Cameroon Journalists to Stage Nation Wide Strike Over Non Disbursement of COVID-19 Media Funds

Cameroon Journalists to Stage Nation Wide Strike Over Non Disbursement of COVID-19 Media Funds

Directors of Cameroon Newspapers Plus other Private Media organs are fintuning and finalizing plans to Stage a Nation Wide Strike against the Minister of Health Dr. Manaouda Malaichi, officials managing the special emergency solidarity funds put up by the Head of State President Paul Biya, research officials under the Ministry in question and finance controllers of Corona funds mid June 2020.

This decision comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Ministry of health has since the advent of CORONA virus manifested bad faith and showed little or no concern on the Private Media who have been championing the crusade against COVID-19 with little or no support from the Ministry in question.

The fight against COVID-19 in Cameroon according to the Media should be 60% by the Press and 40% by the medical Corp because the whole exercise requires ceaseless, education, sensitization and awareness campaigns that runs from the urban cities down to the grassroots.

It is unfortunate that mindful of the major role the press is suppose to play, she is less looked upon or supported in their respective lives saving Media outings and campaigns.

Too much protocol in the disbursement and management of funds to combat COVID-19 is further breeding inertia in the whole campaign exercise and annoying not only the press but also some health officials who for lack of motivation are not encouraged to keep bearing the risk. 

Emergency relief funds are supposed to be disboursed without delay and strings attached in time to meet the expected goal which has to do with saving lives. But as we report, it is unfortunate that billions pumped in by IMF, WHO plus the chunk entering the emergency Solidarty funds is yet to meet the expected goal or hit the target.

Where we are at this point in time in the history of the fight against CORONA virus in Cameroon, the call for the multiplication of testing and treatment centers in the 10 Regional head quarters is yet to be meet as COVID-19 positive cases rise exponentially.

Worst of it all, no clear statement of account has been presented by the Ministry in question of what has come in, how much has been spend and what is left. 

The COVID-19 situation and its increasing figures do not speak well of containment measures most especially at the verge of school reopening over the national territory this June 1st 2020 as Government instructed.

Which is the more reason why Media actors and practitioner's see reason for the intensification of campaigns against the virus and to vulgarise the population to spare no effort in the respect of health tips.

This goal according to these Press Men and Women can only be attained if they, put pressure on a heady and a tide feasted Government through strike. Affaire a suivre, chose a verifier.......