Cheating wives jittery as DNA paternity testing centres increase nationwide.

In most of these cases, it has turned out that the wives had not only cheated on the men but bringing in another man or other men’s biological children into their matrimonial home. However, with the recent increase in DNA paternity testing centres nationwide, some of these cheating wives have been jittery as their covers will be blown and their cheating escapades exposed. 

It should be recalled that in 2015, one of the earliest DNA testing centres went operational at the University of Buea. 

Prof Fidelis Cho-Ngwa, then Head of UB’s Biotechnology Unit and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, had said in 2015 that: “The DNA test is used to solve so many problems. Generally, we use it only when there is a problem, given that it is also a test that could stir trouble in the family. Paternity testing is first (two men for instance fighting over a child or a father refusing that a child is not his), where the DNA test will pick out the father very neatly. Maternity testing is second (two women struggling know who owns the child or the case of a stolen baby). DNA will point out the right mother. DNA is also necessary in forensics, (criminology) where somebody commits a crime and becomes a suspect that could be proven innocent or guilty”.

Since then, many other DNA paternity testing centres have been created around the country in many towns such as Yaounde, Douala, Bamenda, Bafoussam, among others. 

While some are in State-owned hospitals, other private health facilities are also running such tests. 

Medics say now with about 360,000 FCFA, a doubting father can know if the children his wife is presenting as his are truly his biological children.

While many men have been trooping to these centres to ascertain the true paternity of children put to birth by their wives, the outcomes have been joy for some and nightmare for others. Some have left the centres with results that have brought them solace that the children are biologically theirs. 

On the other hand, others have left weeping as the dark sides of their wife’s cheating was exposed by the DNA test results.

DNA test results frustrates relocation to US

A case of nightmare after DNA paternity test was that of a man who lived in Bamenda with his wife and four children. 

The man is said to have played the American DV Lottery with his wife and children. When the man won and had to process his documents for him and his family to travel to the US, there was a clause that a DNA test had to be done on the children to determine that they were his biological children.

But when the results were out, to the man’s greatest shock and dismay, it turned out that only two of the four children were biologically his!

He is said to have, in fury, taken the two who are his children and abandoned his wife with the other children.

The man’s file at the US embassy is said to have ended up being disqualified because the embassy officials thought he was trying to fraudulently take children to America who were not his.

Meanwhile, information, which we could not independently verify, recently circulated on social media that a onetime Cameroonian football star, had file for divorce from his wife, after it emerged that two of the children (twins) in their home, were not biologically his.

International stars as victims

Some international stars have not been left out in this hullabaloo.

The most recent is reportedly international tennis icon, Roger Federer, who was reportedly left devastated by recent DNA test results that uncovered that Myla and Charlene, long believed to be his biological daughters, are not genetically related to him.

The news sent shockwaves through the tennis world and left Federer and his family grappling with profound emotions.

The DNA results, which reportedly came as a complete surprise to Federer and his family, raised numerous questions about the true parentage of Myla and Charlene.

Federer, a private individual when it comes to his personal life, has not made any public statements regarding the matter, choosing instead to deal with the situation in private.

Fans and supporters of the tennis legend have flooded social media with messages of sympathy and support, acknowledging the pain and confusion he must be experiencing.

Many have lauded Federer for the dignity and grace with which he has handled this challenging situation, reflecting the same qualities that have endeared him to millions around the world.

Traumatic experience breaking marriages

However, not all men will or have handled such a traumatic situation as gracefully as Federer.

The ugly development has ruined so many marriages and homes, with adverse consequences, not only on the couple and children, but also on the society at large.

A man living in Douala, who gave his only name as Ngwa, a young businessman in his early thirties, is a victim. 

After lots of pressure from his parents to get married and give them a grandchild, Ngwa finally got married to a beautiful young lady. Things were rosy at first, until a recurring illness of their two-year-old child finally led to a DNA test that revealed the baby was not biologically his. Anye had to send the woman and the child packing from his home. 

Mixed reaction about DNA paternity testing

Meanwhile, there have been mixed reactions about DNA paternity testing. 

While, some say it is necessary to know if a child is biologically that of the father, others strongly discourage the use of DNA test to ascertain the paternity of children, saying it has destroyed many homes and left the children traumatised.

They say though it hurts to find out that a woman has been unfaithful to her husband, “DNA should not be an option, because of the children involved”.

A father in Buea, who gave his only name as Lyonga, said: “I strongly discourage it because any man who finds out that he is not the biological father of his children through DNA paternity test will not be able to preserve his marriage thereafter”.

“As a man, it is painful, but I still discourage DNA test totally. I won’t recommend it for any family, unless issues concerning the children’s health arise. Doctors can help families by not disclosing such information to the public because it could destroy families,” he said.

Lyonga added that: “I think it is unnecessary. If a woman is unfaithful and the husband gets to know, divorce should rather come in before babies should come into such marriage. This is because immediately that happens, the children or child will have to suffer. The child whom you have catered for and that child knows you to be his or her father, would come to realise that you are not his/her biological father because of a DNA test. I would rather encourage women and men to live according to their marriage vows”.

“If you suspect your wife to be unfaithful, you must try to understand why and then deal with it without a third party,” he advised.