Commemoration of World AIDS DAY:

CBCHS Mainstreams PWDs in Marathon Race

By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da

Winners of marathon about to take their prizes

Persons with disabilities, PWDs, were at the center of attraction through their massive participation and brilliant performance at a Marathon Race organized by the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, CBCHS in Bamenda on December 1 to commemorate the 2016 edition of World Aids Day

                The Marathon Race with a special inclusive component was organized in view of raising awareness to the fact that both PWDs and persons without disabilities are vulnerable to HIV and therefore appropriate inclusive measures should be put in place to combat the disease in all groups of the society.

                Apart from the first group of runners aged 18-40 years for men and 18-30 that and for women who ran from Ndop to the Bamenda Commercial Avenue and the second group made up of those aged 41-61 years for men and 31-50 years for women who ran from BabankiTungo door market to Commercial Avenue Bamenda there was a special group for persons with disabilities who took off from various points depending on their different categories of impairments.

World AIDS day observed in Cameroon

By Rachel NtubeNgwese

Dignitaries at World AIDS Day ceremony

The 29th edition of the international day for the fight against HIV/AIDS was on 1 December celebrated in Yaoundé with an objective to establish an AIDS-free society by 2030.The celebration was placed under the patronage of the first lady Madam Chantal Biya, who is also special ambassador of ONUSIDA, was hosted at the Yaoundé Red Cross conference hall with numerous activities and demonstrations to mark the importance of the day and the need to stop the spread of aids.

                Prior to the celebration, a weeklong of activities was launched in Yaoundé by the minister of public health who doubles as the president for the national committee for the fight against aids. The activities include sensitization campaigns and free screening exercises in different health centers to encourage people to know their HIV status and prevent unpleasant future surprises.

Over 20 fake foreign certificates rejected in Cameroon

By Rachel NtubeNgwese

The national commission for the evaluation of foreign certificates has met in Yaoundé to study the authenticity of some 200 foreign certificates of some Cameroonians who studied abroad and wish to be integrated into the country’s educational standard. The commission chaired by the minister of higher education, chancellor of the academic orders Jacque Fame Ndongo, proceeded in a rigorous examination of these certificates sent by Cameroonians in the Diaspora.

                Of all the certificates examined, about 20 of them were rejected because according to the examination team, the files were inconsistent and not accurate. It was therefore risky for them to validate the files since the authenticity of the certificates was doubted.

Curbing illicit arms proliferation:

CAMYOSFOP advocates greater gov’t engagement

By Rachel NtubeNgwese

Senior government officials including parliamentarians, representatives from other organs and the military have been called upon to hastened procedures related to fostering the halt of illicit circulation of arms within the country and the sub-region in general. This was within the framework of a sensitization workshop organized by CAMYOSFOP and partners in Yaoundé to school senior government officials on the necessity of creating a national commission for the control and management of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Cameroon.

                According to the organizers, the illicit proliferation of arms in the sub region has been one of the main causes for the instability that has plagued Central African countries recently an example being the terrorist activities of boko-haram.

Cameroon & Senegal strengthen friendship ties

By Rachel NtubeNgwese

Senegalese president &Biya

Senegalese president MackySall paid a brief working visit to Cameroon last week to review relations between Cameroon and his country. On his way from the Antananarivo francophonie summit which rounded up last weekend in Madagascar, president MackySall stopped over in Yaounde. He arrived at the YaoundeNsimalen airport at about 1; 30 pm where he was received by the Prime minister head of government Philemon Yang with whom he had a brief discussion at the presidential lounge amidst singing and dancing from the Senegalese community in Yaounde who turned out in their numbers at the courtyard of the presidential lounge to assure their president of the support of the Senegalese Diaspora to his project of emergence.

                Shortly after his arrival and the warm welcome, President MackySall headed for the Unity Palace where he had a tete-a-tete with President Paul Biya and was treated to a state dinner by the presidential couple before his return to the air port and final departure to Senegal.

Women’s AFCON Final:

Super Falcons lift trophy as Lionesses stumble in Y’de main Stadium

Nigeria won the women's Africa Cup of Nations for an eighth time after a 1-0 win over hosts Cameroon in front of a capacity 40,000 crowd in Y’de.

A late goal from Desire Oparanozie was enough for Nigeria to retain the trophy they won in Namibia two years ago.

                The Super Falcons have dominated this competition, winning all but two of the ten editions played so far.

                In a repeat of the 2014 final, Cameroon finished as runners-up again despite enjoying massive home support.

                In front of Cameroon president Paul Biya, the hosts had the best of the first half, with a number of chances for AboudiOnguene, but the Indomitable Lionesses failed to make the most of their opportunities.

                In the second half, Oparanozie, who also scored Nigeria's winner against South Africa in their semi-final, hit the decisive goal again when she broke the deadlock seven minutes from time.

                She followed through on a pass from the tournament's leading scorer AsisatOshoala to give her team the trophy.

Footballers’ union concerned by opaque player contracts

Addressing the fact that two-thirds of Cameroon's local footballers do not have a copy of their contract is a primary concern, says the head of the country's players' union.

                Sixty-five per cent of players in Cameroon lack such a contract, the worst figure out of 54 nations surveyed by global union FIFPro.

                "When you sign a contract, you need to get a copy of your contract - otherwise, you have no rights," said GeremiNjitap.

The former Cameroon international, who was elected president of the players' union in November, fears the issue could aid match-fixing and player trafficking.

                "It is not fair that footballers sign contracts but don't have (a copy of) their contracts," said the former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder.

                "They have no legal protection. This is one of the major problems for these players.

                "This is one of my priorities - to solve this problem."

                Close behind Cameroon when it comes to the number of players lacking a contract copy are Ivory Coast, home to the reigning African champions, and Gabon - with 60% of players in both countries saying they suffer in this way.

                Tuesday's FIFPro survey underscored a raft of problems for the African game, including widespread contract issues, late payments, job insecurity as well as the threat to players of abuse and match-fixing.