Cameroonian youths have shown their commitment on ensuring a smooth and suitable energy transition and combating climate change in Cameroon simultaneously. 

They assured their commitment during a two-day workshop held under the theme “Climate and Energy in Cameroon: Contribution of young people to sustainable development.” The seminar to commemorate the Youth Week for Energy and Climate held from March 29-30 at the Yaounde National Polytechnic School.

The Youth Week for Energy and Climate, an initiative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the non-gains organisation Young Volunteers for the Environment, JVE, and the Yaounde National Polytechnic School which is to become an annual event had as objectives to put research and endogenous knowledge at the service of public policies, enhance the value of research work so that it contributes to a better formulation and implementation of climate and energy policies in Cameroon.

 Also, it aims at providing space for exchange between academic and political institutions, in order to identify and guarantee the best conditions for the operational implementation of proposed solutions and those already in practice.

It is also geared towards creating a framework for the sharing of experiences of young people who have proven the effectiveness of their research results through their actions. To stimulate greater commitment of young people to research and innovation in the field of renewable energy to fight against climate change.

Getting enriched with resources from key sources such as Dr. Parfait Oumba of the Catholic University of Central Africa, Timothée KAGONBE who is national focal point climate change, Augustin Bitchik Bi Bitchik, expert on climate policy among other speakers, the young researchers and students were able to exhibit their know-how and promote their activities, as well as the results of their work and initiatives undertaken within the framework of the selected themes.

Sessions were animated on climate adaptation in Cameroon; the interest of a climate commitment of Cameroonian youth; youth and climate; sustainable energy in Cameroon; the contribution of youth in the energy transition in Cameroon.

According to Dr. Parfait Oumba of UCAC, anthropic activity is the main cause of climate change. The awareness of climate change has been motivated by several factors. Notably the Stockholm Conference of 1972, industrialisation, the Brundtland Report of 1987, the Rio Conference of 1992 and the Paris Conference of 2015. The demands of the international community on the climate issue are numerous.

 They challenge all the countries of the planet. These requirements are, the sustainable management of human resources, adaptation to climate change, the objectives of sustainable development, the use of renewable energies, national communication on climate change and the national strategy to combat climate change.

In this wise, Cameroon’s contribution is geared to geared towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of integration of concepts related to the fight against climate change in the curriculum, it should be noted that there are adjustments to be made by also strengthening teachers’ capacities. Thus, the creation of a module that can deal with climate issues is paramount.

Going by Timothée Kagonbe, the earth’s temperature will increase by 6°celsius by 2100. This increase will have as direct consequences, the acidification of the oceans, the loss of biodiversity, the food crisis, the scarcity of water resources, the rise of the sea level by four meters, the disappearance of coastal cities like Kribi and Limbe.

However, to avoid this disaster, the rise in global temperature must be maintained at 2°celsius. He therefore called the world as a whole to implement measures to facilitate mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

During the workshop, young researchers received training on the mobilisation of financial resources to develop their research, biogas manufacturing, small hydro, biomass capitalisation as well as other innovative techniques.

According to the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NCCAP), approximately 320,000 Cameroonians are affected by climate-related disasters each year. The consequences of climate change could undermine Cameroon’s efforts to reduce poverty, develop a strong, diversified and competitive economy, and thus undermine the “Vision 2035” goal of becoming an emerging country within 15 years.

Cameroon has a total installed capacity of 1292 MW, distributed as follows: 57% hydro, 21% gas-fired, 10% light fuel and 13% heavy fuel. The country aims to produce 25% of renewable energy by 2030, broken down as follows: 11% from small hydroelectricity, 7% from biomass, 6% from solar photovoltaic energy and 1% from wind energy.

 Given the low use of renewable energies, whose under-exploitation deprives more than 10 million people in the country of electricity, increasing the capacity of sustainable energies could bring balance to the national energy mix, which is dominated by hydroelectricity at more than 90%.

By

Annie Odounlami Health & Environment 2021-04-06

South Africa begins its COVID-19 vaccination programme with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine after  receiving 80,000 doses of the vaccine on Tuesday.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize were the first to be given the single dose vaccine along with healthcare workers as part of observational study to kick off the vaccination campaign.

In a bid to dissipate fears amongst South Africans sceptical about the spread of all misinformation on the vaccine, President Ramaphosa indicated that, “This day marks a milestone for South Africa. Finally, the vaccines are here, and they are being administered,” he said shortly after receiving the vaccine.

