Life

Njomo Kevin: exit of an icon

9, May 2026

Njomo Kevin: exit of an icon 0

The news of his passing was announced by journalist Kum Leonard, who described him as a respected figure in Cameroon’s media landscape.

Pa Njomo was widely known for his long service to journalism, especially in broadcasting and sports reporting. He worked with CRTV and was also associated with Mount Cameroon FM, where he served as station manager. In a 2008 interview, he spoke about his upbringing in Kumba, his education in the South West Region, and his deep love for journalism, religion, music and tennis.

Over the years, Njomo Kevin built a reputation as one of Cameroon’s old-school media voices. His career was strongly linked to football commentary and sports analysis. In 2020, the Mail & Guardian described him as a veteran sports journalist with more than 40 years of experience covering Cameroonian football. He was also known for speaking frankly about corruption and weaknesses in the country’s football structures.

Beyond journalism, Njomo Kevin also served in football administration. In 2017, he was appointed to the FECAFOOT Normalisation Committee after FIFA intervened in the management of Cameroonian football.

In recent years, he remained active through Njomo Kevin TV, where he shared sports memories, cultural stories, historical reflections and what became known as “Story Time with Uncle Njomo.” The platform presented him as a media veteran using storytelling to preserve Cameroon’s social and sporting memory.

His death is a major loss to Cameroon’s media family, especially to those who grew up listening to his voice, learning from his knowledge of sport, and following his reflections on the country’s past and present.

Source: MMINews

Yaoundé moves toward dedicated funding for Cameroon’s film industry

7, May 2026

Yaoundé moves toward dedicated funding for Cameroon’s film industry 0

Cameroon’s Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt, has pledged to establish a new framework to secure dedicated State funding for the country’s film industry, responding to long-standing calls from filmmakers for more structured government support in production, infrastructure and distribution.

The commitment was made during a meeting in Yaounde with a delegation from the Cameroon International Film Festival (CAMIFF), shortly after the event concluded its 10th edition on 25 April in Buea, South West Region. The delegation was led by CAMIFF founder and chief executive Gilbert Agbor and included American actor Blair Underwood alongside other film industry figures.

The audience gave festival organisers an opportunity to present a report on the week-long event and highlight structural challenges facing Cameroon’s film and audiovisual sector, including the shortage of modern cinema halls, weak distribution networks and limited access to production financing.

Minister Bidoung Mkpatt said the main obstacle was not policy intent, but the lack of a clear operational framework enabling the State to dedicate funding to the sector. He said projects linked to film production, cinema infrastructure and distribution all fall within the ministry’s mandate.

“The State has a methodology for developing a budget to address the challenges facing the sector’s development. In the case of cinematography, for instance, it can provide credit facilities to help clear the path forward,” the minister said.

“The challenge now is to establish a working method that enables the State to allocate a specific budget for activities in the cinema sector,” he added.

The minister also announced plans to create a committee and a dedicated reflection group to examine concerns raised by filmmakers and develop both short- and long-term strategies for the sector. The process is expected to produce a formal strategy document aimed at structuring future interventions. He urged stakeholders to remain patient while the work progresses.

“Whatever the difficulties may be, they are temporary. You must not give up. Remain vigilant and exercise patience while the committee works to identify both short-term and long-term solutions,” he said.

The policy direction comes as creative industry stakeholders increasingly call for more predictable State support, arguing that the absence of dedicated financing continues to limit production capacity and discourage private investment in the sector.

Blair Underwood, who has traced his ancestry to Cameroon’s Babungo tribe in the North West Region, welcomed the government’s engagement. He described CAMIFF as an initiative that had demonstrated both “vision and execution” over the past decade and said progress in the film industry required collaboration between filmmakers and public authorities.

“It takes the collective effort of many people, and in this instance, the government as well, working in concert to advance to the next stage and reach the next level. So, it is exciting to see that in motion, and to witness such a positive reception from the Minister of Arts and Culture,” he said.

Cameroonian-Nigerian actress Prisma James also called for stronger government backing for the industry, describing show business in Cameroon as challenging despite signs of gradual progress.

“Cameroon is still developing, and show business here remains rather challenging. But we have people who are going to bring about change,” she said.

