Youths in Cameroon have been at the centre of the fight against the #COVID-19 global health crisis since Cameroon reported the first cases on March 6, 2020.
Most youths have been providing practical solutions to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the disease in the country.
They continue to lead the fight by supporting government, and helping communities protect themselves.
From producing face masks, hand sanitizers and sensitization campaigns, youths have been actively involved in the fight. They have also spearheaded the consumption of natural products to prevent and fight the disease.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many youths out of their comfort zones. Small initiative groups, enterprises and organizations were created to respond to the health crisis.
Youths make 60% of Cameroon’s population. Most of who have been distributing free face masks, and gone into villages to educate communities on the dangers of contracting the disease.
Fighting the Disease from digital platforms
As the government sought ways to manage the crisis, many youths went digital, in search of a solution.
Jean Lobe Lobe is one of the youths who has been successfully leading the fight against the pandemic from a digital platform. He is the founder and CEO of Waspito, a health and wellness online platform that permits people to consult without having to go to a hospital. The Waspito app makes a video consultation with a medical doctor possible. The platform which currently has over 10,000 followers on Facebook also offers the following services ;
-online consultation/telemedicine
-online pharmacy and home drug delivery
-trusted medical social network
Producing home made hand sanitizers and masks
Youths across the country have championed the production of nose masks and other sanitary materials to fight the pandemic. Many worked in enterprises that were created to produce masks in large quantities.
Achalake Christian, coordinator of Local Youth Corner, launched the “One Person, One Sanitizer” project to prevent the spread of #COVID19 especially among vulnerable communities .
He is among the youths who have been producing and distributing free, homemade hand sanitizers.
Other youths, especially students and graduates from some professional schools created hand washing machines to encourage communities to wash hands regularly.
Sensitization at the hinterlands
Thousands of youths have been involved in educating the public about the disease. Most of the target groups of people are found in the suburbs, and still do not believe in the existence of the virus.
Mouna Dreams, an NGO made up of over 20 young people including a medical doctor, made a trip to Lindoi village, to educate the inhabitants about the disease.
They also distributed masks to over 300 people, and taught them the importance of wearing masks to prevent the disease.
Kathy Neba Sina