Besides, Ramaphosa urged healthcare workers to get the vaccine, “taking the vaccine was quick, easy and not so painful. I urge all our healthcare workers to register to receive their vaccinations as they are our first line of defence against the coronavirus pandemic.” He added.

South Africa which is Africa’s worst-hit country was due to start its vaccine rollout last week after receiving early in February, one million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India. But, the vaccination campaign was delayed  following a study that showed ineffective results against the country's new Covid-19 variant.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will therefore be administered to 100,000 people first, in order to observe its possible sides effects, before spreading the vaccine to the entire nation. However, the country have secured nine million doses in total and more doses are expected according to President Ramaphosa.

Besides , South African officials say the country has secured 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, with deliveries expected to begin at the end of March. The goal is by the end of the year to have immunised 40 million people, or  67 percent of the population.

The single-dose vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson is the first to be used outside a clinical trial and is not yet approved for general use anywhere in the world. However, the vaccine has been shown to offer 57 percent protection against moderate to severe COVID-19 infections caused by a more transmissible new variant.

“Apart from bilateral deals with manufacturers, South Africa is sourcing its vaccines from the World Health Organization-backed Covax scheme, as well as through an African Union programme”, quoted from BBC

Covax is a global initiative in which countries pool their resources to support the development of vaccines with a view to ensure that all countries receive a fair supply of effective vaccines. 

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-18

 The  Director General of  the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, insisted  that the AstraZeneca vaccine was still a vital tool in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, after South Africa delayed the start of its inoculation program over concerns about the drug's efficacy against a virus variant.

He made this remark during a press briefing  on Monday, September 08, 2021

South Africa earlier announced it was putting a temporary hold on the rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after a study showed it was minimally effective at preventing mild to moderate disease caused by a variant first identified in the Country.

This was after a South African study suggesting that the AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against a local variant of the virus.

However, Dr Ghebreyesus specified that, “Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is one of several that has been shown to be effective in preventing severe disease, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.”

The Head of WHO, said data used in the study was from a “limité sample size” and the participants were “younger and healthier”.

However, experts are hopeful that the vaccine will still be effective at preventing severe cases. “t is important to determine whether or not the vaccine remains effective in preventing more severe illness,” he said in a statement.

It is worth noting that, research carried out that the Oxford vaccine offers good protection against the Kent variant of coronavirus circulating more widely in the United Kingdom, UK.

UK scientists found out that a single dose of the vaccine offered 76% effective protection against coronavirus for three months. The vaccine is given as two doses to provide the best protection.

Besides, they are working on new versions of the vaccine, to keep up with a virus that will inevitably keep mutating.

By Fabiola Kemegni

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-09

A  group of researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo  found that HIV could be eventually cured following the  discovery of  an unusual large group of HIV carriers whose bodies naturally control HIV  without the use of antiretroviral treatments. These people are referred to as “HIV elite controllers ”.

The information was released on Tuesday March 02, by Abbott, a pharmaceutical company that disclosed  that, the findings from the study could lead researchers closer to their goal of ending the HIV epidemic

 The team of scientists include Researchers from Abbott, the Johns Hopkins University, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Université Protestante au Congo.

They have discovered that the prevalence of HIV elite controllers was 2.7-4.3% in the DRC , compared to a 0.1-2% prevalence worldwide. This new research will fuel additional studies that look to understand this unique immune response.

Mary Rodgers, the study's lead scientist and head of Abbott's global viral surveillance programme, pointed out that the study found that as much as 4% of HIV carriers in the Democratic Republic of Congo were able to suppress the virus. While most people living with HIV have to take antirétrovirale medicines daily to suppress the virus and reduce their viral load.

Going by Dr Rodgers,  “if we can  understand which part of their immune response was responsible for that, it can help develop vaccines that are tailored for that kind of an immune response…It gives us a lot of hope because it means that instead of just a few people as seen in earlier studies, this shows 1000s of people in DRC who could be teaching us about how we could unlock a cure or develop better vaccines to end HIV,” she said.

This  study  could therefore serve as springboard for further research to develop a vaccine or new treatments to tackle the virus that causes AIDS.

“When we first started to see the data coming in from the study we were surprised, but we were also elated,… This could mean that this is something that we can actually cure,” Dr Rodgers said.

The head of Abbott's global viral surveillance programme, said the group in DR Congo was the biggest detected in one country, between 2.7% and 4.3% . Another 1% of people living with HIV in Cameroon were also identified as controlling the virus well without medication

Details on the findings were published in EbioMedicine, part of the prestigious medical journal The Lancet. Abbott holds that this "may help researchers uncover biological trends within this population that could lead to advancements in HIV treatments and potentially vaccines,

It is worth noting that, Abbott is the first company to develop an FDA-approved test for HIV more than 30 years ago. Besides, the latest findings from Abbott researchers and partners are a continuation of virus hunting efforts that led to the identification of a new strain of HIV in 2019.

