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Cameroon Peace Corps Volunteer Renée Brooken, Abong-Mbang 1997-2000 Health
Cameroon Peace Corps Volunteer Renée Brooken, Abong-Mbang 1997-2000 Health
Renée Brooken, Abong-Mbang 1997-2000
Health
rmbrooken@mailcity.com
Edward Winant, Abong-Mbang 1999-2001
Water/Sanitation
ed_winant@yahoo.com
Location
Getting There
Contacts
Lodging
Health
Schools
Population
Languages
Religions
Climate and Landscape
Electricity
Cuisine
PEOPLE
FACILITIES
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LOCATION: This village of 15,000-20,000 inhabitants is located in the east province of Cameroon. It is located on the major road linking the capital city of Yaounde to the province capital of Bertoua.
GETTING THERE: Abong-Mbang is 107 km from the nearest town, and it takes anywhere from 3 to 12 hours to get there. You can expect the bush taxi to cost about 1500 cfa. To get there from Yaoundé, either Alliance (quatier Mvan) or Unite Voyage (quatier Nkoldonga? it just moved there) will take you right out National Route 10 to Abong-Mbang. Price is 3000 francs and it takes 4 hours or longer. Depends on the condition of the dirt road after Ayos. Sokamalam, Doume and Bertoua are other proximate villages.
CONTACTS: MBANE Mbane Emmanuel-Departmental Delegate for Public Investment, my old boss. He knows everyone, is very friendly and likes to help out.
LODGING: Patata, right near the old gare
HEALTH: District hospital in town and Nkol Mvan Missionary hospital 6 km on the road to Yaounde. There was running water, at least while the power was on.
SCHOOLS: Lycee Bilanque
POPULATION: 15,000
LANGUAGES: Makaa
RELIGIONS: Christian, split between Catholic and Protestant
CLIMATE AND LANDSCAPE: rainforest, hot and wet or hot and dry, swampy
ELECTRICITY: yes, it was cut every day at 1830 till Midnight.
CUISINE: Lots of great bushmeat. Porcipine was the local favorite.
PEOPLE: The dominate tribe is Makaa, but because of its location on a major commerce route, people of the Bamilike, Housa, Foulani, and Ewondo tribes reside here as well. Aside from encountering a wide range of host country nationals with differing educational and social backgrounds, Abong-Mbang is home to numerous expatriates communities--missionaries, priests, nuns, loggers and of course pcv's to name a few.
FACILITIES: There is a pretty decent infrastructure intact here. There are two major hospitals: Nkol-Mvlon, which is funded by the Presbyterian Chruch, and then there is the District Hospital of Abong-Mbang. The latter has more up to date facilities, equipment, and a sprinkling of expat care givers. Also, one can find a family planning center and a center for women here. There are two high schools, three middle schools, and a handful of elementary schools.