The Prime Minister of Cameroon has announced new measures, taken on April 9, 2020, following an inter – Ministerial meeting of the Committee responsible for implementing the government strategy to fight the pandemic. At the end of the working session held by videoconference, Joseph Dion Ngute unveiled seven additional measures which will be added to the first 13 directives prescribed on March 17, 2020 by the President of the Republic.
These new measures are:
- The general wearing of face masks from Monday April 13, 2020 in all spaces open to the public to be supervised by the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development.
- The local production of drugs, screening tests, protective masks and hydroalcoholic gels by the competent national institutions under the responsibility of the Ministry of Scientific Research in collaboration to the Ministry of Public Health;
- The setting up of specialized covid-19 patient treatment centers in all the regional chiefs following the model of field hospital to receive the patients in the event of a peak of the epidemic and allow the hospitals to function normally ;
- Intensification of the covid-19 screening campaign in collaboration with the Pasteur Center and other appropriate health institutions;
- The intensification of the awareness campaign in urban and rural areas…;
- The pursuit of activities essential to the economy in strict compliance with the directives prescribed on March 17, 2020 and the barrier measures recommended by the WHO;
- The systematic punishment of any violator of the restrictions in force and of confinement imposed on people at risk.
Dion Ngute also indicated that the government is studying all the accompanying measures likely to mitigate the negative effects of the Coronavirus in sectors of activity in difficulty. But he warned ministers against uncoordinated communication on the pandemic.
An order signed by the Prime Minister read, “With regard to the implementation of the government’s response strategy against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) in Cameroon, sectoral administrations must first request and formally obtain the necessary authorizations from the Head of Government before taking measures of general scope, so as to avoid the cacophony observed in the communication on this health crisis which preoccupies the national and international community .”
Concerning the communication of members of the government, they are called upon to “exercise restraint and caution in their written communications or during their oral interventions on issues relating to government policy in general and to the response against the covid-19 in particular.” The Prime Minister also called for coordinated government action.”The activities of the ministerial departments must be integrated into the overall strategy of the government, as defined by the Head of State, and be carried out in a spirit of openness, frank collaboration, cohesion and synergy.”Dion Ngute emphasized.