Since the beginning of the global HIV epidemic, 76 million people have been infected with HIV and 38 million people today are living with the virus.

By Fabiola k

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-03-03

Guinea’s health agency reported on Monday that, at least five people have died of Ebola virus in Guinea, as the government and aid groups began to roll out their response to the outbreak. 

The Government announced the Ebola outbreak on Sunday, February 14 as the first case in West Africa since a 2013-2016 epidemic that left more than 11,300 dead in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The resurgence in Guinea started after the funeral of a nurse who was buried in country’s southeast on February 1. Authorities said seven people who took part in the funeral fell ill and tested positive for the Ebola virus. Four have died, while four others are in isolation.

The lady in question, considered as the first confirmed victim was a 51-year-old nurse, who died in late January. She  was from Nzerekore near the town of Gouecke in the forested south of the country.

Health official said two of the nurse's brothers who attended her funeral on February 1 have equally died.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana urges Guineans to stay calm since  all have been “set up structures to deal with this type of epidemic”.

“No panic, let’s respect the sanitary instructions. Ebola will be defeated again,” he tweeted.

On his part, Health Minister Remy Lamah said on Monday that, Guinea had adequate  means to stop the resurgence of the virus.

“In 2013, it took us months to understand that we were dealing with an Ebola epidemic while this time, in less than four days, we were able to do analysis and have the results,” Lamah said.

“Our medical teams are trained and seasoned. We have the means to quickly overcome this disease.” He added

International organisations  including the International Committee of the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and medical charity, said they were sending rapid response teams to the region to assist Guinea.

However, the first flight carrying experts and sanitary equipment arrived in Nzerekore on Monday, according to UN's Guinea office.

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-16

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of public health announced the outbreak of a new Ebola virus case in the Eastern part of the country near the city of Butembo on Sunday.

 health authorities revealed on Sunday that, a woman was found with Ebola virus symptoms in the city of Biena town on February 1 and she lady later died from the virus days after.

 A statement published by  health authorities of the country indicated that they have already sent a response to the area.

“The provincial response team is already hard at work. It will be supported by the national response team which will visit Butembo shortly, ” the statement said.

This will therefore mark the the 12th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo since it's first discovery in 1976 near Ebola River.

However, the latest Ebola case occurred on June 01 2020, while the country was still responding to the corona virus  outbreak. Besides, it occured  some few weeks before the government had declared the end of the 10th Ebola virus outbreak.

By

Absan Bibou Health & Environment 2021-02-08

Zimbabwe and Senegal have both received 200,000 doses each of the Sinapharm Vaccine donated by the Chinese government in a bid to roll out vaccination campaigns against the COVID-19 variant.

Zimbabwe has launched its COVID-19 vaccination programme today, February 18, 2021 subsequent to the COVID-19 variant first discovered in neighbouring South Africa that has already made over  60% of cases within its borders. 

 The country’s Vice-President, Constantino Chiwenga was therefore first to receive the Sinapharm vaccine at Harare's Wilkins Hospital.

 Chiwenga said on Tuesday that the vaccination programme, which is free of charge, is targeting at least 10 million people, roughly 60% of the population. To this effect, 60,000 healthcare workers shall be vaccinated in the first round. And will be followed by the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. 

However, Zimbabwe is planning to get another 600,000 doses by March to widen its vaccination campaign.

On his part, President Macky Sall of Senegal is expecting another 6.5 million doses in the coming weeks in addition to the 200,000 doses of Sinapharm vaccines received on Wednesday from the Chinese Company.  

This is because Senegal has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases and several deaths in recent weeks. To date, the country has recorded about 31,771 confirmed cases and over 769 deaths.

Senegal aims to inoculate around 90% of a targeted 3.5 million people, including health workers and high-risk individuals between the ages of 19 and 60 years old, by the end of 2021.

President Macky Sall like Constantino Chiwenga did not wait to receive doses from the World Health Organisation’s, WHO, Covax scheme, which aims to make the vaccine easier for developing nations to buy them. Rather, they paid a huge amount to for the  campaign to kick off this month.

However, health official says, the Sinapharm vaccine is 79% effective, and has shown some success against the variant discovered in South Africa.

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-18

The  World Health Organisation, have sent  a rapid response team to provide support  needed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, after a new case of Ebola virus was reported on February 1 near the city of Butembo.

