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Auteur/autrice : kathyneba

  • Cancer or Tuberculosis: A Cameroonian Woman’s Search for Answers

    By Gladys Asu Ngouana

    In early 2024, Nahbum Beltine – a 38-year-old life coach, esthetician, wife, and mother of three, living in Yaoundé, Cameroon – woke up to a sharp, deep pain around her breast bone.

    Beltine and her husband, Lawrence Nkede assumed rest and hydration would solve what they instinctively taught to be a postpartum defect from child birth.

    But when the pain persisted, as Beltine described,  » it was as if something unseen has called my name » – she sought medical care. That was the start of a multi-year medical nightmare that would test her family’s endurance and expose the fragile, often terrifying realities of medical diagnoses in Cameroon.

    A Diagnostic Maze: The Battle of the Labs

    Determined to find relief, Beltine began a grueling journey through the healthcare system. Her first stop was a local hospital, where a general practitioner suspected gastric distress between her breasts. He prescribed medication, but two weeks passed without relief.

    She sought a second hospital. Doctors ran extensive blood panels, organ scans, and ultrasound echographies. Her blood samples were even shipped to France for specialized testing, returning completely normal. Meanwhile, the pain was moving relentlessly across her body. Her doctor recommended 15 sessions of physical therapy; they yielded nothing.

    « I worked with that doctor for close to two months, » Beltine recalled. « The doctor honestly told me that he could not continue with me, that he was just a general doctor, and it would be better to link me up to a specialist. »

    Yet even under specialist care, clarity remained elusive. As her health deteriorated, Beltine was rushed to a clinic in the Bastos neighborhood of Yaoundé. By then, the pain was so agonizing that doctors put her on high-dose pain management, including tramadol and eventually morphine.

    Soon, physical deformities appeared; her right rib cage began to swell noticeably.
    Without a clear picture, surgeons proposed exploratory surgery, suggesting it might be an abscess or appendicitis. Beltine refused to let them operate blindly.

    « I told the doctor: ‘No, you cannot operate on me for an ‘it could be’. If it is this, you have to be explicit, you have to be specific that it’s this thing, then I will allow you to operate on me.’ »

    Disappointed, Beltine traveled to the Southwest Region of Cameroon, hoping English doctors in hospitals such as Mutengene and the Regional Hospital in Buea could make concrete findings. Advanced CT scans were ordered, but local interpretations remained hesitant, pointing only to a « high probability of cancer. »

    Seeking immediate clarity, her CT scan was digitized and sent to a specialist in India for expert review. Foreign interpretations suggested a stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, with an estimated treatment cost of $30,000 – nearly 19 million CFA francs.

    Beltine returned home shattered. Having maintained strict gynecological follow-ups through all her pregnancies, the news felt like a nightmare.

    « I stood there, came back home, and I was tearing up. I was confused. I cried and cried, » Beltine shared. A friend in the United States opened a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds, while relatives called and prayed, helping her carry a burden too heavy for one family.

    The Biopsy Dilemma: Praying for Tuberculosis

    Before committing to the crippling expense of international chemotherapy, a trusted local doctor urged Beltine to undergo a tissue biopsy in Yaoundé. To be absolutely certain, the extracted tissue was divided and sent to two separate laboratories.

    The results rather created confusion. While one laboratory confirmed primary bone cancer, the other found no trace of cancer at all, advising the medical team to test for tuberculosis.

    Dr. Eke Marie Cyrielle, an internist at the Baptist Hospital who was part of Beltine’s medical team, vividly recalls the complexity of the case.

    “It was, without a doubt, a very challenging diagnostic journey,” Dr. Eke explains. “What made her case particularly difficult was the fact that the investigations were not giving a straightforward answer. Initially, we had tuberculosis as a differential. We tried to do various non-invasive investigations – like gastric aspirate for GeneXpert and sputum – but we had negative results.”

    Because the non-invasive tests failed to show TB, the contradictory biopsy results left the team in a perilous position. Beltine was caught in a psychological limbo, actively hoping she had a severe infectious disease simply because tuberculosis, unlike late-stage metastatic cancer, offered a real chance at a cure.

    “We had two labs, first biopsy, two different results,” Dr. Eke notes. “Sometimes when we are faced with contradictory results, we might tend to give up. But the aim is to keep on searching until you find the right diagnosis. Patients don’t read books and we don’t treat tests; we treat patients.”

    Refusing to give up, Beltine traveled to Dubai, visiting multiple health centers. Extensive imaging revealed that the illness had eaten holes into her bones, leaving her spine so fragile that doctors warned a wrong move could paralyze her permanently. She was placed in an orthopedic lumbar belt and given bi-weekly bone-strengthening injections costing 100,000 CFA francs per dose.

    While in Dubai, a doctor conducting a detailed ultrasound spotted a long-standing nodule near her breast and arm area. The physician strongly advised her to return to Cameroon and get a Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) – a precise needle test targeting the swollen tissue – along with a PET scan. To break the tie, a second tissue sample was taken and sent to a third laboratory.

