CAMEROON: Japanese reach out to CAA

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BUEA, Cameroon/ Cameroon Association on Ageing / February 5, 2011

The Cameroon Association on Ageing (CAA) held a one-day seminar on sanitation and hygiene - the elderly and their environment. The seminar, organized to create awareness on some of the key issues in promoting a healthy and active life in small communities, was attended by elderly people from different rural communities around the region, students of geriatric nursing and social workers. This was done through reports and testimonies citing examples from different countries as well as the active participation of NGOs working for the elderly in Cameroon.

The Friends of International Federation on Ageing (FOIFA), of Akita City in Japan has reported that at the seminar Mr. Raymond Kale, President CAA, explained to participants the activities of his organization and its partners like Friends of IFA Japan (FOIFA), Forestry, Agriculture, Animal and Fishery Network (FAAFNET) and Care for the Elderly Widows and Orphans (CEWO). He also presented a summary report on his visit to Akita, highlighting on the generosity of FOIFA, its members, the people of Akita City as well as the health and care system for the elderly in Japan.

"We are thankful to Members of FOIFA Japan and Doctor Hisashi Hozumi in particular for their untiring support most especially financially to help us carry out our projects," Mr. Raymond Kale wrote to FOIFA.

CAA received money and clothing collected from FOIFA members and from the people and shops  in  Akita City. These donations have helped CAA activities related to the elderly and ageing. These include elder abuse and violence, access to human rights principles, equality and inclusion.

Cash donations were made to the coordinator of Care for the Elderly Widows and Orphans (CEWO).  Photo courtesy: International Federation on Ageing.

Two students of geriatric nursing at the St. Francis Medical School, Buea, spoke about about a sensitization program carried out as a follow-up solution after an outbreak of cholera in the region. They had visited homes of elderly to advise them on hygiene and sanitation to avoid contracting diseases.

CAA's President Mr. Kale gave gifts of  money and clothing to representatives of elderly groups or associations, students of geriatric nursing as well as to the representative of CEWO. Thanks were extended to FOIFA, its members and the people of Akita City.

Copyright© 2011 Friends of IFA Japan

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.

CAMEROON: Oct 1 is International Day for the Aged

MAROUA, Cameroon (Cameroon Tribune), September 27, 2006: The Minister of Social Affairs, Catherine Bakang Mbock, presided over the launching ceremony of the International Day for Aged Persons in Maroua yesterday. The 16th edition of the International Day for Aged Persons will take place on October 1, 2006. The theme for this year is "Create a favourable environment and protect aged persons through improving their quality of life". Activities to mark the day in Cameroon kicked-off in Maroua in the Far North Province yesterday. The Minister of Social Affairs, Catherine Bakang Mbock, presided over the launching ceremony. According to resolution no 45/106 of 1990, the United Nations Organisation decided to celebrate 1st October of each year as the International Day of the Aged Persons (JIPA). The first edition was celebrated in 1991. The decision responds to the major preoccupation of the international community with regards to the ageing population. The first manifestations the United Nations was during the World Summit on Ageing Persons which took place from July 26 to August 6, 1982 in Vienna, Austria. Since United Nations is working hard to ensure that countries include in their polices the preoccupations of elderly persons in view of finding adequate solutions to the problems of this age group. United Nations statistics hold that the number of persons above 60 years stood at 600 million in 2000 and will reach two billion in 2050.This will represent six percent of the population in developing countries with an average of 88 men for 100 women. Cameroon with a population of 15,292,000 inhabitants has 917,520 people above 60 years. It is certain that these figures will increase in future following the demographic growth rate of 3% in the developing countries and the progress of medicine. The Madrid Plan of action on aging people and the declaration adopted in April 2002 by the second World Assembly on Ageing people marked a turning point in the manner in which world faces the essential challenge of edifying a society for old persons. The plan of action proposed a new approach on how to handle problems of old persons in the 21st century by adopting three major priorities: aged persons and development, promotion of health and welfare until the third age and the creation of favourable environments for the aged persons. The theme for this year aims at finding appropriate solutions to the problems of aged persons relating to some major aspects such as treatment for aged persons, reinforcing capacities of people who are taking care of aged persons, the fight against abandon, poor treatments and violence to the detriment of the aged persons and improvement of the image of aged persons. By Elizabeth Mosima Copyright © 2006 Cameroon Tribune.