GCE Board Loses 2 Workers In 3 Days

By Pegue Manga

Workers and authorities of the Cameroon GCE Board, Buea, are in a fix following the death of two of the their colleagues in three days.The two, Michael Anagho and Mrs. Daureen Babila nee Imo, died on April 17 and 19, respectively. Anagho, who worked in the printing department of the Board, died in Bamenda allegedly of hepatitis.

Daureen Babila, who worked in the computer service of the Board, died at the Buea District Hospital after she collapsed in her Bunduma residence in the night of April 18.

Her second child, Valery Dinga Babila, told The Post that her mother had been diagnosed of diabetes a week earlier.

Explaining the circumstances in which his mother died, Dinga said he was jolted out his sleep by wailings from his younger sisters.

"When I opened my door I found my mother lying near the toilet in a mess. It would seem she had tried to open the toilet door. Her face looked fearsome. I was indeed so afraid," Dinga said.

He said neighbours assisted them in rushing her to the hospital, where the doctor who attended to her later pronounced her dead.
On his part, late Michael Anagho's younger brother, Valery Anagho, told The Post in Buea that his brother went to Bafoussam to consult with an expert. His situation is said to have deteriorated after he consulted the doctor.

"We later got word on April 17 that he had died in Bamenda. We are awe-struck as Michael was like the breadwinner of the family," Valery Anagho said. He added that Michael was the tenth out of a family of 15 to have died.

Born in January 1964, Michael started working at the GCE Board in 1998. A colleague told The Post he first worked in the Board's regional office in Yaounde before he was transferred to Buea.

Quiet and unassuming, Michael is described as devoted and hardworking. He will be buried on Friday, April 22, in his village in Njikwa Subdivision.Late Daureen, who was born on June 6, 1961, had worked with the GCE Board since 1994.

A Nigerian, Mrs. Daureen Babila was a mother of four children. Dinga told The Post that, "She was our everything. This is a big loss especially to my sister. But what can we do, she is gone," he sobbed.

Mrs. Babila's corpse is being kept at the Buea District Hospital mortuary while the funeral programme is yet to be made public.
These bring to 15 the number of workers who have been snatched by the cold hands of death since the creation of the GCE Board in 1993.
A source at the Board blamed the numerous deaths to the lack of a good healthcare policy of the Board.

He said the working conditions of employees at the Board are deplorable as opposed to staffers on secondment."This situation has prompted some 27 workers to either resign or abscond since the inception of the Board," the source said.

Names Of Workers Who Have Died
1) Fule Bessingi
2)  Abraham Gabsa
3)  Bridget Mpase
4) Comfort Mbatenge
5) Emmanuel Tafon
6) Thomas Akumbo
7) Peter Abanda
8)  Roy Matute
9) Shey Lukong
10)  Alfred Ndi
11) Forbin
12) Vivian Atang
13) Catherine Akwa
14)  Michael Anagho
15) Daureen Babila

Comments

[Godwin Abaache Ngonu]

Though it holds that because of the fix cameroonians find themselves in,everything is bound to carry a political undertone,there is need to raise an eyebrow over these `series` because I`ve wanted to even see the name of one big-gun of the G C E Board`s name in the list, but....... Ni Charly,can you tell me how we no go say`Tafon Emma them work Mbong,Akoko,Oma them chop`.May the souls of Emma and his colleagues rest in the Lord.While the UPS there continue to enjoy.Life is just endless.

[Ambe]

It should be no suprise, because the power struggle of our time has taken a different turn. People assende executive posts to stay, not knowning that the way forward for a struggling man is very offensive. Let life take its course and let the unjust be punished

[asong leonard anu]

really z

[Bishop Dogo]

Number 10 on that list is my brother who happened to have been the best friend I ever had. I was living with him in Buea and I went to Nkambe for summer holidays and he fell sick in my absence. He died December 10th 2004 and up till now, I'm still feeling the vacuum he left in my heart and so are my siblings and parents. I'm their last born, he was the second.

[Bishop Dogo]

Another guy from there died in 2015 as well, middle age man. I really wonder where they are all going. I thinl my brother and many, if not all of these people could still be alive if they weren't working there.