Cameroon increases access to potable water
A convention was signed between the Ministry of Water and Energy Resources and an Indian base company on December 11th, 2018 in Yaounde to construct water supply systems in some 20 villages.
Cynthia EFOPA
Access to water or better still quality drinking water is still a severe challenge in some urban and remote areas in Cameroon. It is no news to hear that some inhabitants of villages walk several kilometers to fetch potable water. In some areas, the population have resorted to fetching potable water from streams whose quality is highly left to be desired. This often leads to the outbreak of water borne diseases like cholera. Cognizant of this fact, President Paul Biya during his inaugural address on November 6th, 2018 did not fail to make mention of improving the social wellbeing of Cameroonians. He voiced that he will not relent his efforts to ensure all Cameroonians have access to quality and quantity potable water.
It is within this framework that the Cameroon Ministry of Energy and Water Resources signed a convention with an Indian base enterprise on December 11th, 2018 in Yaounde. According to the terms of the convention that was signed on behalf of the Cameroon government by the Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, the Indian company will conceptualize, rehabilitate and construct water supply systems in some twenty localities in Cameroon.
The project that has been financed by the Cameroon Government to the tune of thirty-four billion will be carried out in the localities of Ngoumou, Bafia, Bokito, Ombessa, Mbandjock, Akonolinga and Nanga-Eboko all in the Center Region. In the Littoral, Manjo and Diboumbari. Bana, Bansoa and Foumban for the West Region, Mamfe and Kumba for the South West Region, Bambui, Bambili, Nkambe, Bali, Fundong for the North West Region and the inhabitants of Ebolowa for the South Region.
It is hoped that this project will go a long way to solve the problem of acute water scarcity witnessed in these villages, a situation that has been made worst by the constant increase in population. The Indian base enterprise will have eighteen months to complete the project. Minister Eloundou did not forget to call on the attention of the enterprise on the necessity to ensure that quality construction work is done on the field.
Government has embarked on a series of such projects so as to better the livelihood of Cameroonians. In the Northern Regions, the construction of some 2412 boreholes has been earmarked while the Cameroon Water Utilities Company on her part is leaving no stone unturned to increase the capacity of its water production, treatment and storage so that by 2020, more than 75 percent of the Cameroonians will have access to the precious liquor.