    Finally, the definitive truth emerged: Tuberculosis Adenitis. It was an extraordinarily rare form of extra-pulmonary TB that aggressively attacked her soft tissue and bones, perfectly mimicking a metastatic tumor on radiological scans.

    The diagnosis brought clarity and an answered prayer. Beltine was immediately referred to an infectious disease specialist and placed on a strict 12-month course of targeted anti-tuberculosis medication.

    Because the drugs had to be taken at 5:00 AM on an empty stomach, Lawrence helped manage a precise daily routine. They paired her medical treatment with a disciplined nutritional plan, incorporating fresh fruits, aubergine sauvage (wild eggplant), black seed oil, soursop leaves, and natural botanical extracts to support her liver and immune system.

    After 12 months, her doctor officially stopped the anti-TB pharmaceutical course to protect her internal organs. Today, the swelling on Beltine’s right rib cage has completely vanished, and the left side continues to clear.

    « After seven months, eight months, the pain subsided, » Beltine shared. « I woke up, I could stretch, I could lift up my hand, I could turn… I said, ‘God, thank you. Thank you for answering my prayers.’ »

    The Emotional and Financial Toll on a Family

    While Beltine’s body fought the disease, her family bore the immense emotional and financial brunt. Her husband, Lawrence Nkede, a sports analyst and communications professional, went through a season that tested his resilience. He had to maintain a composed, energetic public presence for his career while watching his wife’s health deteriorate at home.The family was drained financially by the endless loop of consultations, imaging, and lab tests.

    “The most difficult part is not getting solutions, moving from one hospital to another,” Lawrence reflects.“And you see progressively how she’s dying out and you can’t do anything.”

    For Lawrence, the burden of care giving required a quiet, desperate resilience. “When you are restless in front of your wife, you just have to hide your face and cry in the toilet, come back, and stand firm,” he shares.

    Hope Beyond the Waiting Room

    Today, Beltine is fully recovered. But she refused to walk out of the waiting room and leave her experience behind. During her darkest days confined to her sickbed, she made a covenant with God, promising to use her survival to lift others.

    She has documented her harrowing journey in a newly published book titled Faith in the Waiting Room, designed to offer hope to patients trapped in medical uncertainty. Fulfilling another promise she made while fighting for her life, she has released a song of gratitude titled To Jesus with Love on Youtube. Now, as a final testament to her survival, Beltine is preparing to donate one million CFA francs to a local orphanage.

    Reflecting on their ordeal, both Beltine and Lawrence emphasize the need for patients to advocate for themselves, ask the hard questions, and never accept invasive treatments without definitive tissue proof.

    « When there is life, there is hope, » Beltine said. « I decided to share this story because I believe that someone out there might find hope in my story. They should know that the waiting room is not the end of their story. »

    Beltine’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of patient advocacy, support, and medical persistence. Her survival proves that in the face of contradictory lab results and terrifying diagnoses, questioning the data until it matches the human being in front of the doctor is a practice that saves lives.

  • Why Cancer in Cameroon Wears a Feminine Face

    By Gladys Asu Ngouana

    In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health dialogues in Cameroon were dominated by discussions of infectious diseases. Soon after, a rising wave of femicides captures national headlines, sparking outrage over the physical violence claiming women’s lives. But quietly, away from the trending hashtags and public protests, another relentless killer has been stalking the women of Cameroon, matching – if not exceeding – the devastating toll of maternal mortality.

    Every year, between 20,000 and 30,000 citizens receive a cancer diagnosis. For more than 65 percent of those patients, the disease will be fatal. Meaning close to 7 out of every ten persons living with cancer, dies.

    Breast cancer leads the country’s diagnostic statistics, followed closely by cervical cancer. Together, these two malignancies form the overwhelming bulk of Cameroon’s oncology burden. Dr. Ntumsi Tontu, a Clinical and Radiation Oncologist at the Mbingo Baptist Hospital, observes this reality. He notes that while prostate cancer affects men and colorectal cancers strike both genders, cancer in Cameroon fundamentally wears a feminine face; leaving women to carry the heaviest weight of the country’s rising mortality rates.

    The Crushing Cost of Late Presentation and Survival

    The rising death-toll, incites curiosity as to why many women, especially younger women, lose their lives so quickly? Oncologists point to a deadly breakdown along every step of the health-care journey, starting with how and when the disease is disgnosed.

    In Cameroon, there are no structured national screening guidelines to detect tumors early, whereas they are cheaper and easiest to cure. Instead, public awareness remains fragmented, leaving women to navigate symptoms through guesswork, self-medication, or alternative therapies until it is far too late.

    “What obtains in Cameroon is an opportunistic approach where we wait for cancer day celebrations and commemorations and then organize fragmented screening campaigns,” Dr. Tontu observes. “There is very little continuity afterwards. People tend to have a very poor understanding of the disease, so patients who may be affected spend a lot of time gambling with various forms of treatment, only to present to the hospital at a time when it is too late to do anything about the situation.”