According to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Cameroon had fewer than 10 modern cinema halls in the early 2020s. The country’s film industry still operates largely through independent productions and informal distribution channels.

Source: Business in Cameroon

CNN’s pioneering founder Ted Turner dies at 87

6, May 2026

CNN’s pioneering founder Ted Turner dies at 87 0

Ted Turner, who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980, has died at the age of 87, the network said Wednesday.

Cable News Network upended established broadcasting with its dedication to around-the-clock breaking news and shot to global recognition with its coverage of the Gulf War in 1990-91.

Ted Turner created CNN in 1980, revolutionizing the way America, and the world, got their news, and then went on to become one of the most prominent business leaders and philanthropists of his era.

A brash risk taker, Turner—whose death aged 87 was announced on Wednesday—helped reshape the television industry in the late 20th century.

He also made a name for himself with spectacular business deals, his ownership of professional sports clubs, a marriage to actress Jane Fonda, his leadership of a competitive yachting team and then a devotion to charitable and environmental causes.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in November 1938, Robert Edward “Ted” Turner III went to a military boarding school in Tennessee, and then attended Brown University, but was expelled before graduating.

Turner took over a faltering family advertising business after his father, despondent over financial problems, committed suicide.

After buying a number of radio stations, Turner’s purchase of a struggling Atlanta station in 1970 was his first move into television.

Ten years later, that became the flagship of his nationwide Turner Broadcasting System, the profits from which he parlayed into the launch of CNN.

CNN launched in 1980 as the first 24-hour cable news network, gaining traction in the United States and later internationally.

The launch came as viewers were shifting from broadcast to cable and CNN became a key source of news during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, delivering extensive live coverage using satellite technology.

CNN’s success inspired the creation of other 24-hour news channels including Fox News by longtime Turner rival Rupert Murdoch, MSNBC and countless station worldwide.

Turner’s television empire expanded beyond CNN and included TBS and TNT channels for sports and entertainment, Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network, among others.

As his television empire expanded, Turner made a failed bid to acquire CBS in the 1980s and then briefly acquired MGM/UA Entertainment Co. studios.

Turner sold the Hollywood group back months later, while keeping the rights to large portions of its catalog including films from MGM.

Blockbuster deals

His deals got bigger in the 1990s when Turner Broadcasting merged with Time Warner in 1996, making him vice chairman of the media-entertainment powerhouse.

In 2001, AOL (previously America Online) completed its purchase of Time Warner for $165 billion in the biggest merger in corporate history.

But the deal had to be unwound within a decade with the falling fortunes of AOL, which used an inflated share price for the deal. Turner, the biggest shareholder of Time Warner, lost billions from the deal.

Sports figure

Turner bought the Atlanta Braves baseball team in 1976 and the team made several World Series appearances, winning in 1995. He sold his interest as part of the Time Warner deal, but the team continued to play on Turner Field until 2016.

He also owned the Atlanta Hawks NBA team and Atlanta Thrashers NHL team, both of which were transferred to Time Warner as part of the 1996 megadeal.

In other sports endeavors, Turner successfully skippered the US yacht Courageous to win the 1977 America’s Cup.

A yachting incident intensified the rivalry between Turner and Murdoch in 1983 when a Murdoch-sponsored yacht collided with Turner’s in the Sydney-Hobart race, sinking Turner’s schooner.

Afterwards, Turner challenged Murdoch to a fistfight and the two media icons continued to play out their rivalry in the business world.

Turner created the Goodwill Games in the 1980s as part of an effort to ease international tensions during the Cold War, amid Olympic boycotts led by the United States and Soviet Union. The last events were held in 2001.

Attention grabber

Aside from his business and sports deals, Turner gained attention for his personal life and his later ventures focused on philanthropy and the environment.

In 1996, he complained to The New York Times that “all the money is in the hands of these few rich people, and none of them give any away”.

He was Time magazine’s man of the year in 1991, the same year he married, actress Jane Fonda, his third wife. They divorced a decade later, and he blamed their marital woes on her conversion to Christianity.

Her version: “He needs somebody there for him 100 percent of the time … That’s not love, it’s babysitting.”

In 1998, he donated a billion dollars to the United Nations to create the UN Foundation, which has focused on climate change, sustainable development, technology and health initiatives.

