Biosecurity : Age-old Pre-emptive Measures That Demand Emphasis

“Biosecurity?” Well, the word is not really new in Cameroon. “Biosecurity has been practised by different stakeholders under different names…. It is all about safeguarding public health… The term “biosecurity” is new, but the concept of biosecurity has always been carried out in Cameroon,” speakers explained at a media debriefing session held by officials of the Cameroon Biosecurity Project and other experts. In Yaounde on Monday, March 10, 2025. 

The Resource People
Speakers at the gathering were Mrs. Dili Albertine, the Gender Focal Point in the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development; Dr Rigobert Ntep, Coordinator of the Cameroon Biosecurity Project; Dr David Mbah, a researcher, member of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences and expert in biosecurity issues. There was also Mrs. Lanyuy Johmbang, a tropical agricultural engineer and rural world activist.    

Why The Conversation?
“We organized the meeting with female journalists as part of the 2025 International Women’s Day celebrations. And also as part of the Cameroon Biosecurity Project, which has a gender component. The goal was to sensitise journalists, the general public, especially women, on biosecurity issues for the information to get to the nooks and crannies of Cameroon” said Rigobert Ntep. 

Crucial Role Of Women 
“Women are at the forefront of crop and animal production and in preparing the food we consume. All these demand biosecurity consciousness at every level. For example, enemies of crops can be bacteria, viruses and mushroom. There are measures that can be taken so that they do not hinder future crop production and for harvest to continue to be good. Same for the hygiene and sanitary measures taken in the course of preparing food,” Dr Ntep asserted. 

Need For Harmonised Approach 
“It was necessary to come up with the Cameroon Biosecurity Project because before now, different institutions have been carrying out activities in Cameroon without referring to them as biosecurity. The project therefore seeks to bring a harmonized approach, fostering collaboration amongst different institutions in order to have a strong and robust national biosecurity framework,” Declan Ambe, the Project Technical and Administrative Officer of the Cameroon Biosecurity Project pointed out. 

Biosafety, Biosecurity 
“Biosafety is a sub-component of biosecurity. Biosafety is limited to the control and management of living modified organisms. These are products from modern biotechnology or products that are issued from the modification of genes. Biosecurity comprises biosafety and the component of invasive alien species or introduced species that can eventually pose a threat to human, animal and even environmental health. Examples of invasive alien species include the Ebola virus, COVID-19, etc. Invasive alien species can be of plant, animal or microbial origin,”
Declan Ambe clarified. 

Tackling Risks 
“To guard against biosecurity risks, the first thing is to have the right information. For example, a farm for grazing cattle might be invaded by a plant species that is dangerous to cattle like the fern. The ferns can be uprooted by hand or herbicides used to destroy them. But the measure employed must not pose an additional problem to human and animal health like toxic substances whose impact lasts long on the environment,” Ambe cautioned. 

Project Progress
Now in its second phase, the first phase of Cameroon Biosecurity Project was to lay down the foundation of biosecurity in Cameroon – develop and put in place the tools for monitoring the introduction and the circulation in the country of living modified organisms and invasive alien species. 

Project Achievements 
“In the second phase, we have moved on to implementing the tools that were earlier develpoed. In the coming days, we hope to complete the revision, then adopt and begin implementing our communication plan. The other activity is to build the capacity of the laboratory of the University of Ngaoundere to assist environment authorities test for living modified organisms in imported products. We have already done so with the laboratories of the University of Yaounde I and the University of Buea,” Dr Ntep disclosed. 

The Challenges 
According to Declan Ambe, the project faces challenges of working with multiple stakeholders with different approaches to work, conflict of competence…. “This is why we look for points of convergence in order to work together. There is also the challenge of finance. The advent of a national biosecurity body could help in addressing this problem.” Ambe proposed. 

Other Project Outputs 
Meanwhile, project achievements include the drafting of a biosecurity bill which could come up for defence in Parliament in the coming days. While techni...