    By the time a woman arrives at a specialized center – such as the medical oncology unit of the Yaoundé General Hospital, the oldest facility of its kind in the nation – the disease is often dangerously advanced. At this stage, survival requires an aggressive combination of surgery, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and radiation.

    Poverty is linked to the lack of routine consultation culture in Cameroon. Dr. Atenguena Okobalemba Etienne, a medical oncologist and head of the unit at the Yaoundé General Hospital, emphasizes how financial hardship cuts treatment short.

    “People are poor; they don’t have enough money to pay for the treatment. This is one of the difficulties we have.”

    He notes that while basic chemotherapy options are available through strictly regulated supply chains, newer targeted therapies and immunotherapies remain completely out of reach for ordinary citizens. “If social security could be extended to cancer patients, this would be a great achievement for our country so that people will be able to receive their treatment free of financial burden for them and for their family.” Dr. Atenguena suggested.

    The government currently shoulders the cost of screening and treatment for several public health conditions, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, haemodialysis, caesarean sections, hepatitis C, and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, under the Universal Health Coverage plan implemented in 2023.

    An Infrastructural Deficit

    Even when a family pools every resource they have to fund care, they hit the harsh reality of an overburdened health-care system. Cameroon faces a severe shortage of both medical specialists and state-of-the-art equipment. Today, roughly 33 oncologists are tasked with managing tens of thousands of cases for a population of nearly 30 million people.

    The shortage is even more critical when it comes to radiation therapy; a core treatment needed to shrink tumors and stop their spread. According to World Health Organization standards, a population the size of Cameroon requires between 44 and 118 radiotherapy machines.

    “Unfortunately, there are only two radiotherapy machines in Cameroon,” Dr. Tontu warns. “And therefore this means more than 95 percent of patients in Cameroon who need radiotherapy can unfortunately not have it.”

    Actions Bringing Change: Taking Cancer Awareness to the Community

    While the gaps in Cameroon’s cancer-care system remain wide, some Cameroonians are taking the fight beyond hospitals and into communities, focusing on one of the challenges in the cancer journey: early detection and access to information.

    For Dr. Welisane Mokwe Nkeng, Founder and President of the Welisane Foundation, the approach is deliberately practical. Every February and October, the foundation brings women, health professionals, and partners together for breast cancer awareness activities, combining education with opportunities for free screening.

    The idea is to remove some of the barriers that keep women from getting checked, particularly the cost and reluctance to seek screening on their own. They also use their social media platforms throughout the year to provide education and screening opportunities.

    “It’s not just a social event where we wear pink. We actually have an opportunity to provide free screening to thousands of women during the Pink October brunch” Dr. Welisane insisted. “For us, the goal is very clear. We want more women to be screened before they develop symptoms, more cases to be detected early, and fewer women to lose their lives simply because they could not afford or access care on time.”

    The need for such interventions becomes clearer at the grassroots level. Artist, entrepreneur and social worker, Yong Mark Ndi, popularly known as Macon, has spent five years campaigning on non-communicable diseases. Through his community work, he says nearly 20,000 women in the Northwest and Southwest Regions have been reached with health information and support.

    Macon’s experience has convinced him that information can determine whether a woman seeks care early or arrives when treatment options are already limited.

    “The first, most important thing that we need to do is to sensitize the communities. One of the things that kills women when they have cancer is the fear of dying and of being abandoned.” Macon explains.

    He says fear and stigma continue to discourage women from speaking about symptoms or seeking medical attention. He has encountered women who interpreted breast lumps as witchcraft while others feared rejection by their husbands. For him, therefore, cancer awareness must include the people surrounding the patient – husbands, children, relatives and the wider community.

    That message has been accompanied by practical referrals. During a sensitization exercise in Miselele, a local community in the South West of Cameroon, where about 500 people gathered, Macon says one woman found the courage to speak about her condition after hearing the discussion. Subsequent follow-up led to eight women from the community being identified with cancer and referred to health facilities, such as the Mbingo Baptist Hospital.

    The experience reinforced his belief that community conversations can uncover cases that would otherwise remain hidden.

    These efforts cannot substitute for national screening policies, specialized personnel or the infrastructure needed to deliver care across Cameroon. But they demonstrate that the response to cancer is not entirely defined by what the health system lacks. If Cameroon is to change the face of cancer and reduce its burden, it must move beyond seasonal awareness campaigns and treat it as the urgent national emergency it truly is.

  • HIV, TB and Malaria: Results of Global Fund Projects Showcased at Inaugural Open Door Day

    HIV, TB and Malaria: Results of Global Fund Projects Showcased at Inaugural Open Door Day

    Cameroon organized its maiden HIV, TB and malaria Open-Door Day in the capital, Yaoundé, on June 18, to showcase Global Fund-sponsored health projects in the country.

    The country’s Public Health Minister, Dr. Manaouda Malachie, representing the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute, chaired the event themed, “Performance and Accountability: The Key Results of the Global Fund’s Financing and the Expertise France Initiative against Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in Cameroon.”

    “We organized this day to amplify sensitization and advocacy. We want to get everyone involved. It will no longer be a single actor fighting against these diseases, but the entire national and international community. We are calling on communities, parliamentarians, institutions, and the private and public sectors to mobilize to fight these diseases.”