Turner announced his departure from his post at Time Warner in 2003 to devote his energy to his other interests.

These include the Turner Foundation, founded in 1990, which supports efforts to fight climate change and improve air and water quality and has given away some $380 million.

His Turner Endangered Species Fund, launched in June 1997, has worked to save gopher tortoises, monarch butterflies and leopard frogs, working mainly with private landowners.

In 2015, he launched the eco-tourism venture Ted Turner Reserves, which enables tourists to visit his four properties in New Mexico and learn about conservation efforts.

Source: AFP

Cameroon PhD nuisance: academic dwarfs and jokes on steroids

22, April 2026

Cameroon PhD nuisance: academic dwarfs and jokes on steroids 0

On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched a war against Iran. The war was expected to be short and decisive. It has proven to be anything but a cakewalk. Following a two-week ceasefire that ended today, President Trump now finds himself in an awkward strategic predicament. Opposite him stands Iran, a nation subjected to forty-seven years of sanctions, yet one that has nonetheless cultivated a remarkably sophisticated indigenous missile and drone capability. That capability is not an accident; it is the product of sustained domestic investment in technical education. Iran’s success in this conflict is tied to a large cohort of PhDs trained in fields such as science, nuclear physics, mathematics, and engineering. For over four decades, economic isolation was meant to constrain Iran, yet it has instead compelled self-reliance, yielding technological capacities that now present a tangible challenge to US military dominance.

In Iran, the world is witnessing what a strong cohort of PhDs can do for a nation. But by some strange happenstance in Cameroon and deep within the Cameroonian diaspora, PhD has become something of a national embarrassment bordering on farce. The recent anxiety around doctoral inflation prompted the 92-year-old Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces President Paul Biya, to instruct the country’s Minister of Higher Education, Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo, to clarify that only state universities are authorized to award doctorates.

Minister Fame Ndongo also warned that students enrolling in offshore online programs do so entirely at their own risk. The concern from the head of state is not difficult to understand in a country with weak infrastructure and unreliable internet connectivity. With poor internet connectivity, how can any genuine student conduct credible online doctoral research?

The minister’s intervention reads as an indictment of an industry that has turned the highest academic qualification into a purchasable title. In Cameroon, the doctorate has become a kind of lifestyle accessory like a watch or Smartphone. The flourishing trade in imported and distance-learning PhDs has become a recurring topic in Aghem, Bakweri, Nso, Manyu,  Mankon, Metta, Bakossi, Oroko, Lebialem, Bali, Nkwen and Bafaw culture and development meetings, wake-keeps, naming ceremonies and social gatherings stretching from Toronto to Maryland and from London to Amsterdam.  The PhD palaver in Cameroon is now a diaspora community fixation. In fact, it is an inside joke that has ceased to be funny.

Gone are the days when Cameroon’s intellectual landscape was defined by scholars whose achievements carried unquestioned weight and global respect, with figures like Dr Ako Defang Mengot, forged in the rigour of Harvard University and Professor Bernard Fonlon, whose doctorate in Literature from Sorbonne University reflected both depth and distinction. Today, we have Professor Carlson Anyangwe of Walter Sisulu University, who is grounded in the scholarly tradition of the University of London. For these giants, a PhD was a culmination of intellectual discipline, sacrifice and original contribution to knowledge. Today, that standard has fallen miserably and what remains is a hollow imitation of excellence, where the appearance of intellect is celebrated but its substance is increasingly rare.

Distance-learning institutions have emerged offering doctorate programs as easy to enrol in as gym memberships. In Cameroon diaspora circles, individuals with a questionable grasp of written or spoken French and English now brandish doctoral titles acquired from mushroom online colleges in the US, Pakistan, India and many obscure parts of the globe. The subjects’ and doctoral theses are often as weightless as the process bearing little relation to serious scholarship aimed at advancing knowledge or improving society.

Now, contrast Cameroon with a country like Iran, where the expansion of doctoral education has been rapid but not frivolous. Iranian universities have, over the past two decades, produced large numbers of PhDs in engineering, medicine and the natural sciences. These are not disciplines one typically completes online while working in care homes in Minnesota or Leicester. Iran faces its own challenges like bureaucratic hurdles and the ever-present tension between academic freedom and state oversight. Yet even critics would concede that a PhD in electrical engineering, nuclear physics, drone technology, or molecular biology is not a vanity exercise. One either knows the material or not as the laws of physics and science remains unimpressed by titles.

