CAMEROON: Census for Aged Persons Underway

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (Cameroon Tribune), June 2, 2008: Elizabeth Mosima The Saint Louise de Mariaac Centre in Nsimalen, some 30 kilometres from Yaounde was in a festive mood last Friday. The event was official launching of a nationwide campaign to evaluate the number and quality of elderly people and the various charity organisations that take care of their wellbeing and that of disabled persons nationwide. Organised by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the event brought together members of government, the diplomatic corps, international organisations as well as traditional and religious authorities in the province. The protection of vulnerable persons in general and that of disabled persons and old people in particular is a major priority of government. Usually, old persons in society are abandoned and rejected by their families and communities. Through the launching of this campaign to collect data for old people, the Ministry of Social Affairs intends to give importance on the role of the elderly in the Cameroonian society. The census which is expected to last for three months will permit the government to set up a data bank for the elderly and handicap persons for a better approach to their management. Speaking during the occasion, the Minister of Social Affairs, Catherine Bakang Mbock, said aged persons still have much to offer in society as such they need more love, respect, consideration and solidarity from the society. The Minister lauded the efforts of government and other charity organisations notably the Saint Louise de Mariaac of the Daughters of Charity for their efforts in protecting and sustaining old people. She called on the personnel of the Ministry of Social Affairs to be fully implicated in the campaign in order o attain the objectives of social cohesion and human development which are the main focus of the operation. The Minister used the occasion to hand over registration forms to all the ten provincial delegates of social affairs which will be used during the campaign. Provincial delegates are expected to hand in their results next July 2008. As part of its activities, the Ministry of Social Affairs, donates assistance every year to vulnerable persons as well as subventions to charity organisations that cater for this category of people in society. Copyright © 2008 Cameroon Tribune.