    As external funding dwindles, the government of Cameroon is exploring other funding alternatives to continue the HIV/TB and malaria elimination agenda.

    Government members, health organizations, civil society organizations and community health organizations turned up for the event to commend the Global Fund’s over 15 years commitment to saving lives in the country.

    HIV, TB and Malaria Prevalence

    According to the 2024 Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (CamPHIA) 2024/2025 report, 509,766 people in Cameroon are HIV positive. This figure represents a 2.6% prevalence rate.

    The National Malaria Control Programme(NMCP) recorded 2,943,674 malaria cases in 2025, alongside 1,261 deaths, 909 of them children under five. Malaria remains a public health concern in the country, and Cameroon is the 11th country most affected by the disease worldwide.

    Tuberculosis data shows that 38,472 cases, about 132 infections per 100,000 people, were recorded in the country in 2024. The mortality rate linked to TB is 17 per 100,000 people.

    Spin-Offs of the Global Fund’s Grants in Cameroon

    The Global Fund began financing public health programmes to combat HIV, TB and malaria in Cameroon in December 2004. Since then, the international health organization has remained committed to strengthening the health system, helping vulnerable populations and partnering with community leaders to address health problems.

    Saving lives and preventing infections in Cameroon has costed the Global Fund an estimated 750 billions FCFA for HIV, TB and malaria control . This amount is stratified as follows: HIV/AIDS, 418 billion FCFA; tuberculosis, 42 billion FCFA; HIV/TB co-infection, 39 billion FCFA; and malaria, 270 billion FCFA.

    According to the Ministry of Public Health, this investment has enabled the procurement of antiretroviral drugs for about 450,000 persons with living with HIV, provided treatment for close to 30,000 TB patients, and facilitated the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) distributed to about 890,000 homes.

    In addition to this are related projects sponsored by « Expertise France », particularly “Equité Access Palu,” carried out by Impact Santé Afrique, the secretariat for the Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN) and the Civil Society for Malaria Elimination (CS4ME). The “Equité Access Palu,” is aimed at streamlining inequalities in access to malaria prevention and treatment, especially in vulnerable communities.

    “We were able to distribute mosquito nets to orphanages in Cameroon, empower community leaders to eliminate malaria, and break gender barriers regarding the fight against malaria,” Amélie Claire MedjouKeng, gender expert at Impact Santé Afrique, told CRTV Web.

    Another key actor of the national response to HIV, TB and malaria is Expertise France. Expertise France has been instrumental in strengthening health systems and fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria in Cameroon. The regional health adviser at Expertise France, Prof. Christophe Vanhecke, presented a report on his country’s investment in health projects in Cameroon during the inaugural HIV, TB and malaria Open-Door Day in Yaoundé. He stated that Expertise France remains dedicated to financing ongoing health infrastructure and projects in Cameroon. »

    “France is the second historic partner of the Global Fund and spent over 1.6 billion euros for the 7th Global Fund cycle . The current international context no longer permits such investments to be made. France has made a commitment of 660million euros for the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund, and we are still among the big sponsors,” Prof. Christophe Vanhecke, regional health adviser at « Expertise France », said.

    The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria remains one of the principal donors to Cameroon’s national response . For the current funding cycle, the Fund has allocated about 205,149,000 euros, approximately 134 billion FCFA to the country’s national programme.

    Kathy Neba Sina

  • World Blood Donor Day : Cameroon Throws Flowers at 50-Times Donor

    World Blood Donor Day : Cameroon Throws Flowers at 50-Times Donor

    Thirty -Six year old Kombou Tchapnda Ferdinand Martial, had a life time worth of praises showered on him at the World Blood Donor Day event in Yaoundé-Cameroon, on June 14, organized by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).

    The Gold Donor made his first blood donation at 17, a high student at the Government Bilingual High School Etoug Ebe, about 19 years back. That initial act would become a lifetime commitment to saving lives and supporting health systems via blood donation.

    Over the years, Kombou Tchapnda has stayed faithful to this course, churning out over 22.000 milliliters of blood to save the lives of children suffering from anemia, accident victims, cancer patients, pregnant women and other persons, often in need of blood transfusion.

    Helping a Stranger

    Blood donation is still a far-fetched practice for a vast majority of Cameroonians. People are often quick to donate blood when a close relative is in need, than for the common good. This is why blood donation in the country is scaling rather slowly. According to the National Blood Transfusion Service(NBTS), barely 187,224 pints of blood were collected in 2025, representing 47% of the country’s blood needs. This leaves blood demands from hospitals superior to an insufficient supply of blood .

    The avid blood donor understood this reality too soon, and embarked on a mission to reverse the trend of blood shortages. Kombou Tchapnda says he wanted to donate blood for just anyone in need regardless of their personality or family history.

    « I became a blood donor because I wanted to help end family blood donor replacement. I didn’t just want to give blood to someone I knew, but to someone I did not know, » he told CRTV Web.

