Security, health, water, electricity and transportation are key areas of concern for the Agric show local organisation committee.

The local organisation committee of the Ebolowa Agro-pastoral Show seems to be quite aware of the urgency in putting up social structures to lubricate the smooth functioning of the December Agro-pastoral Show. All the stakeholders represented in the committee, most of them regional delegates, have put up action plans to be executed before the first week of December, having as common denominator; confidence. As at last week, all project coordinators and supervisors declared execution was above 60 per cent.

Transportation

The South Delegation of Transport is working out a plan for the town to ease movement. Horizontal and vertical signs have been prepared and will soon be installed. In collaboration with other departments, notably, the security officials, the Delegate…will design how vehicles will move during the Agric show. Special arrangements have been made for taxi cabs that have virtually disappeared from the town to resume activity, at least for the period of exhibition. In order to step down criminality, Ebolowa transport authorities have ordered that all motorbikes be painted and registered at the city council. A census of all drivers and motorbike riders has been conducted and their names registered at the transport office. Technicians hired to build the Aerodrome for helicopter landing are expected to continue work next week. Meantime, the tar mark for landing is almost completed.

Public Health

Existing health structures are being refurbished as more government assistance is awaited. Dr. Doaw Menkanda Jean Blaise, the Regional Delegate of Public Health for the South, was quite confident government will honour its engagement. A few days later, the Minister of Public Health visited the area to ensure the effective execution of projects that will make the event health hitch-free.

The health facilities expected to galvanise the agric show include the Enounga Central Hospital with 240 beds, the FCFA 50 million health centre to be constructed at the agric village, building of a high standing hospital and reinforcement of equipment including the ambulance. “Concretely, we are a bit late, but the project will be completed on time”, Doaw Menkanda said. Work on the Emergency as well as the High Standing hospitals were yet to start at the time CT arrived.

That notwithstanding, health authorities assured that measures have been taken to ensure health coverage. Over 50 additional doctors are awaited in Ebolowa. The event will witness the influx of people from all walks of life coming from the ten regions of the country including cholera-infested ones. This entails taking additional measures to treat as a matter of emergency any case identified during the show.

 Water, Electricity Supply

The zeal of the people of Ebolowa and its environs is for potable water and electricity to be supplied in quantum before, during and after the agro-pastoral show. The contracting companies for connecting water and electricity are busy digging trenches and pinning electricity poles along the five-kilometre road leading to the agric village. However, they are finding it difficult to execute their work schedule due to lack of plan of network of electricity installation and also because the laying of pipes for instance depend on the road construction company.

That said, the situation of water catchment and treatment at the Mvila site is deplorable, the Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Michael Tomdio was informed

Public Security

Measures are being taken to ensure security in the town before, during and after the agric show. According to police sources in Ebolowa, there exist a plan of action which emphasizes criminal-prone areas in town. Many police operations will be carried out to scare or push the criminals out of action prior to the commencement of the agric show.

Security authorities suspect criminals will flow into town in big numbers knowing Ebolowa has been enriched with close to 20,000 more people. Security, of course, is not only fighting against criminality. Against this backdrop, the police force is stepping the organisation of traffic flow considering that movement in town will be extremely dense. In this light, the number of police at hand in Ebolowa will have to be reinforced. At least two police posts will be put at the agric village and at least one each in other important sites such as aerodrome, fish pond and residential areas, in addition to the mobile team, police sources told CT.

LUKONG Pius NYUYLIME