This editorial is not suggesting that only STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) deserves doctoral attention. The humanities and social sciences have long produced insights as vital as any laboratory breakthrough. The issue is not the field, but the standard. A rigorous PhD in philosophy or Law from an accredited institution is no less demanding than one in physics. A superficial PhD in any discipline, however, remains precisely superficial.

The purpose of PhDs in Cameroon is not intellectual contribution but to cause people headaches at wake keeps, birthday parties and village meetings where the title “Doctor” is utilized to polish egos. A few years ago, the preferred social currency in Manyu, a constituency in Cameroon, once renowned for academic aptitude, was the title of Sessekou. That of the Nso people was Shey!  Today, it is a doctor.

Sadly, in Cameroon circles at home and in the diaspora, a PhD is now a lightweight, portable social accessory. In Iran, it remains closer to what it was always meant to be, a demanding intellectual apprenticeship culminating in a contribution to human knowledge.

President Paul Biya’s intervention is an attempt to restore credibility to doctoral qualifications within the Cameroon community at home and abroad. It is a reminder that a PhD was meant to be difficult, time-consuming, and profitable to society.

In Iran, whatever one thinks of its politics or strategic posture, doctoral education has not been reduced to a public spectacle. It’s PhDs in engineering, physics, mathematics and related fields are not ceremonial titles but functional assets embedded in the architecture of modern warfare. In the ongoing conflict, Iran’s indigenous missile systems, drone swarms, and electronic capabilities are not improvised miracles; they are the downstream product of sustained technical training and research culture. In that sense, the PhD is not a vanity badge but a component of national capability translated from university auditoriums into battlefields. We thank the Head of State for his timely intervention on this matter of national emergency.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Nalova Lyonga adjusts academic calendar to match rescheduled school games

11, April 2026

Nalova Lyonga adjusts academic calendar to match rescheduled school games 0

Cameroon has adjusted the start date of the third school term, delaying the return to class for secondary school students by nearly a week.

In an April 9 statement, Secondary Education Minister Nalova Lyonga announced that the term, initially set to begin on April 21, will now start on Monday, April 27, 2026.

The change is tied to the rescheduling of the national finals of the Fenassco League A school games, now set to take place from April 19 to 26 in Bafoussam and Bangangté, in the West region. The competitions were originally planned for April 8 to 15 but were postponed on government instructions, requiring an adjustment to the academic calendar.

Authorities say the decision is meant to balance school sports activities with academic continuity. The Fenassco games, which bring together thousands of students from across the country each year, are seen as a key platform for promoting school sports and identifying young talent.

However, the delay is expected to affect the organization of teaching schedules. To address this, the minister has instructed regional education officials to organize catch-up classes in all secondary schools.

The aim is to preserve instructional hours and ensure that the 2025–2026 academic calendar remains on track, particularly as the final term is critical for national exams.

School administrators, teachers, students, and parents have been urged to strictly follow the revised schedule to ensure the smooth completion of the academic year.

The adjustment comes as the school year enters its final phase, under the framework set by the joint order issued in August 2025 by the ministries of Basic and Secondary Education.

Source: Sbbc

CPDM Crime Syndicate: PhD selection list sparks protests and claims of unfairness

10, April 2026

CPDM Crime Syndicate: PhD selection list sparks protests and claims of unfairness 0

The publication of a list of 600 selected PhD candidates for admission into Cameroon’s 11 state universities has triggered mixed reactions, with celebrations among successful applicants but protests and allegations of unfairness from those left out.

The list, published by the ministry of higher education recently following validation by the scientific councils of the universities, comes two months after applications were submitted via an official notice.

While those selected view their admission as a long-awaited opportunity to join the country’s academic community, critics argue that the limited intake risks deepening inequalities in access to doctoral education.

The responses to the list also come against the backdrop of the suspension of PhD programmes in July 2024 at all Cameroonian institutions after the ministry expressed concern over the financial implication and academic readiness of institutions to provide PhD education. Many candidates have had to put their applications on hold while waiting for the resumption of PhD programmes.

