Kumba Councillor Calls for Female, Youth Education Amid Reports of Newborn Abandonment

Kumba, Cameroon — Councilor of Kumba 1 Council, Andong Humphrey Mbah, has called for stronger community education of young people as concerns grow over cases involving teenage pregnancies, childbirth and the abandonment of newborn babies.

Councillor Mbah said communities have a responsibility to properly educate both girls and boys about life, responsibility and the consequences of their decisions.

“We need to properly educate our young girls and young boys in our community about life, responsibility, and consequences,” Mbah said.

He stressed that education and guidance can help young people make better decisions, adding that “Cameroonian life has value.”

“When young people are well educated, they can make better choices for themselves and for the community,” he said, while encouraging the population to continue discussing issues affecting young people openly and conscientiously.

Lifeless newborn discovered in Kumba.

The councillor's statement comes amid growing concern over reports of newborn babies being abandoned in parts of Kumba and Meme Division. On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, a lifeless newborn baby was reportedly discovered in the Lawyer Enow Street neighbourhood of Kumba.

The circumstances surrounding the death and abandonment of the newborn were not immediately clear at the time of reporting. The incident has renewed questions about the challenges faced by young mothers, including unintended pregnancies, lack of family support, stigma and the absence of adequate guidance and reproductive-health education.

They have been increasing calls for parents, schools, religious institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen education and support systems for young people.

Councillor Mbah maintains that continuous community education is vital, arguing that conversations about responsibility and the value of human life should not be limited to formal institutions.

“It's good that we keep talking about it everywhere you go, from your conscience. That kind of community education really matters,” he said.

It is expected that Civil Society organizations, the ministry of youth affairs and civic education as well as social affairs need to step in and educate young people. This may address the growing occurrence of unwanted pregnacies, early births and abandonment of newborn babies.