Maïrama has been trained to lead a team of volunteers in the fight against cholera

September 2010: Maïrama leads a group of 3 volunteers trained by Plan Cameroon and partners in basic hygiene. They help disinfect water points and latrines and give hygiene instruction in communities affected by the cholera epidemic.

They go to markets and communities to speak to the people in their local language about cholera, which has so far killed 300 and left around 700,000 individuals vulnerable, weak and with no family to help them.

“We urge people in Fufuldé and Mafa (some of the local languages) to remain vigilant and avoid any risky behaviour that could spread the disease," she says.

Critical situation

Maϊrama’s group, like many of the volunteers, have seen a close relative die from cholera. Indeed, many of them have lost their entire family, but despite their difficult situation are dedicated to helping the children and families survive the epidemic.

Maϊrama and her team have already helped more than 200 families in the village of Sirak, an isolated area where the situation is critical.

“The wells are next to the river and used by everyone in the community. With the health centre close by, care assistants wash infected people's clothes in the bucket, then they put the bucket back in the well, contaminating all the water. Now there are around 63 cases of cholera in Sirak. I’ve asked the health authorities to close the well so it can be disinfected,” says Maϊrama.

“People need your help”

When asked how she manages a group of men older than she is, she explains how she has been involved in aid programmes before and says: “It’s not easy, but we all know that in this sort of situation, you have to put stereotypes aside because people need your help.

“The hardest thing at the moment is stopping people in the area from being so sceptical. For example, they believe that if you’re not a sorcerer, cholera can’t get you, and so it only affects sorcerers.”

Maïrama with Plan Cameroon's Senior Grants and Sponsorship Manager Chrispus Ndamo

Communication is key

Plan is helping the volunteers’ work by using the community radios to broadcast messages on how cholera is transmitted, and is making sure they’re used to help remove any doubt about the cause of the epidemic.

“Community radio will help change habits,” added Maϊrama. “Some people who have caught the infection use the same bowl for defecating and eating. It’s ignorance. It’s got to stop, otherwise everyone’s going to get infected," she insists.