Cameroon: Martin Ndongo Ebanga's cry for help

Cameroon's first athlete to win an Olympic medal, Martin Ndongo Ebanga is going through a period of severe physical distress. The 57-year-old former boxer is suffering from debilitating hydrocephalus. This serious medical condition, marked by an excessive build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, has left the Cameroonian boxing great in a precarious state of health.

The symptoms of hydrocephalus include aggression and problems with vision and hearing, as well as loss of coordination and memory, and they have turned Ndongo Ebanga's life into a daily ordeal. His wife, Isabelle, spoke of the family's anguish over the situation. "He is not well, he is ill," she says. "He has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus and head injuries".

Government pledge

According to experts, hydrocephalus requires urgent medical care. But finding a specialist and appropriate treatment can prove a huge challenge. Despite efforts to secure treatment, the family face an obstacle: a lack of financial means. Ndongo Ebanga's relatives appealed to the Cameroonian authorities for help several weeks ago. The appeal was relayed by whistleblowers on social media.

Slowly but surely, a ray of hope appears to be breaking through the dark clouds hanging over the champion's health. Cameroon's sports minister has responded to the appeal, promising financial support for the operation and for Martin Ndongo Ebanga's care. The long-awaited support should allow the champion to regain his health and a normal life.

An Olympic hero waiting to be rescued

Martin Ndongo Ebanga is a legend of Cameroonian boxing. On 11 August 1984, aged 18, he made history by becoming his country's first athlete to win an Olympic medal. His bronze, won in the lightweight category (-60 kg) in Los Angeles, remains an unmatched achievement in the history of Cameroonian boxing. Today, Ndongo Ebanga, whose health is very fragile, is still waiting for the authorities' promise of help to be fulfilled.

Arthur WANDJI