Safeguarding Human Life

It is heart-breaking seeing how some Cameroonians went into ecstasy soon after the Prime Minister disclosed the Head of State’s 19-point measures to cushion the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the national economy, especially the decision to reopen bars and leisure spots beyond the hitherto 6 pm. The euphoria with which they greeted the government measure and the ensuing behavioural change; irresponsible to say the least, makes the decision looks like the State sacrificed human life on the altar of livelihood. Far from that! 
Cameroonians should and must be made to understand; even forcefully, that a responsible government like the one the country has cannot toy with human life worse still in the face of a dreaded killer pandemic like Covid-19. If government took the decision to limit the functioning of bars and other leisure spots when the number of cases were still minimal, it wouldn’t be today when infected cases are running into thousands that she would backpedal.
People should be able to read between the lines. Government has not sent people to go trooping in bars and other leisure spots. As a matter of fact, some people have chosen sections of the government’s measures that please them, regrettably leaving out what would have saved human life. For instance, some beer addicts have embraced “the opening after 6 p.m. of bars, restaurants and leisure facilities,” caring less about the clause that “with the obligation for customers and users to respect barrier measures, in particular the wearing of protective masks and social distancing.” For the sake of a few coins of FCFA, some users and dealers in public transport have jumped at the decision of “lifting of the measure reducing the mandatory number of passengers in all public transport by bus and taxi” with very little being done to enforce the part that “the wearing of masks remains compulsory and overloading is prohibited.” Choosing what to take from the measures doesn’t stop the pandemic from spreading. In fact, it has proven to be respecter of no one, not even the daring and heady. 
It is common knowledge that human life has got no duplicate. A glass of beer and all sorts of pleasure that sharing it with friends brings are not comparable with human life. Once you die, your chapter closes. With all these in mind, why then engage in acts that would send you and others to your early graves? The trauma of losing a loved one to the virus and how they are buried would have sent many readjusting. But no!
Extending the measures taken on 17 March 2020, as part of the Covid-19 pand...