    After crossing the 50 blood donation threshold, the humanity hero says he has lost count of how many blood donations he has made. His main goal now is raising awareness about the ever-present need for blood donations.

     » I stopped keeping score on how many times I have donated blood. What is important to me now is fighting the mindset that blood is sold in hospitals. There are many things people need to understand. »

    « Blood is not Sold »

    The growing reticence around blood donation in Cameroon is fueled by one of the most preoccupying beliefs that blood is sold in hospitals.

    Hospitals often require two replacement donors, and charge a fee of about 50,000FCFA per pint of blood often from the blood bank. Health experts say one of the replacement donors could be disqualified because of health conditions, while the 50,000FCFA covers operational and biological procedures for the blood collected.

    « We don’t find blood in pharmacies, so it is not sold. Blood banks are filled with donations from people. We can all donate blood once in three months for men and once in four months for women, he said.

    On World Blood Donor Day, he makes a clarion call for everyone to take a commitment to regularly donate blood in order to prevent the loads of problems that come with blood shortages in hospitals.

    He says the operational and biological costs for a pint of blood costs almost a 100,000FCFA, and what the patient pays is only a contribution to the subsidization costs the government is shouldering.

    The 50-times blood donor was among voluntary non-remunerated blood donors in #Cameroon honored on World Blood Day at a ceremony in Yaoundé. In attendance was the Director of Pharmacy, Drugs and Laboratories, Yaba Dana Basil, representing the Minister of Public Health, and Dr. Douba, representing the World Health Organization .

    Kathy Neba Sina

  • World Blood Donor Day : Harmonization of Blood Collection System Among Major Reforms

    Harmonizing the Blood collection system is one of the major reforms the National Blood Transfusion Service is embarking on to address blood collection problems in Cameroon.

    The General Manager of the NBTS, Prof. Dora Mbanya disclosed the information to media professionals on June 1, while chairing the press briefing in prelude to the annual observance slated for June 14 across the globe. 

    Representatives of blood donor associations, civil society organizations, other partners and media professionals were among those to whom the reforms in blood collection were rolled out. 

    The 2026 World Blood Donor Day will hold in Cameroon on the theme « One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives. »

    Highlighting the importance of this year’s  theme, the NTBS General Manager said

    « It is a simple, but profound reality: blood donation is far more than a medical act. It’s an act of humanity. It’s an expression of solidarity between citizens who may never meet, but whose lives become connected through a single gesture, » Prof Mbanya said. 

    En route to a Robust Blood Collection System 

    One of the major reforms being implemented by the NBTS to fulfill its mission of ensuring quality blood is available and accessible in Cameroon is the harmonization of the blood collection system. This is being implemented to improve visibility of available blood resources across the country, anticipate shortages and respond promptly. 

    Cameroon  requires 400,000 pints of blood annually, but currently meets only 47%, representing less than half of its annual blood needs. This has resulted in a recurrent shortage which is fueled by persistent challenges including insufficient national coverage of blood needs, low levels of voluntary unpaid blood donation, regional disparity in access to blood products, limited specialized human resources, and aging equipment and infrastructure in several blood banks . 

    To change the tides in the blood collection outcomes  in Cameroon, the NBTS is banking on two recently completed strategic documents ; the National Policy on Blood Transfusion and a Strategic Plan of the National Blood Transfusion Service for 2026-2030. 

    Added to this is the groundwork for a modern data system and a more structured approach to community mobilization, currently being laid down thanks to the Project to Support the Deployment of the National Blood Transfusion Service of Cameroon (PADOC),  funded by Expertise France and  launched on July 11, 2025. 

    « These documents provide a coherent framework for the development of the sector and define the vision, priorities and actions required to ensure universal access to blood products, » Prof. Mbanya said.

    According to the General Manager of the NBTS, the PADOC project has already ushered in significant progress in training, digitalization, governance and strengthening hospital blood banks. Less than one year after its launch, 660 health professionals have been enrolled in training programs, over 330 successfully trained and 14 blood banks equipped with blood collection equipment. 

    The NTBS  will step up efforts to raise awareness about the urgent need for regular blood donation to ensure access to patients in need during commemorative activities for the World Blood Donor Day. The structure has set out a national plan to  raise awareness among at least 1million people, collect at least 4000 pints of blood, recruit at least 2000 new donors and mobilize 3,500 people for awareness walks , estimated to cost close to 270 millionFCFA. 

    Commemorative activities of the  2026 World Blood Donor Day include a fitness walk on June 6, a webinar dedicated to discussing challenges affecting blood donation in Cameroon, blood donation  and awareness campaigns across the country, and a round table to identify strategies to  spur young people to voluntary donate blood. 

    Kathy Neba Sina 

  • Fact Check: No Scientific Evidence That Veldt Grape Roots Cure Epilepsy, Experts Warn

    Fact Check: No Scientific Evidence That Veldt Grape Roots Cure Epilepsy, Experts Warn


     
    Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide, requires specialized and evidence-based treatment, typically involving anti-seizure medications or, in some cases, surgery.

    According to global health experts, proper diagnosis and long-term medical follow-up are essential for managing the condition effectively.

