Hello all! This is Jane Xiao, starting up our first Crossing Borders blog! Please feel free to pass along this blog to anyone you think might be interested in reading about our trip.
In two weeks, Adam VanDeusen and I will be traveling to Bamenda, Cameroon (May 7 - June 9, 2009). We'll be working with the staff at the Mezam Polyclinic learning about HIV/AIDS in the Bamenda community and nearby villages. Once we start traveling, I'll try to update once every few days from the local internet cafe.
please, Please, PLEASE: post comments! You have no idea how excited we get when we hear from friends & family from back home while we're out in the field.
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ReplyDeleteInsecurity in Bamenda: Bandits Attacked the Clinic – the Mezam Polyclinic, on 8/11/2004. Here is an exhibit from web:
ReplyDeleteDr. Achu, Proprietor of the establishment, said the bandits first attempted to enter the clinic through the gate. As they were pounding on the gate, the night watchman and nurses thought a patient in critical condition had just been brought. They only realized that their visitors were men of the underworld when the bandits, six in number, scaled over the not-very-tall gate. Their first target was the pharmacy where they rightly guessed there was money acquired through the sale of drugs.
A nurse who attempted to intercept them received a bang on her jaw with the butt of a gun. The bandits finally departed with FCFA 600.000, Dr. Achu said. While the operation was going on, said the medic, the police and gendarmes were contacted. The police arrived before the gendarmerie but not early enough to catch the night marauders. To pre-empt more of such attacks, Dr. Achu said he intended to hire another night watchman and increase the height of the gate.
Despite the creation of two more police posts in Bamenda, the rate of insecurity in the town has not abated. Bamenda residents complained that the police and gendarmerie are far more interested in lining their pockets with FCFA 500 than ensuring that citizens live in peace. Some taxi drivers said after 11 pm the police rarely stay on the streets, which is the starting time for most robberies. Faced with such a situation, the mob has replaced the police in reinforcing the law.
Be very careful there!
An Interesting reading: Dr Carole McArthur spearheads a campaign which combines scientific research and humanitarian aid in the fight against Africa’s devastating AIDS pandemic. Start reading on page 24 – “Saving Africa” following the link below:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.otago.ac.nz/news/otagomagazine/otagomagazineissue14.pdf
Here is a copy of the Field Mannual:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.copaapcam.org/manuals/LIVINGWITHHIVandAIDS1.pdf
Good luck on using the internet cafe.
ReplyDeleteI heard they are using "french keyboard" there, the keys arranged in an AZERTY order, not in the QWERTY order.
Hi Jane,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, I will keep this blog on my list of things to read....
Hope you enjoyed your flight and 'long' journey to Bamenda.
Look forward to reading your experience.
Sabine
Jane, Thanks for keeping us updated. Hope you enjoy the experience, and Look after yourself. Xiao Hong
ReplyDelete