [currently] estimated at one billion tons Cameroon awarded three exploration permits covering those deposits to a mining operator [ Ed.note: Australian firm  Canyon Resources] for a 3-year and the operator applied for a mining permit the state representative and operational arm in the mining sector then applied for research permits covering the remaining two deposits,”  explains Serge Hervé Boyogueno this MoU will lead to a consortium between Chinese state firms specialized in mining industrial and commercial sectors for the development of the mining projects concerned It will also facilitate the completion of exploration works with the elaboration of a bankable feasibility study and an environmental impact study as well as the exploitation of bauxite the construction of a refinery for the transformation of bauxite into alumina the construction of a plant for the transformation of alumina into aluminum and finally the construction of a plant for the transformation of aluminum into by-products (sheet metal binding agreements that are the last step before the actual commencement of works at the deposits will follow All these are subjected to the obtention of all the relevant permits," stresses the Sonamines Director-General.   Thanks to that partnership with Chinese operators 2020) could quickly become a mining operator in Cameroon and also a major player in the heavy industry.  Kribi Bitumen Plant Set to Start Construction in 2025 with Government Backing CEMAC Bond Market Hits CFA 8.45 Trillion in March 2025, Interest Rates Drop Cameroon’s Timber Output Projected to Rise in 2025 Despite Higher Export Taxes Central Africa Stock Exchange Sees 98% Drop in Trading Value in Q1 2025 Every week the economy and investment news from Cameroon Mboa Paris Trains 30 Young Cameroonians to Boost Tech and Entrepreneurship Cameroon Audit Targets Former Officials for Mismanagement in Agricultural Project Camwater Seeks Global Bids to Launch Bottled Water Lines in Five Cities Bafoussam Workshop Highlights Benefits of Cameroon-EU Trade Agreement Cameroon Could Reach 350,100 Tons of Cotton in 2025 (Beac) Paul Biya Appoints Johnny Razack as Chair of Cameroon’s National Investment Company Cameroon Refuses Work Visa Renewal for Casino and Super U Boss Over Toxic Workplace Claims Cameroon Joins Global Charter to Fight Illegal Fishing (Business in Cameroon) - Mines Minister Gabriel Dodo Ndoké has renewed Canyon Resources’ exploration permit on the Ngaoundal and Makan bauxite deposits for a 2-year nonrenewable period This was announced by the Australian mining firm in an announcement published on February 28 “We are delighted that the granting of the extensions of the Makan and Ngaoundal exploration permits removes the uncertainty created by the actions of Sonamines and CREC 5 We would like to publicly acknowledge the swift action of the Minister in addressing the issue,” commented Phillip Gallagher Managing Director of Canyon Resources which operates in Cameroon through its subsidiary Camalco.  Canyon Resources was granted 3-year research permits on those deposits based on the non-renewable character of the permits granted to Canyon Resources Cameroon’s National Mining Company (Sonamines) submitted a request for research permits for the Ngaoundal and Makan deposits the Australian mining firm was still interested in those deposits at around the same time when Sonamines submitted its permit request Canyon Resources sent a request for the extension of its research permits I am unable to respond favorably to your requests an extension may be exceptionally granted if your company provides proof of its technical and financial capacity to develop the Minim Martap project for which you submitted an exploitation permit,” Minister Dodo Ndoké replied on August 24 5 Engineering Group Co (CREC 5) for the development of the Ngaoundal and Makan bauxite deposit even though it was yet to receive the mining titles it requested.   On February 21, 2022, Minister Dodo Ndoké voided the memorandum of understanding “ "The act thus incriminated is voided for violation of the Cameroonian mining legislation that governs the attribution of mining titles and other agreements relating to the administration and management of the mineral resources of the Cameroonian subsoil that are exclusive state prerogatives,” the government official wrote By extending Canyon Resources’ research permits on the two deposits the official likely ended the head-to-head for research permits on the Ngaoundal and Makan bauxite deposits.  (Business in Cameroon) - Australian junior mining company Canyon Resources recently delivered the first results of the final exploration phase (launched in September 2018) of Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal bauxite deposits in northern Cameroon Camalco (Cameroonian subsidiary of Canyon Resources) identified 65 bauxite plateaux Added to the 14 plateaux identified by Cameroon Alumina (CAL) former holder of the exploration permits on the Minim-Martap this brings the total number of bauxite-bearing plateaux to 79 a more refined analysis of 16 of the 79 identified plateaux increases the potential of the Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal bauxite deposit to 892 million tons This includes 250 million tons of high-grade bauxite The new potential estimated by Canyon Resources and its subsidiary Camalco is 342 million tons higher than the 550 million tons previously estimated by CAL (a consortium formed by American Hydromine head of the Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal bauxite exploration project at Canyon Resources analysis of the remaining 63 plateaux should bring the deposit's potential to about 2 billion tons This would “probably” make them “the largest deposits in the world overlaps with the statement made on April 12 in an interview with the British platform Proactiv Investors “The Minim-Martap project has the potential to become one of the world's largest and richest bauxite deposits and is located close to operational and accessible rail infrastructure,” Gallagher said Canyon Resources is planning to begin mining the Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal bauxite by 2022 the Australian junior mining company plans to build a 20 km road that will connect various mining sites to Makor in Adamaoua the ore will be transported by rail to the port of Douala or Kribi for export the thorny question of financing what could become the very first industrial-scale mining project in Cameroon's history must first be resolved.  