    However, misleading medical claims have recently gained traction online, suggesting that the roots of veldt grape, scientifically known as Cissus quadrangularis can treat epilepsy. One such claims, circulating widely on social media, has raised concerns among medical professionals. (see more)
     
    Experts Dismiss Viral Claims 

    The CRTV Factchecking Team started verifying these claims, shared on Facebook and other social media platforms.
    We consulted medical experts including a Neurologist who said the claims are not backed by scientific evidence.

    Dr. Leonard Ngarka, neurologist, explains that while some laboratory research has shown potential anticonvulsant properties of Cissus quadrangularis in animal models, this does not translate to proven treatment for humans.

    “Cissus quadrangularis has been shown to have anti-seizure properties especially in rats, but scientifically it has not been proven that it can treat epilepsy in humans. As a neurologist, I advise the population to be cautious about using the roots of this plant for epilepsy, and instead consult a medical doctor for proper follow-up,” he said.
     
    Why the Confusion Persists: Our Findings

    The misconception may stem from the plant’s long-standing use in traditional medicine. Cissus quadrangularis has been widely used for bone healing and other ailments, and some experimental studies in animals have explored its neurological properties.

    According to Dr. Ngarka and other experts, such preliminary findings often spark public interest, but fall far short of the rigorous clinical testing required for approval in modern medicine. He says for any plant-based remedy to be considered safe and effective for human use, it must undergo years of controlled studies to evaluate both its benefits and potential side effects.

    When a substance is part of traditional African pharmacopeia, its integration into conventional medical practice depends on extensive scientific validation.
     
    What Patients Should Do

    Health professionals stress that individuals living with epilepsy—or those seeking treatment for loved ones—should rely on qualified neurologists and evidence-based care.

    At present, there is no clinical or medical proof that the roots of Cissus quadrangularis can treat epilepsy in humans.
    Relying on unverified remedies may delay proper treatment and increase the risk of complications.
     
     
    Natacha Lehman Mbachi

  • Pope Leo XIV Visits Cameroon : Pontiff Advocates for Lasting Peace

    Pope Leo XIV Visits Cameroon : Pontiff Advocates for Lasting Peace

    Pope Leo XIV’s has made a strong case lasting peace in Cameroon, as he embarks on an apostolic visit holding from April 15-18, 2026.

    The Pope made the declaration while speaking at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, shortly after arriving the country.

    Religious and political party leaders, the diplomatic corps, administrative authorities, civil society representatives and other personalities massively turned out for he first contact-session with the Holy Father.

    « The world thirsts for peace. Enough of wars, with their painful toll of death, destruction and exile.This cry is meant as a call to commit to authentic peace, placing it above all partisan interests, » Pope Leo said.

    The Pope empathized that peace will be an antidote to violence if it « takes shape in a personal and institutional way of life, rather than being reduced to a slogan. »

    His speech came after that of President Biya, concurred with the Pope’s yearning for a peaceful Cameroon, and addressed global issues affecting countries beyond the Cameroon’s borders.

     » Your visit comes at a time when countries are experiencing growing economic difficulties,increased misery, and worry tearing hearts apart. The message of peace and comfort which you bear, resonates with a particular feeling in our hearts. This message awakens a feeling of humanity in us……… it’s a feeling of hope, » President Biya said.

    The Head of State added that Cameroon, like other countries is looking forward to a world where « the voice peace will replace the voice of arms, a world where immense resources consecrated to weapons will be used to promote wellbeing of people, » he stated.

    A Clarion Call for Peace

    The Holy Father’s visit marks a significant moment for the country which has been actively pursuing lasting peace despite looming sociopolitical hindrances.

    Pope Leo’s call for peace and social justice ties with the desires of most Cameroonians who say they expect his visit will crown peace-building efforts undertaken by the government with success.

    Most of them consisting of Christians, students from Catholic institutions, ordinary Cameroonians, and even Muslims, turned out in their numbers on April 15 to welcome the Pope who is on an Apostolic visit to the country.

    Major streets and junctions in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde were crowded with people, clad in various outfits representing church groups, or patriotic groups, and all having one goal, welcome the Pope.

    Children, Men and women from all walks of life chanted songs composed in honor of Pope Leo, contemporary songs, and danced to familiar religious choruses as they awaited his arrival.

    Among them was Crescentia Dingah,
    Public Relations Officer of the Yaoundé Metropolitan Diocese. She expressed the desire to see the Pope’s visit significantly contribute to bringing lasting peace in the country, especially in the English speaking regions of the country.

     » We have crisis in most areas. Spiritually people are very worried. We have inflation, and joblessness most especially. We are hoping that the Pope’s arrival will bring sustainable peace and we will move ahead, » she said.

    As the calls for sustainable peace continue to resonate across the country, the Pope will visit Bamenda and Douala where Cameroonians hope he will continue advocating for peace.

    Kathy Neba Sina

  • Diabetes Doesn’t Knock: Lessons from a Hospital in Yaounde

    By Gladys Asu Ngouana

    “Whether you are young or old, go for check-ups. Know your status. The earlier you know, the better. Don’t joke with your health.”

