Elvis Tah & Linda Lumsi
10 March 2008
A delegation of women from the WCPDM Fako III section and Delegation of Women Empowerment and the Family visited a bed-ridden patient in Muea, Symplice Nguteh, as part of activities to celebrate the International Day of the Woman.
Led by the Southwest Governor's wife, Pauline Eyeya, the delegation took along a bag of rice, cartons of corn flakes and sugar, cosmetics, dresses, groundnut oil and some beverages.
They also gave Nguteh a new Women's Day dress, and undisclosed sum of money. The women told Nguteh's mother, Reginald Nguteh, to wash and dress her with the outfit that while other women were marching and commemorating the day, she would not be left out on her sick bed.
The Delegate of Women Empowerment and the Family, Margaret Niger Thomas, assured Nguteh's family that her Delegation is going to ensure that the sick woman lives on.
Nguteh's mother told her visitors that Nguteh is gradually getting better. She thanked the press for making a distress call and to solicit aid from the general public.
She said it was thanks to the call that they have received help from national and international benefactors. She was equally grateful to the physiotherapist who spoke to the press about her daughter, Dr. James Song. She regretted that he lost his job in the process.
The Patient
Symplice Nguteh was kidnapped by highway robbers along the border of Cameroon and Chad and taken to a robbers' camp where she was subjected to constant rape and torture for about six years. Afterwards, the robbers dumped her in a bush when they realised that she was very sick and frail.
A Good Samaritan found her and took her to a truck driver who brought her to Yaounde and was later moved to Muea where she finally joined her family.She was hospitalised at the Buea Provincial Hospital Annex, where her impoverished family could hardly foot her bills. She is now in her Muea family residence and a social worker, Irene Mubat, has been assigned to look after her and report to the Social Affairs Delegation.
Meanwhile, some medics who spoke to The Post on anonymity say it was imprudent for Nguteh to have been discharged from the hospital, given that her condition needs constant medical attention.
They claim that it doesn't suffice for her to be receiving drugs at home without a physiotherapist to put her on constant rehabilitation, given that she is also suffering from paralysis.
Governor Advises Women To Enjoy Wisely
At the 23rd edition of the International Day of the Woman the Southwest Governor, Louis Eyeya Zanga, advised women to celebrate their day wisely.Celebrated under the theme, "Investing In Women and Girls," the Governor emphasised that the womenfolk have a vital role to play in the family and in the development of the nation.
He held that the nation cannot forge ahead when brilliant ideas put forward by women are constantly suppressed by their male counterparts either because of gender inequalities or otherwise.
"Investment in women should be in all domains I, therefore, call on the general community to take part in this challenge," The Governor said.On her part, Niger Thomas said this year's theme is to create awareness on the potentials of women and girls.
"All human beings regardless of their gender should be profitable," she said.She said if the men are succeeding today, it is because the society invests so much in them as compared to women.
As part of activities to commemorate the day, some prices and certificates of recognition were awarded to some meritorious women groups such as the Association for the Improvement of the Status of the Cameroon Woman AISCAW, CEFAM Women and the Buea International Women.
Other activities that added colour and fanfare to the day, was drama, a tug of war performed by Youth and Sports women against the wives of military men, which saw the Youth and Sports women overwhelming their counterpart.
There was also traditional dance display by the Bali Nyonga and Ibo women (Ijere) dance groups.
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