WHO DONATES COVID-19 PREVENTIVE MATERIAL TO CATUC

The Catholic University of Cameroon has put up a robust fight against the covid-19 pandemic from mid-March till now. The University has continued to synthesize the guidelines and information given by the World Health Organisation, Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and other medical bodies to help her staff and students stay safe and help others stay safe.

WHO Representative for the Northwest Region, Dr. Balo, hands over covid-19 preventive material to Mr. Promise Aseh, Director of Cooperation – CATUC

In addition to the regular guidelines, the University has ensured (from the 1st of June 2020 when face to face lectures resumed) that lecture rooms are disinfected daily and that there are sufficient points with water and soap for hand washing and that all offices and lecture rooms are provided with hand sanitizers. However, there were only two infrared thermometers to serve the campuses in Bamenda and Baham. In Bamenda, all staff and students had to use one entrance so that everyone’s temperature could be taken. In addition, while the university insisted that all staff and students put on their face masks at all times while on campus, she did not provide face masks, and each staff member and student had to fend for themselves.

It was therefore a great relief to the university and her staff and students when the UN Northwest Representative, Dr. Balos turned up in the University Campus on Wednesday July 15, with a consignment of covid-19 preventive material for the university. This was thanks to Professor Emeritus Robert Leke and Professor Mrs Rose Leke, who made the request to WHO on behalf of the university. The consignment included ten thousand (10,000) reusable face masks, two thousand (2000) medical gloves and five (05) infrared thermometers. The donation was received on behalf of the university by Mr. Promise Aseh, Director of Cooperation for the University.

On Wednesday the 22nd of July 2020, Professor Emeritus Robert Leke, Provost of the School of Health and Medical Sciences handed over the material to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Fr. Joseph Awoh. It was an occasion of great joy for the entire university, as these gifts would help bolster the fight against the spread of covid-19 in the university. The face masks have already been distributed to all the members of the university community. However, the bulk of the face masks, the surgical gloves will go to the School of Health and Medical Sciences whose staff and students will need these during their clinical and hospital placements in the days ahead.

We are most grateful to the World Health Organisation for this generous donation at this very difficult time, and assure them that we shall use these items diligently in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic.

Together we shall overcome the covid-19 pandemic!