The General Director of the  WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made this announcement during a press briefing  on February 08, 2021.

According to him, More than 70 contacts with the deadly virus have been identified, and WHO is supporting local and national authorities to trace them and provide care where needed.

“So far, no other cases have been identified, but it is possible there will be further cases because the woman had contact with many people after she became symptomatic” Dr Ghebreyesus said.

He equally  specified that Vaccines have been sent to DRC in order to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in the area. “Vaccines are being sent to the area and we hope that vaccination will start as soon as possible”. He added.

Health authorities revealed on Sunday that, a woman was found with Ebola virus symptoms in the city of Biena town on February 1 and she lady later died from the virus two days after.

 This marks the  12th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo since its first discovery in 1976 near Ebola River.

By

Fabiola Kemegni Health & Environment 2021-02-09

The Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED, alongside its partners have officially launch the BIODEV2030 project aimed at safeguarding world’s biodiversity via a multi-stakeholder approach.

The launching ceremony took place November 12, in Yaounde, in the presence of the representatives of the French Development Agency, AFD, the World Wide Fund, WWF and Expertise France.

Within a context marked by a 68% decline in biodiversity around the globe between 1970 and 2016, the planet will experience a lost of over one million plants and animal species threatened with extinction over the next decade if nothing is being done.

Thus, the BIODEV2030 Project that is funded by the French Development Agency, coordinated by Expertise France, facilitated by the World Wide Fund and the International Union for Conservation of Nature will however be implemented by the 16 African countries of which Cameroon is a member.

The project that is financed at €10 million for all the 16 countries concerned will have contribution from the sectoral administrations in a bid to reverse the decline of this biodiversity by 2030 and fully restoring it come 2050.

In order to attain this, the process irreversibly requires an international dialogue between all major stakeholders of the 16 pilot countries to exchange experiences on good practices to support the various states in integrating biodiversity into their sustainable development paths.

Therefore, there is need to bend the curve of biodiversity by 2030 given that it was ranked amongst the first-five threats to the world. However, more than 50 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, is greatly dependent on the ecosystem, reason for advocating for a healthier ecosystem.

It was revealed that, 20 percent of countries in the world are at high risk of collapsing should the ecosystem collapses. This will go a long way to affecting the world’s economy and wealth.

According to Gilles Etoga, Acting Conservation Director of WWF Cameroon, there are three approaches to attaining biodiversity ambition by 2030, which are the global strategies behind the BIODEV2030 project. “The first one is the diagnostic, the second if dialogue and the third one is dissemination. Why do we need to make a diagnostic? Because we want to collect scientific data that prove and that will support our campaign on the 2030 biodiversity programme.”

He added that, “we are guessing for the moment the sector that is impacting most the biodiversity but we need to have scientific data to sustain it so that, when we will discuss and engage on the second step which is dialogue, we should come to the table with scientific prices at hand.”

Also, Gilles Etoga said with respect to the third step, they will probably have a common understanding and agreement on how to tackle biodiversity laws in a way that the curve will be bent by 2030. To him, they will equally disseminate the results gotten from the dialogue during the third step.

On his part, Nana Aboubakar Diallo, Minister Delegate at the MINEPDED highlighted that, the ever degrading ecosystem is due to excess exploitation of natural resources which is accentuated by climate change and diverse pollutions, reason why efforts need to doubled with regards to preserving a healthy biodiversity.

“This project requires the integration of biodiversity in the economic and social projects of our country and others so as to conciliate the protection of biodiversity, nature protection and development because development is indispensable,” said the Minister Delegate.

That said, the global objective of the project launched in Cameroon’s capital city Yaounde is to assist the government in identifying stakeholders either from the private sector or Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, so as to establish a platform for dialogue for all actors concerned in the protection of the biodiversity, nature protection with the aim to conciliator economic and social development.

Key activities to be implemented by the project include; assessing the threats to biodiversity at the national level and estimating potential threat reduction measures of at least two key economic sectors in Cameroon. The project will facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues to share a common vision and set voluntary commitments involving key economic sectors, to support national commitments for the Post-2020 Agenda for a more ambitious global biodiversity framework.

Lessons from the project will be disseminated through experience sharing and discussions at international forums such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille (France) and at Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 in 2021.

The project is being launched at a time biodiversity is facing serious threats. According to WWF 2020 Living Report, stopping biodiversity decline and preserving ecosystems are urgently needed if we want to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2050. BIODEV2030

By

Annie Odounlami Health & Environment 2020-11-24