Celebration and opportunity

Abdoulaye Nfor of the University of Bamenda, who was selected for a PhD in chemical pathology, described his inclusion on the list as a personal milestone.

“It’s finally a dream come true. I have been looking forward to carrying out my research on the assessment of lead and cadmium exposure and associated metabolic dysfunction in mining communities in Cameroon,” he told University World News.

Selected students will start their PhD training from this month (April 2026). A notice from the vice-chancellor of the University of Buea instructed admitted candidates to report for classes on 6 April, according to a public notice.

Limited access and criticism

However, students and academics say the selection of only 600 candidates from more than 5,000 applicants nationwide leaves many qualified candidates without opportunities.

“The selection of just 600 out of over 5,000 applicants nationally is a complete denial of access to this prestigious level of academic qualification,” said Professor Mathias Eric Owona Nguini of the University of Yaoundé I.

“A PhD is the pinnacle of academic achievement, symbolising a profound commitment to research and scholarship that any brilliant student dreams of. Denial is an injustice,” he told University World News.

Some unsuccessful applicants have criticised what they describe as a lack of transparency in the selection process.

“While other countries are improving their research ecosystems by increasing the number of young researchers, our higher education policy is, instead, limiting. This is a big setback,” said Oumarou Dika, a PhD applicant at the University of Ngaoundéré.

Philip Ebontane, who applied to the University of Buea, also questioned the outcome.

“The selection process to me is doubtful. After obtaining my BSc and masters degrees in mass communication and corporate communication respectively from the University of Buea with excellent grades some five years ago, I see no reason why my application for a PhD programme was not accepted,” he said.

Allegations and official response

According to media reports, unsuccessful applicants from the University of Yaoundé I have lodged a collective complaint with Jacques Fame Ndongo, the Minister of Higher Education, alleging favouritism and lack of merit in the selection process. In a letter cited in the report, students warned of possible protests if no explanation is provided.

“By denying us the fundamental right to education, we are being pushed towards revolt and despair,” the students wrote.

The allegations follow an earlier statement by the rector of the University of Ngaoundéré in February 2026 warning against rumours of corruption involving members of the scientific council responsible for the selection.

However, Ndongo rejected claims of irregularities, stating that the selection process was based on merit.

“The selection operation was done on the basis of merit and the quality of research projects presented in line with the country’s SND30 development vision,” the minister said in a press release.

University authorities have encouraged unsuccessful candidates to reapply in future selection rounds.

“We could not select students above the quota of 60 set by the ministry of higher education. Contrary to claims by some non-selected students, the scientific council did its best in the selection procedure based strictly on merit,” said Professor Remy Magloire Etoua, rector of the University of Yaoundé I, speaking on state radio on 27 March 2026.

Calls for broader reform

Experts say the controversy highlights deeper structural challenges in Cameroon’s higher education system, including limited capacity for doctoral training and insufficient investment in research.

A report by Africa Online & Publications notes that Cameroon’s universities lag in global rankings due to political interference, underfunding and outdated curricula.

“Integrating doctoral reforms with investments in teacher training, digitalisation and research grants would create a more holistic system,” the report states.

It adds that, while the expansion of doctoral programmes is a positive step, long-term success will depend on sustained investment and structural reform.

“Stakeholders, including government, universities and international partners, must prioritise sustainable funding, infrastructure and inclusive policies to transform challenges into opportunities,” the report recommends.

Culled from University World News

Cameroon, Switzerland sign MoU positioning Obala Institute as Central Africa Agri-Research Hub

3, April 2026

Cameroon, Switzerland sign MoU positioning Obala Institute as Central Africa Agri-Research Hub 0

Cameroon and Switzerland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Yaounde, marking a new phase of agricultural cooperation and positioning the Agricultural Institute of Obala (IAO) as a key partner in research, training and agribusiness in Central Africa. Signed on March 25 at the Swiss Residence, the agreement brings together the IAO and three Swiss institutions: Agroscope, FiBL and the Fondation Rurale Interjurassienne (FRI). The ceremony, held during a reception for Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda, was attended by senior Cameroonian officials on the sidelines of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).

