Arrested staff of BBH: Nursing mother with 3-month baby also behind bars

By Hans Ngala

A CNA investigation has revealed that Teba Carine, one of the arrested staff of Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) is also a nursing mother with a three-month old baby.

Our source indicated that Carine’s baby was taken to her after her arrest so she could keep nursing the baby behind bars.

Teba Carine was arrested on September 22 alongside Jean Sama the hospital administrator and Teyeah Relindis. Authorities are accusing them of treating Ambazonian fighters who are considered enemies of the state.

Our source confirmed that all three staff are in good physical health so far but that the military has not commented on when they are likely to be released or whether any payments would have to be made before they are released.

Meanwhile, authorities of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) which operates BBH and several other health facilities across the country, are yet to make an official statement on the arrest of the staff.

It should also be noted that even though the staff are behind bars for treating non-state armed men, other medical staff of the CBCHS have been kidnapped by separatist fighters on previous occasions.
Medical staff in the NW and SW regions are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea as they receive threats from both separatist fighters and government soldiers.

On February 26, another staff of the same organization lost her life in the nearby town of Bamenda. Janet Shey was a nurse at Nkwen Baptist Health Center and had gone to administer medical care and treatment in a village close to Bamenda when on her return, armed separatists opened fire and killed her.
The United Nations condemned her killing and called for sanctions to be meted on the perpetrators.
Other medical organizations have been compelled by threats from government authorities to halt their operations in Cameroon, with the main ones being the world renowned Doctors Without Borders.

Read more on why Doctors Without Borderes left Cameroon here
Under international humanitarian law, both schools and hospitals are protected civilian objects and therefore benefit from the humanitarian principles of distinction and proportionality. Therefore, the arrest of the medical staff of BBH is in clear violation of international law.
The Fourth Geneva Convention states that the protection afforded to hospitals and medical personnel “shall not cease unless they are used to commit, outside their humanitarian duties, acts harmful to the enemy…”.
The Cameroon army is yet to make an official comment on the matter to let the public know what crime or crimes the three medical staff stand accused of.
Meanwhile, Carine’s baby risks getting an infection from spending regular time with her in the prison.
CNA will keep following these developments closely.

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