    It was a bright Friday morning at the Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital in Yaounde. The corridors buzzed quietly with footsteps and murmurs as patients waited their turn for consultations. In one of the consulting rooms, Dr. Ngole Neri was attending to people living with diabetes. Some came for routine check-ups, others for urgent advice.

    That is where I met Mbangoko Barnabas Amengwoh, a 60-year-old businessman, husband, and father of six – who had come in for his follow-up. He looked calm, but as he spoke, I could sense the weight of his journey.

    “I was unconscious the day I discovered I had diabetes. My sugar level was 368. I woke up to doctors explaining I had type 2 diabetes.”

    For more than ten years, Barnabas had already been managing hypertension. Diabetes came as a second blow – one that forced him to rethink everything about his lifestyle.

    Diabetes in Cameroon: A Growing Silent Epidemic

    Like many people, Barbabas had ignored the subtle signs: constant thirst, frequent urination, high temperatures, weakness, even sexual dysfunction. “I thought it was just stress and age,” he admitted.

    But his body had been trying to whisper a warning all along. Unfortunately, he only listened when it shouted.

    Dr. Neri explains this is all too common.

    “Diabetes is a growing health concern in Cameroon. Between 6–9% of adults aged 20–79 live with it. To simplify, that’s about 2 out of every 30 adults. And if nothing is done to address the risk factors, this number could double this 2025.” He revealed.Even more alarming is the connection between diabetes and hypertension in Cameroon.

    “Diabetes is closely linked with hypertension. More than 50% of people living with type 2 diabetes also have hypertension, since both share the same risk factors.” Added Dr. Neri.

    Living with Diabetes and Hypertension: A Patient’s Experience

    Since that emergency room scare in April 2025, Barnabas’ life has changed completely. His diet is now carefully curated; no beer, no juice, no sweet things, no heavy plates of fufu and beans. Instead, his meals are filled with vegetables, apples and whole grains.

    It has not been easy.

    “The hardest part is food,” he confessed. “At home, my wife now makes separate meals for me and the children. That means a double budget. The drugs are affordable, but keeping up with the right diet is expensive.

    ”Despite the struggles, he is determined to follow the doctor’s advice: “My mind is on the goal: to stay alive and healthy. Each time I remember the emergency room, I remind myself why I must keep going.”

    What Causes Diabetes in Cameroon? Lifestyle and Diet Risks

    Dr. Neri highlights that type 2 diabetes – which makes up 90% of cases in Cameroon is strongly influenced by lifestyle.

    “We’ve moved from traditional diets rich in vegetables and natural foods to a westernized diet full of processed items. At the same time, physical activity has reduced. Farming and manual labor have been replaced by office jobs. These changes have fueled obesity, which is a major risk factor for diabetes.”

    He adds that people most at risk include those with a family history of diabetes, adults over 40 years old, and people who are overweight or physically inactive.

    He went further, warning that early signs of diabetes often go unnoticed:

    • Constant thirst
    • Frequent urination (day and night)
    • Unexplained hunger
    • Weakness and fatigue
    • Wounds that heal slowly
    • Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
    • Erectile dysfunction in men

    “By the time many patients come in, complications like kidney damage, nerve pain, or vision problems have already started,” he explained.

    How to Prevent Diabetes and Hypertension

    The good news is that diabetes and hypertension can be prevented and managed. According to Dr. Neri, here are three simple steps every Cameroonian can take today:

    1. Check your blood sugar regularly – at least twice a year if you’re at risk, more if you have symptoms.
    2. Adopt a healthy diet – eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Cut down on processed foods, sugary drinks, and excess oil.
    3. Exercise regularly – 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as walking, cycling, swimming, or football.

    “A healthy lifestyle and regular screening are the most powerful tools to fight diabetes and hypertension in Cameroon,” he said.

    For Barnabas, awareness is everything. “I didn’t know anything about diabetes before my diagnosis,” he admits. Today, he shares his story to inspire others not to wait until it’s too late.

    “Whether you are young or old, go for check-ups. Know your status. The earlier you know, the better. Don’t joke with your health.”

    Early Detection of Diabetes Saves Lives

    That Friday morning at Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital reminded me of something simple yet profound: diabetes does not knock before it enters your life. It creeps in silently, sometimes hidden behind thirst, fatigue, or stress.

    But the message from both Dr. Ngole Neri and Barnabas Mbangoko is that awareness, prevention, and early detection of diabetes and hypertension can save lives.

    A blood sugar test today could be the difference between a manageable condition and a life-threatening crisis tomorrow.

  • Africa Approves First Continental Medicines to Tackle Delays, Boost Access 

     By Gladys Asu Ngouana

    Africa has taken a bold step to improve access to safe and effective medicines by approving and listing five human medicinal products through a new continental process.

    For years, Africa has battled a fragmented system for medicine regulation – slowing down access to essential treatments and giving room for counterfeit drugs to thrive. That could finally be changing. The African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (AMRH) Initiative, under the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), has approved five human medicinal products through a new continental drug evaluation process – a first for the continent.

