{"id":31300,"date":"2023-06-29t09:09:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-29t09:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/?p=31300"},"modified":"2023-06-29t18:39:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29t18:39:34","slug":"cap-cameroun-plastic-bottles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/cap-cameroun-plastic-bottles\/","title":{"rendered":"from water scarcity to security: how cap cameroun islanders are solving their problems with plastic bottles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

potable water is a treasure and difficult to find in cap cameroun – an island perched in the atlantic ocean precisely in the littoral region of cameroon. it plays host to a population of about ten thousand, mostly fishermen immigrants from nigeria and other neighboring countries. they stay in wooden flood-proof houses to protect them from the high tides experienced daily.<\/p>\n\n\n

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a map showing the islands around the littoral region. (photo by gladys asu ngouana)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

one of these residents is eke cynthia, a cameroonian who was internally displaced by an ongoing secessionist war in the northwest region of the nation. the young mother remains troubled with the sanitary conditions of the island and the consequences for her one-year-old baby girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the poor quality of water and hygiene has made water sources endemic to diseases like cholera and measles. “it is a bit challenging for us here with the nature of the environment and everything. no access to drinking water, lack of medical personnel and poor transport and health facilities. i suffered during my pregnancy and had complications. now i fear for my child who is growing up,\u201d said cynthia. <\/p>\n\n\n

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eke cynthia carrying her baby during an interview with the press. (gladys asu ngouana)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

according to the world health organization<\/a>, “between 29 october 2021 and 30 april 2022, a total of 6652 suspected cases including 134 deaths (case fatality ratio 2%) have been reported\u201c in the country. “we have been at the mercy of international non-governmental organizations like the clinton health access initiative and doctors without borders. if not for their prompt intervention the cholera situation would have been worse,\u201d said pa mbi mathew, a community health worker.<\/p>\n\n\n

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pa mbi mathew, the community health worker poses for a picture with some children in the locality. (gladys asu ngouana)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

cynthia and the rest of the islanders rely on rain barrels and the purchasing of potable water from the mainland, a two hour round trip by canoe. “in order to survive we buy water from tiko and douala in big drums of 200 liters and gallons of 20 liters and even mineral water in plastic bottles. the prices range from 400 fcfa (0.7usd) to 4000 fcfa (7usd) excluding transportation to and fro,” said cynthia. the high importation of mineral water makes matters even worse with plastic bottles littered everywhere which are often washed away into the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n

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cap cameroon islanders in a flooded environment transport njanga (smoked prawns) for sale on the mainland. (gladys asu ngouana)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

just when she thought things would be better in 2020 when the community tried digging a borehole, the project was met with failure. the project yielded only salty water, none of it was fresh enough to drink. so the next option was to make use of what she had, by collecting and conserving water especially during the rainy season. <\/p>\n\n\n

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