The WHO Academy strengthened Cameroon’s preparedness for mass casualty incidents management

On Monday, January 24, 2022, Vanessa Tchouanzi, a high school teacher, attended the Cameroon-Comoros football match for the Africa Cup of Nations with her friend Véronique at the Olembe stadium in Yaounde. She still vividly recalls the tragic stampede that occurred. Caught in the crowd surge, Vanessa and Veronique lost consciousness but Vanessa was pulled away by a stranger whereas Veronique stayed in the crowd and was later taken to a nearer hospital where she died shortly afterward. The tragedy resulted in eight deaths and approximately 50 injuries, which quickly overwhelmed nearby hospitals. The healthcare facilities could have better managed this surge in patients if they had an effective mass casualty management (MCM) plan and their staff had the necessary skills.