I am Jean, a French teacher in a college located in Douala. Everything was fine in my place of duty before the pandemic arrived in my country and I was receiving my salary as agreed at the end of each month. On March 17, 2020, following the registration of a few victims, the government decided to confine it throughout the territory. My school was also going to close.

Following this incident, the principal of our college had told us these words: “If the spread of the virus persists, I will only pay you at the end of the month of March. The other months you will manage.” As expected, he paid us at the end of March, but the number of patients was only increasing.  In April and May, we had no salary.

I was responsible for a family of six people. Without a salary and without a job I could not take care of my family. I was confused because I didn’t have enough money in my bank account. By the end of May, we had nothing to eat.
Fortunately, in June 2020, with the hard work of doctors and the respect of barrier measures by the population, the number of patients decreased considerably. It was the end of confinement. Schools reopened their doors and I had also resumed my work as a teacher. It was truly a divine grace for me to start collecting my salary again.

Although the coronavirus has wreaked havoc in my country, we have been able to bring the situation under control.  This pandemic had caused me very serious troubles both mentally and socially, but thanks to the help of prayers I freed myself from all these troubles. And now the population has abandoned respect for the barrier measures and the virus is starting its devastation again. With the use of vaccines, we hope that we will be able to get rid of this calamity in the months ahead.