The MoU establishes a framework to deepen technical cooperation by facilitating the mobility of researchers and students, strengthening institutional linkages and expanding joint research programmes. It designates the IAO as Switzerland’s main partner for agricultural research in Central Africa and builds on more than two decades of cooperation with the Obala-based institute, which currently trains over 2,000 students.

The partnership is expected to enhance capacity development in agronomy, support knowledge transfer in organic and productivity-focused farming systems, and reinforce links between training institutions and Swiss companies operating in Cameroon. The focus on research, training and applied innovation aligns with efforts to improve agricultural productivity, value chains and market access, areas considered critical to the sector’s economic contribution.

Speaking at the event, Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, highlighted the shared priorities underpinning the partnership.

“As we do not have as much land as Africa, we focus on productivity so that agriculture benefits the farmer and their business. We have understood that education is crucial for success. That is why we share common ideals with the IAO, which has a long tradition in agriculture and in training young people,” she said.

On his part, the founding director of the IAO, Louis Ndjie, underscored the operational approach of the partnership, stating: “What is interesting with Swiss cooperation is that it works over the long term. They are very demanding in terms of quality and governance.”

According to officials, the agreement comes at a time when Cameroon is seeking to strengthen its agricultural sector through improved yields, skills development and integration into regional and international value chains. The designation of the IAO as a regional partner also positions the institute as a hub for collaboration with international stakeholders, with potential spillovers for agribusiness development and employment.

The initiative extends longstanding bilateral ties between Cameroon and Switzerland into areas with direct economic relevance for food production, trade and rural enterprise development.

Source: Business in Cameroon

Céline Dion makes her big comeback with concerts in Paris after six-year hiatus

31, March 2026

Céline Dion makes her big comeback with concerts in Paris after six-year hiatus 0

Canadian singer Céline Dion announced on Monday, her birthday, that she will return to the stage this fall with 10 concerts scheduled in Paris, spread out over September and October.

The much‑anticipated announcement followed an ad campaign in the streets of Paris that had fuelled speculation that the French‑speaking Canadian star, best known for her powerful ballads, would stage her comeback in the French capital.

“This year, I will receive the best gift of my life. I will have the chance to come and see you and to sing for you again in Paris starting this autumn, in September,” Dion, who turned 58 on Monday, said on French TV station France 2.

The announcement was simultaneously advertised through a light show on the Eiffel Tower. Pre-sale tickets will go on sale on April 7, while the general sale will start April 10.

The performer rose to global stardom in the late 1990s with “My Heart Will Go On”, the theme song of the blockbuster “Titanic”.

She put her career on hold in 2022 for medical reasons, saying at the time that she had been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Stiff‑Person Syndrome, which causes severe muscle spasms. It left her unable to sing.

The diagnosis led her to postpone, then cancel, her “Courage World Tour”.

One of the world’s all-time top earners from combined album sales and concert revenue, Dion performed two residencies in Las Vegas from 2003 to 2007 and from 2011 to 2019. At the time, these were considered the most profitable gigs ever.

She made a first reappearance after two years of silence during the 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony with a version of Edith Piaf’s “Hymne a l’amour”.

Her performance then led to speculation that she might one day return to major stages around the world.

Source: Reuters

Cameroon struggles with chronic blood shortage despite policy efforts

31, March 2026

Cameroon struggles with chronic blood shortage despite policy efforts 0

An acute blood shortage is unfolding in Cameroon. At the Yaoundé Central Hospital, the blood bank has reached critical levels. In a message relayed on March 24 via its Facebook page, the hospital reported “near-zero stock” and urged the public to donate blood urgently to save lives.

However, the pressure extends beyond a single facility. The national bilingual daily Cameroon Tribune reported that several healthcare facilities across the country have faced blood shortages for weeks. This situation raises concern in a health system where transfusions remain essential for emergencies, childbirth, severe anemia, and surgical procedures.

Structural Supply Gap Persists

Cameroon estimates its annual blood needs at around 400,000 units. However, collection levels remain significantly below this target. The report states that “less than a quarter of this demand is covered,” although 165,708 units were collected in 2024, representing more than 40% of estimated needs. The underlying conclusion remains unchanged: supply remains insufficient.

