The former Minister of Public Health between 1997 and 2000 who also moonlighted as Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Africa, Professor Gottlieb Lobe Monekosso is no more. He died in the early hours of Sunday, November 19, 2017 at the General Hospital in Douala after a long illness at the age of 84 years.

The emblematic figure of medicine in Africa was appointed by President Paul Biya, Minister of Public Health in the government of 07 December 1997 and was removed from office three years later, precisely during the reshuffle of March 18, 2000.

He received several awards both at home and beyond.  Five years ago in Yaoundé at the fiftieth anniversary of the WHO, the British Ambassador presented to Professor Monekosso, on behalf of the Queen of England, the Queen Elizabeth II medal in recognition of his works in the field of public health.

By Sama Ernest with files from CIN

The World Health Organization (WHO) will be reconsidering a decision to name Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe “a goodwill ambassador” after facing criticism.

The director-general of the United Nations’ health agency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Twitter on Saturday that he understood the “concerns” and that he was “rethinking.”

“I’m listening. I hear your concerns. Rethinking the approach in light of WHO values. I will issue a statement as soon as possible,” Tedros said.

Tedros had this week asked Zimbabwe’s 93-year-old president to serve in the role to help tackle non-communicable diseases like heart attacks, strokes, and asthma across Africa.

In announcing the appointment in Uruguay’s capital this week, Tedros had praised Zimbabwe as “a country that places universal health coverage and health promotion at the center of its policies to provide health care to all.”

The decision, however, sparked outrage among key WHO member states — the United States in particular — and other critics of Mugabe’s rule.

“This appointment clearly contradicts the United Nations ideals of respect for human rights and human dignity,” the US State Department said.

Britain, for its part, had said naming Mugabe had been “surprising and disappointing, particularly in light of the current US and EU sanctions against him.”

“We have registered our concerns with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,” a Foreign Office statement read.

Canada, too, objected, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying, “It is absolutely unacceptable and inconceivable this individual would have a role as a goodwill ambassador for any organization, much less the World Health Organization.”

The Canadian Foreign Ministry later called for the appointment to be “rescinded without delay.” Human rights activist and lawyer Doug Coltart also mocked the decision by saying on Twitter that a “man who flies to Singapore for treatment because he has destroyed Zimbabwe’s health sector is WHO’s goodwill ambassador,” referring to Mugabe.

Other critics have argued that Zimbabwe’s health care system had collapsed under Mugabe’s rule. UN agencies often name high-profile personalities as goodwill ambassadors to draw attention and highlight their tasks in the eyes of the global community and to garner support for the cause.

Tedros, who is a former Ethiopian health minister, took charge of WHO in July this year. He is the first African to lead the UN agency.

Source: Presstv

The leader of the outlawed Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium  has been visiting injured Southern Cameroons activists in the various medical facilities in the territory. Camereoon Concord News understands Barrister Agbor Balla was at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Mission Hospital, Njinikom in the Bamenda State and was reportedly motivated by the dedication of the doctors, nurses and Reverend Sisters handling the difficult situation.

Our Chief Correspondent in Bamenda hinted that Balla and his entourage were visibly touched by the case of Muhmara Njong, a 24 year old young man from Ndop, who was never part of the October 1 celebrations but got caught, brutalized and shot in the leg by troops loyal to the Yaounde regime. He was attending a family funeral before the army stormed the venue. Muhmara Njong told the leader of the Consortium that the soldiers got into their vehicle and drove on his bleeding leg.

The nurses revealed to the Agbor Balla delegation that, his surgery lasted several hours with the doctors removing veins from his left leg just to save the right leg. Barrister Agbor Balla told the wounded and medical staff that Anglophones must continue to unite and show strength and solidarity even in the face of pain and weakness, because together we are stronger and all our wounded brothers and sisters will return stronger.

By Sama Ernest, CCN