By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The President of Cameroon’s National Assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, has urged the government to prioritize addressing the concerns of health workers in the country.
He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the second ordinary session of the 2024 Legislative year on June 11th in Yaounde.
“…While urging the government to address the issues and solve the problems of health workers, I want to remind the latter of the importance of respecting their oath by being present at their designated duty posts across the country,” Hon. Cavaye said.
His statement follows the recent return to normalcy within the health sector after a period of worker protests.
“The return to normalcy is undoubtedly the result of successful social dialogue between public health officials and health worker unions,” he said. “It is my hope that this dialogue will continue.”
Hon. Cavaye stressed that accepting deployment to any location within Cameroon is a demonstration of patriotism for health workers.
Regarding Cameroon’s ongoing implementation of universal healthcare, the Speaker highlighted the encouraging results achieved thus far. He reported that pre-enrollment and enrollment statistics currently stand at 3,177,914 and 2,487,853 people, respectively.
These figures encompass children aged 0 to 5 and pregnant women who are now receiving free treatment for both uncomplicated and complicated malaria.
Additionally, prenatal consultations and delivery fees have been significantly reduced to FCFA 6000 (representing 10 percent of previous charges), and the annual cost of dialysis has been lowered to FCFA 16000 (three percent of the previous amount).
Hon. Cavaye cautioned Cameroonians against misinformation and manipulation surrounding the universal healthcare program circulating on social media and other platforms.
He stressed the need for the government to adopt a robust communication strategy to keep the public informed and educated about the program’s benefits, implementation process, and goals.
As Cameroon approaches its election period, Hon. Cavaye urged citizens to remain calm and reject any attempts to incite violence.
“Some compatriots, lacking a clear political vision or driven by their ambition for power, have already threatened to foment post-electoral violence or chaos if their opponents win,” he stated.
“I call on our fellow Cameroonians to stay calm and vigilant, and to stand up to any negativity,” he continued. “Those who resort to such anti-republican tactics are simply admitting their weakness and lack of a credible strategy to offer the Cameroonian people.”
The Speaker emphasized Cameroon’s long history of peacefully deepening its democratic culture with the support of its citizens. He highlighted the country’s strong institutions and resilient economy, even amidst global challenges.
Hon. Cavaye acknowledged several recent national achievements, including the election of Philemon Yang as President of the 79th UN General Assembly, the election of Hon. Hilarion Etong as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, and the successful hosting of the 30th Africa Regional Assembly Meeting of the Francophonie (APF) in Cameroon.
He also expressed gratitude to President Paul Biya for his support of Cameroonian Muslim pilgrims currently performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims, in return, he said have pledged their prayers for peace, God’s blessings upon Cameroon, and Allah’s protection for the Head of State and his family.
Shortly after the opening ceremony, some seven members of the National Assembly received medal of honour. The June’s session of Parliament that opened in the two houses of parliament is dedicated to Budget Orientation Debate as well as tabling of bills.
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