the local subsidiary of Australian mining firm Canyon Resources is expected to submit its new exploration plan for the Ngaoundal and Makan bauxite deposits those new plans will confirm the firm’s interest in developing those deposits after the request it submitted to the Ministry of Mines in June 2021 for the extension of its research permits.    Canyon Resources received three exploration permits covering the  Minim-Martap Those permits were valid for a 3-year non-renewable term "Keeping the deadlines we were allowed in mind we worked on the three deposits but we only presented a feasibility study covering the Minim-Martap deposit to the government we submitted a request to the Ministry [of Mines] for the extension of the permits covering Makan and Ngaoundal so that we can continue our works We are still expecting the government’s answer,” an internal Camalco source explains.  While Canyon Resources was awaiting a response from the government concerning its request for the extension of permits deemed valid for a non-renewable 3-year period Cameroon’s National Mining Company (Sonamines) submitted a request for research permits for the Ngaoundal and Makan deposits Its requests were submitted because of the provision enacting the non-renewable character of the permits granted to Canyon Resources.  The process initiated by Sonamines led to the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the national mining corporation and Chinese firm CREC 5 for the development of the bauxite mines and related industries.  "The act thus incriminated is voided for violation of the Cameroonian mining legislation that governs the attribution of mining titles conventions and other agreements relating to the administration and management of the mineral resources of the Cameroonian subsoil that are exclusive state prerogatives,” the government official wrote.  Minister Dodo Ndoké was blaming Sonamines’ Director-General of having supplanted the state and its technical supervisor (the Ministry of Mines) by signing that memorandum of understanding with CREC 5 When Business in Cameroon reached out to decision-makers at Sonamines they preferred not to comment on “this decision issued by the technical supervising authority.” They just pointed out that signing the memorandum of understanding is also part of the national mining corporation’s prerogatives since it is “autonomous” not “a department of the Ministry of Mines.” once comforted that they will remain anonymous and Sonamines claim the decree issued on February 21 by Minister Dodo Ndoké is just a new episode of the power struggle between Sonamines and Camalco to get the rights to develop the Ngaoundal and Makan deposit escalated during negotiations between Cameroon and Canyon Resources for exploitation of the Minim-Martap deposit During those negotiations that ended on January 28 there were clear signs of misunderstanding between Sonamines and the Ministry of Mines’ representatives Sonamines’ representatives even accused those from the Ministry of Mines of being complaisant with the Australian mining firm.    Let’s note that according to Canyon Resources and Makan deposits are world-class deposits As per the latest estimates by the Australian firm Cameroon could become the leading bauxite reserve in the world and therefore a major actor in aluminum production.  (Business in Cameroon) - Australian mining company Canyon Resources announced March 12 on proactiveinvestors.com it achieved first exploration results of the Minim-Martap bauxite project The company revealed it “has identified a very high-grade bauxite resource of almost 251 million tons within the existing 550-million-ton resource at the world-class Minim Martap project in Cameroon A detailed review of exploration by SRK Consulting confirms that more than half of the area drilled for the bulk resource grades more than 50% aluminum oxide (Al2O3) with very low contaminants.” the Cameroonian government granted permits for the Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal bauxite projects to Camalco thereby withdrawing these licenses from Cameroon Alumina (CAL) the result of a joint venture between US Hydromine the Emirate Dubal Alumina and the Indian Hindalc failed to fulfil a mining agreement with the Cameroonian government after several years of negotiations the local subsidiary of Canyon Resources launched the “last phase of research,” before the development of the Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal bauxite deposits in the presence of the former Cameroonian Minister of Mines By taking over the permits on the Ngaoundal and Minim-Martap bauxite deposits after a little over 2 years of negotiations with the Cameroonian authorities Canyon Resources has officially committed to mobilize more than XAF6 billion to meet specifications that extend over a non-renewable 3-year period the potential of the Minim-Martap and Ngaoundal deposits (550 million tons) added to the 50 million tons of the Fongo Tongo deposit in the western region makes Cameroon the 2nd largest bauxite deposit in Africa