Penja, Loum: Population hail Dangote Cement’s for enhancing local dev’t, improving livelihoods.

They made the remark Wednesday, January 31. This was during a ceremony to handover a water catchment built in the locality of Benakale in Loum.

The ceremony also witnessed the handing over of the rehabilitated emergency ward of the Integrated Health Centre in Penja. 

This was done with financial support of Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc, subsidiary of Africa’s largest conglomerate, Dangote Group. 

Many of the beneficiary population said benefits from both projects in their daily lives are unrivaled. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the activity, the Director of Public Relations, His Royal Highness Chief Ness Ruben Essombey Ndambwe, who represented the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Dangote Cement Cameroon, thanked the Mayor of Loum Council, Kuate Wambo Guy, for easing operations at the grassroots.

Staying true to the mission of the company, Chief Ness Essombey said, Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc is out to transform Africa and help people build with peace of mind. 

By extending their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, to the Moungo Division, the Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc official, said they have been welcomed with open arms by the population.

He said the company had intended to build a bore hole but that of the catchment was identified as suitable solution to the issues of water shortage in the Loum neighborhood.

Penja health centre rehabilitated

Elsewhere in Penja, the officials of Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc also handed the rehabilitated Penja Integrated Health Centre. 

The project comprised; building a fence round the health centre, painting the emergency word, replacing its wooden doors and windows with modern glasses.

The Public Relations specialist said, the contribution will help health workers do their job well and enhance the quality of service rendered to the population

Meanwhile, the Dangote Cement Cameroon official called on the population to work in collaboration with the mayor to ensure quality management of the catchment as well as the hospital

"It is good for them to know that we are coming from bigger cities where water scarcity is still a huge issue. Here they have the luxury of a natural source which has been transformed to clean, drinkable water. So they have to take care of it. Keep it clean and ensure it last long for the success of one project will mean more to come," Chief Ness Ruben Essombey said 

The construction of the catchment, it was revealed, cost 8 million FCFA. The same amount is said to have been spent to renovate the integrated health centre.

Mayor hails Dangote Cement Cameroon 

The Mayor of Loum Council, Kuate Wambo Guy, thanked the cement company for assisting the population of his municipality.

“Water is life and the source of every existence. We had begged for support from Dangote Cement Plc to help the population have good water," Mayor Wambo said.

Mayor Kuate Wambo, called on the population to make good use of the facility and denounce any attempt to vandalise the health centre or water catchment.

He said local authorities have sensitised the population to keep the water catchment clean. They also said a committee has been put in place to maintain the standard of the water catchment.

Praises galore for Dangote Cement Cameroon 

A resident of Loum, Kechem Lyzette, told reporters that, the stream which has now been constructed into a catchment has given people trust in the quality of water from the source.

She called that, the population of the area had difficulty fetching water directly from the ground. With the work done by Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc, Kechem said life has become easier for the inhabitants around the area.

Another local, Mamoun Pierre, noted that the level of malaria infection in their neighbourhood has dropped considerably. Before the intervention of Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc, Mamoun said the areas was a breeding grown for mosquitoes.

Since the project was realised, the level illnesses amongst children, Mamoum said, has reduced sharply. He thanked the mayor of Loum as well as Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc for assisting them.

On her part, Timemi Sylvie, Chief of Centre at Penja Integrated Health Centre, expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc officials for giving the facility a facelift.

Dangote Cement not new to community works

It is not the first time Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc is supporting projects in Loum. The company had before now constructed two classrooms at the Government School, GS, Loum to boost learning among pupils.

But like Oliver Twist, the people of Loum asked for more and Dangote Cement Cameroon Plc came to their rescue.