Cameroon Roundup: Malaria vaccine roll out, AFCON, gold production, stampede deaths

World-record vaccine rolled out

Cameroon has clocked a milestone as the first country in the world to roll out a routine vaccine programme against malaria. The move targeted at reducing malaria in children will see the country offer the RTS,S vaccine to all infants up to the age of six months old at no cost. According to Cameroon Online, the vaccine is known to be effective in at least 36% of cases. The development of the RTS,S vaccine took over 30 years of research by the British drug maker GSK. The drug has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which has hailed Cameroon for the historical project.

Gold production

Acting Minister of Mines, Professor Fuh Calistus Gentry has met with miners operating in the Eastern region to talk about issues regarding the advancement of gold production in Cameroon. The miners were invited to migrate to small mines by adopting the “Carbon in Leach” leaching system, a closed, modern, and adapted system that makes it possible to control the production of gold in the quarries.  A joint project monitoring committee made up of geologists, the National Brigade and Mining Engineers has been set up for this purpose, according to Journal Du Cameroun.

Stampede kills students

At least ten students lost their lives during a stampede at the Lycée Bilingue d’Etoug-Ebe, located in the political capital Yaoundé on January 22, 2024. Cameroon Online reported that the students who were late for school were rushing to enter the school’s gate which had earlier been closed. Many students were reported dead and about 106 others were injured.

Government appointments

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has appointed a retired senior state official and former Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Ngole Philp Ngwese to the post of High Commissioner of Cameroon to Canada. According to Cameroon Info, the interim High Commissioner in Canada for the country, Philippe Fouda Tsilla will hand over power to the sixty-year-old. “In this happy circumstance, the High Commission joins the Cameroonian diaspora in Canada to send its warm and hearty congratulations to the new head of diplomatic mission,” a statement signed on January 18 by the outgoing Fouda Tsilla was quoted by Cameroon Info.

AFCON

Captain of the Cameroon National Football Team also known as the Indomitable Lions has not participated in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Abijan since the start of the tournament. Vincent Aboubakar suffered an injury in his left thigh during training, leading to his withdrawal from the games. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) revealed a slight musculo-aponeurotic separation classified grade 1, the doctor of the Cameroonian selection was quoted by Actu Cameroun in a statement. The team is set to face the Gambia on January 23, 3023 at the Stade De Bouaké for the 3^rd and final day of Group C games. The Indomitable Lions are seeking to qualify for the round of 16.