A tragic incident unfolded in Yaounde on Wednesday, September 6, as the lifeless body of a young student from the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) was discovered in a well. The deceased, identified as Akoumba Zeh Rodrigue, resided in the Odza neighborhood of Yaounde.
The news of Rodrigue’s untimely demise has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving neighbors and residents of Odza in a state of disbelief. Known for his composed nature, Rodrigue’s death has left everyone perplexed, unable to determine whether he drowned accidentally or was the victim of foul play.
One resident of Odza expressed their grief, stating, “He’s my neighbor from the neighborhood. We’ve been speechless since yesterday.”
The family of Akoumba Rodrigue is devastated by the loss of their promising young son, struggling to come to terms with his sudden departure from this world.
According to information obtained by MMI, Rodrigue was in the midst of preparing for his defense in Economics at ENAM before his mysterious death.
In response to the incident, Ahanda Joseph Christian, a resident of Yaounde, highlighted the potential role of consistent water supply in preventing such tragedies. Odza, like many other neighborhoods in Yaounde, suffers from a shortage of potable water, leading households to rely on alternative sources such as wells.
“I can’t even imagine the pain of his parents. If we had drinking water flowing from our taps, maybe some people would still be with us today,” expressed Ahanda Joseph Christian with regret.
Water-related deaths have contributed significantly to the overall mortality rate in Cameroon. Data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 revealed that drowning accounted for 1,178 deaths, representing 0.66 percent of the total deaths recorded that year in Cameroon.
Furthermore, in the same year, Cameroon ranked 50th globally in terms of drowning-related deaths.
Given the numerous cases of floods reported in the country this year, it is likely that the number of deaths caused by water-related incidents has increased.
The tragic death of Akoumba Zeh Rodrigue serves as a somber reminder of the importance of addressing water supply issues and implementing measures to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.