At 3rd Regional Convention of the Elderly, Gov’t Applauds Njuakom Francis

By FC Junior



Njuakom Francis



The Secretary General at the North West Governor’s office has applauded the Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance-CDVTA for complimenting government efforts. The Secretary General made the statement while addressing the over 15000 man-crowds at the 3^rd Regional Convention for older persons in the North West Region that took place on Wednesday December 5, 2012 at the Bamenda Municipal Stadium after the first and second conventions which took place in Belo in 2010 and Oku in 2011 subdivisions respectively.

The convention brought together older persons from Bui, Boyo, Ngoketunjia, Mezam and Momo Divisions who portrayed their best practices in the areas of livelihoods, rights and welfare percent social inclusion through the support of CDVTA.

To the Director of CDVTA, Njuakom Francis, his organization works towards the realizing the rights of older persons, celebrating the strength & positive image of Old Age, complementing Government efforts in the care of older persons, shaping the future & giving our grand-parents the dignity and respect they deserve’ so much so that they could sustain themselves in a competitive world.

The convention brought together over 340 groups ( CDVTA projects) who also used the opportunity to expose their produce ranging from craft, agricultural produce, market gardening produce etc…. In a chat with the Press, Njuakom Francis disclosed that in rural areas elderly persons in miseries and abject poverty. He also lamented that in some areas he discovered that some elderly persons were rejected by their families, however, CDVTA is gradually putting a smile on their face. He added that old age should not be a curse rather it should be blessings.



Older persons marching



It should however be noted that in some areas in the North West Region, some elderly persons are regarded as witches and wizards, whereas in normal circumstances, they are supposed to be treated with dignity and respect.  Since creation, the Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance considering the way older persons like in rural areas has been advocating that the government of Cameroon should put in place accommodative policies such as old age pension to every Cameroonian.



Cross section CDVTA Volunteers



Created in May 1998, CDVTA is actually a model in Cameroon and the sub region due to the magnitude of its efforts in changing the lives of the elderly. The achievements so far registered have attracted government through the ministry of Social Affairs, Territorial administration and ministry of agriculture. It should be recalled that CDVTA got a special consultative status with the economic and social council (ECOSOC) of the United Nation since 2010. Actually at the last phase of its four year action plan worth some FCFA 700 million, the results so far obtained are encouraging and flattering as it has succeeded alleviating poverty and miseries in beneficiary community groups. Through a micro credit scheme for the elderly, many groups have been able to establish income generating activities while some individuals have also set up small manageable projects to sustain themselves.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa