Committees involved in preparing the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA Conference in Yaounde are leaving nothing to chance as the event opens today, October 2, 2014 ends on October 10. The committee in charge of logistics on Tuesday met with drivers at the National Assembly in Yaounde.

The courtyard of the Parliament was filled with cars and buses to be used for the event.

On the other hand, the Health Committee led by Senator Dr Moampea-Mbio Marie Claire also met at the National Assembly. Opening the debriefing session, Senator Moampea-Mbio warned that team members must abandon all laissez-faire conduct, pointing out the Commonwealth is made of ladies and gentlemen who demand special attention. She said it was an opportunity to serve the country in such a manner that after the conference, most delegates will be eager to return for tourism or other business.

Over 100 medical staff made up of 28 medical doctors, about the same number of nurses, ambulance drivers, emergency and resuscitation staff, and Red Cross volunteers, have been retained for the eight-day event. Because of the high stakes of the conference of which President Paul Biya is Vice Patron, emphasis was laid on the need to protect Cameroon’s image.

Other directives included punctuality, discretion, proper personal hygiene, obligatory carrying of badges, informing security operatives or team leaders of any emergencies, and moral probity.

Standby staff are also expected to refer inquiries on anything outside of the conference to the relevant authorities, notify team leaders of any absence 24 hours in advance and avoid beggarly conduct or overeating. They were equally instructed to either switch off phones while on duty or put them on silent mood to avoid intrusions or unwanted noise.

Concerning the deployment of staff, four teams and a medical ambulance will be at the Yaounde Conference Centre, and others at the National Assembly and the six hotels retained. They are the Yaounde Hilton, Mont Febe Hotel, Hotel des Deputes, Franco Hotel, Djeuga Palace and Hotel la Falaise for lodging the over 800 delegates.

Each team will be led by two medical doctors and backed by an ambulance. Meanwhile, other medical teams will be on standby in the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, CUSS, General Hospital Ngoussou and the Central Hospital in downtown Yaounde.

Medical teams will also accompany delegates to excursions in Mbalmayo in the Centre Region, Kribi in the South Region and Limbe in the South West Region. To get the personnel set, First Aid kits and copies of the Code of Conduct have been distributed to them.

In order to ensure that things go on well, team leaders will meet at the end of each day for briefing sessions where any challenges will be promptly handled.