Forthcoming Regional Elections: Electors Assured Of Reinforced Anti-COVID-19 Measures At Polling Stations

By Doh Bertrand Nua

MINAT boss, Director of Elections at ELECAM and MINSANTE representative evaluate barrier measures ahead of polls

Delegates to the first-ever Regional Elections, election observers, polling agents, the national and the international committee has been reassured of adequate measures taken to ensure the strict respect of anti-COVID-19 barrier measures during the voting exercise come Sunday 6 December 2020. 

 Officials evaluate barrier measures ahead of polls

This was during an evaluation meeting chaired by the Minister of Territorial Administration (MINAT), government’s agent to the electoral process Friday 4 December 2020 in Yaounde. The meeting brought together the Director of Elections at ELECAM and Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Public Health. 

MINAT boss, Atanga Nji Paul, in his remarks stated that it was imperative for them to meet and evaluate the road covered in terms of implementing COVID-19 preventive measures nationwide as the elections is holding at a time the health pandemic is still ravaging across the country and the world at large. 

He disclosed that government through the instructions of President Paul Biya has put in place an effective system to help prevent the spread of the virus as voters go to the polls. 

Dr. Erik Essousse, Director of Elections at ELECAM, used the meeting to hail support the organ has received from government to ensure her reinforce the fight against the health crisis during the electoral process. 

He disclosed special health kits including thermoflashes, hydro alcoholic gel, and facemask among others have been distributed to all the polling stations. 

He said ELECAM has made it possible for all voters, commission members and even observers to be handed a facemask at the entrance to the polling stations, given hydro alcoholic gel to help wash their hands before embarking in the process. 

Essousse everybody will be tested before accessing the polling station in order to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. 

Dr Etoundi Alain Mballa who sat in for the Minister disclosed that the ministry has taken all measures to accompany ELECAM and MINAT in ensuring a hitch free holding of the polls with reinforce barrier measures.

He disclosed that they have been in place special teams at all Health Districts to handle any suspected or detected cases in the course of the screenings that will done at the polling stations on voting day. 

He added that the ministry will also reinforce the ongoing tracking, testing and treating mechanism so as to limit the risk of having new cases as a result of the elections.