Historical data confirm this fragility. In 2022, authorities collected 147,034 units, or about 36.8% of national requirements. A large share of this supply came from so-called replacement donors—typically relatives of patients—rather than regular voluntary donors, which the World Health Organization recommends as the safest and most sustainable source.

This structural weakness stems largely from low participation in voluntary, unpaid blood donation. Several barriers persist, including limited awareness, the absence of a strong donation culture, and lingering fears, particularly concerns about contracting or transmitting diseases. As a result, blood banks struggle to maintain adequate reserves and rely heavily on emergency, case-by-case donations.

Efforts to Reverse the Trend

Health authorities are attempting to organize a more structured response. The National Blood Transfusion Center has developed a strategy to promote voluntary, unpaid donation as the cornerstone of a safer and more sustainable system.

Cameroon already operates a relatively extensive network, with nearly 473 healthcare facilities performing blood transfusions as of 2022, according to official data. Some facilities have received equipment from the WHO under the National Blood Transfusion System Strengthening Project (PRESYNATS), financed by the Islamic Development Bank.

In addition, authorities have validated a new national strategic plan for 2025–2030. The plan aims to overhaul the transfusion system by strengthening governance, improving blood product safety, enhancing hemovigilance, and decentralizing the CNTS. Authorities ultimately aim to achieve self-sufficiency in safe blood products.

The WHO recommends that countries collect the equivalent of 1% to 3% of their population in blood units annually. Cameroon has set a target of 400,000 units, or about 1.65% of its population. However, a significant gap persists between this ambition and actual collection volumes.

In this context, appeals for blood donations continue to increase. Behind the statistics, the stakes remain high: each unit of blood can save multiple patients, and each donor represents an additional chance for those in need.

Beyond short-term campaigns, specialists emphasize a deeper challenge. Cameroon must build a culture of regular, voluntary, and unpaid donation. Only this shift can ensure a sustainable blood supply and guarantee safer and more equitable access to transfusions nationwide.

Source: Sbbc

Biya regime advances talks with South Korea on Yaoundé emergency care project

29, March 2026

Biya regime advances talks with South Korea on Yaoundé emergency care project 0

Cameroon’s Health Minister Manaouda Malachie is in South Korea to fast-track discussions on the rollout of Cury 2, the expansion phase of Yaounde’s Emergency Care Center (Cury).

During his visit, which began on March 25, 2026, the minister met his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Eun-kyeong, to review the project, which authorities say is key to improving long-term emergency care in the capital, with plans for a gradual rollout to other cities.

The project builds on an agreement signed on Nov. 28, 2023, between the two countries. The deal covers the expansion of Cury, with two main objectives: increasing patient capacity and improving care for critically ill patients in Yaounde.

However, Cameroonian authorities say the project goes beyond infrastructure. “We are developing, with the Republic of Korea through Koica (the Korea International Cooperation Agency), phase 2 of Cury. This phase is not just about infrastructure. It includes a full medical emergency management system. This is why we are in Korea,” Manaouda Malachie said.

South Korea has committed 8.5 billion CFA francs in grant financing to support the project. The funds will be used to expand infrastructure and strengthen technical capacity.

The program includes increasing capacity to treat critically ill patients, improving emergency care, training specialists and technicians, and setting up a call center to coordinate emergency responses. The Cameroonian delegation also requested the integration of an automated laboratory to speed up diagnostics and improve response times.

Project already under way

Preparatory work for Cury 2 is already under way. On Feb. 13, 2026, an emergency tender was launched for an environmental and social impact study, estimated at 30 million CFA francs.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, the mission to Korea reflects “the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and improving the rapid and effective management of medical emergencies nationwide.”

Inaugurated in 2016, Cury was built with $84 million in financing from Koica. The first center of its kind in Central Africa, it specializes in treating patients in life-threatening conditions, including heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms and severe trauma cases.

The facility introduced more modern standards in emergency care in Cameroon and has since become a leading reference center nationally and across the sub-region.

Authorities now plan to replicate the model in other regions. Koica has proposed a broader initiative to establish a nationwide emergency medical services system, including regional centers.

For now, Yaounde remains the only city with such infrastructure. The goal is to expand access to quality emergency care across the country.

Source: Business in Cameroon

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