For the third time, the Embassy of Israel in Cameroon has organised a humanitarian project in the East Region. The two other projects were in Gado-Badzere. In the first, in June 2014, 5,000 children were vaccinated against polio and measles. The second in December 2014 was a sports activity by Israeli NGO – Mifalot Sports Education in which more than 2,500 children and 30 adult mentors were trained in football.
This year, the project was a medical activity in the small town of Batouri and Timangolo Refugee Camp. It achieved the vaccination of about 500 children and mainly providing free medical consultation and medication for about 450 children from local and refugee communities.
The embassy sponsored and logistically supported the participation of four paediatricians from the Cameroon Paediatricians' Association (CPA) and also provided free medication and medical equipment worth a few million francs CFA. The project was done in parallel and in association with the National Polio Immunisation Campaign.
The embassy succeeded in this initiative through the joint effort of the Ministry of Health through the personal involvement of the Minister as well as collaboration with UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, MSF and other small private NGOs.
The campaign, led by the Embassy and the CPA, was not only evidence of the good relations between Israel and Cameroon but also evidence of the many positive things that can be accomplished with local expertise.
Representing the UNHCR at Timangolo, Ms Peggy Pentshi Maneng thanked Israel for its aid, effort and moral support in improving the health conditions of refugees in the camp. She highlighted the fact that the action by the Embassy of Israel and all other partners involved will have a direct impact on the health situation in the camp.
The joy on the faces of the children consulted and vaccinated, their parents and other beneficiaries of the campaign demonstrated hope that this small project will contribute to improve their health conditions and a reminder that they have not been forgotten by all persons and institutions that had participated in the campaign.