    The products approved through this new listing process include vaccines and cancer treatments. By working together, African regulators hope to break down the delays and inefficiencies caused by working in isolation.

    « This is an important milestone for the continent, » highlighted Chimwemwe Chamdimba, Head of the AMRH Programme, during a virtual press conference. « It’s the first-ever listing of human medicinal products at the continental level. »

    The launch of this continental listing of medicines, backed by the experience of the European Medicines Agency, matters. It streamlines the drug approval process, reduces duplication across national systems, and strengthens public health systems in Africa.

    The first five products listed include:

    • Easy Six Vaccine – a combination vaccine for children.
    • Gardasil 9 (Prefilled Syringe & Vial) – vaccines to prevent HPV infections.
    • Bavencio – a cancer treatment.
    • Keytruda – another advanced cancer medicine.

    The pilot process that led to these approvals started in November 2023 and was carried out by two technical committees: the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMP-TC) and the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP-TC).

    They reviewed dossiers submitted by manufacturers, conducted thorough scientific evaluations, and inspected production sites to ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices.

    A Tool for Transparency and Trust

    As part of this new system, AMRH introduced a digital tool called the Green Book, which serves as a registry of the medicines approved at the continental level.

    The book includes the product name, composition, approval date, and expiration of listing. It’s publicly available online and will be updated regularly.

    «The Green Book is a way to promote transparency, » explained Aude Perine Minyem Ngombi, Chair of AMRH’s Evaluation of Medicinal Products Technical Committee (EMP-TC). « It helps the public and stakeholders know what products have been approved and how they were evaluated. »

    Alongside the Green Book, AMRH also released public inspection and assessment reports to explain how decisions were made. This added layer of transparency is expected to build public trust and encourage more countries to participate.

    Building Toward the African Medicines Agency

    This historic milestone also aligns with the long-term goal of establishing the African Medicines Agency (AMA) – a specialized AU body created to oversee medicine regulation across the continent. The listing process piloted by AMRH is seen as a test run for AMA’s future operations.

    « This pilot paves the way for the African Medicines Agency’s work, » responded Chamdimba. « It sets up the systems and processes that AMA will pick up and run with. »

    The AMA, once fully operational, will not only support national regulators but also help member states approve complex medical products using scientific and reliable methods. The idea is to encourage mutual trust, shared responsibility, and more predictable market access.

    What It Means for Africa’s Health and Economy

    Health experts across Africa have praised the milestone for its potential to improve health outcomes and reduce economic losses linked to poor medicine access.

    « This is a monumental achievement,” explained John Paul Omollo Odhiambo, a Global Health Specialist based in Kenya. “It guarantees improved health outcomes and allows individuals to return to their productive lives sooner. »

    He highlighted how the harmonized system reduces costs for pharmaceutical companies by eliminating duplication, which in turn can lower medicine prices. He also emphasized the benefit of fighting substandard and falsified medicines, a major health threat in Africa.

    « By reinforcing regulatory harmonization, we can ensure the availability of high-quality medicines, inspire innovation, and fortify our fight against fake drugs, » Omollo said.

    He added that the process would attract investment into Africa’s growing pharmaceutical sector, creating jobs and promoting local manufacturing.

    A Big Win For Cameroon’s Fight against Fake Drugs

    For countries like Cameroon, the new listing process presents a real opportunity to strengthen their healthcare systems and fight the long-standing problem of counterfeit drugs.

    « Cameroon has faced delays in drug approvals and struggles with fake medicines, » said Dr. Cynthia Adanze Nge, a Cameroonian Public Health Expert. « This new system offers faster access to safe treatments. »

    According to Dr. Adanze, Cameroon can now rely on the AU-approved medicines list to bring treatments to market more quickly. The country’s drug testing lab, LANACOME, will also benefit from alignment with the African Medicines Agency’s standards.

    « Cameroon can now trace and verify drugs more easily using digital tools like QR codes, » she added. « This will make it harder for fake medicines to circulate. »

    To ensure this listing system truly benefits patients, both experts say African governments must act quickly and decisively. Omollo laid out several critical steps:

    • Adopt Reliance Principles: Allow regulators to trust one another’s decisions.
    • Align Legal Frameworks: Update laws to match AU guidelines.
    • Train Regulatory Staff: Build human capital to handle technical evaluations.
    • Promote Mutual Trust: Conduct joint reviews and encourage information sharing.
    • Standardize Evaluations: Use common procedures to improve consistency.

    Dr. Adanze added that Cameroon should integrate the AU medicines list into its national drug registry and educate the public on how to identify safe medicines.

    « With stronger policies, better labs, and public awareness, Cameroon can turn this opportunity into lasting protection for its citizens, » she indicated.

    Africa’s first continental approval of human medicinal products is more than a health win; it is a strategic move toward equity, transparency, and innovation. As this regulatory framework grows, patients can look forward to safer and faster access to life-saving treatments.

    « This is about building the Africa we want, » Chamdimba expressed. « We are driving economic growth and improving public health for our population. »