By IKOME CHRISTIE-NOELLA EPOSI
Over 33 physically challenged and displaced persons in the Buea municipality on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 benefited from the financial grant given to them by the head of state through the ministry of social affairs and the Buea council to assist them. They received financial grants and materials that will enable them feel comfortable and carry about their activities unperturbed.
Chairing the event was the 1st deputy Mayor of the Buea Council, Akawoh Minerva epse Molinge alongside the Chief of the Social Centre Buea, Mbeng Marie Laure.
During the event, the first deputy mayor explained that “This event is a project that is ongoing in our country Cameroon where people who need assistance, maybe disabled persons or displaced persons follow a procedure to receive this grant. They have to write through the ministry and once the grants are available, the council is notified and the recipients come for their grants.
“Today we had 33 beneficiaries and over 3 million francs CFA has been disbursed globally for this project. This is a follow up programme which takes place every year” she added.
Akawoh Minerva also stated that the social services have the numbers of all beneficiaries and know their homes so as to do a follow up and ensure that they make good and proper use of the grants given to them.
Mbeng Marie Laure, Chief of the Social Centre for the South West region said the project will go a long way to help the beneficiaries. She added that her Centre took their time to select the cases that really need help and they met the various requirements. The project she said applies to vulnerable/ displaced persons of all age groups and walks of life.
One of the beneficiaries, Ako Caroline Agbor recounts that “Formally, I was a Head Teacher in Mamfe but because of the Anglophone crisis I was kidnapped and taken into the bush and given multiple wounds; my right hand was equally cut off and fingers from the left hand were almost cut off. This made me not to be able to do anything. After I cheated death, I decided to follow my five children to Buea. I was then advised to see the authorities and go to the Social Centre for assistance which was later granted to me after I followed the requirements. Thank God for the financial assistance I was able to open up a store and start my life afresh though disabled. I have been given the sum of 200,000FCFA and I will use it judiciously.”
At the close of the event, another beneficiary Paul Lyonga Mbella in his vote of thanks appreciated such a kind gesture to them from the president of the Republic of Cameroon to the ministry of social affairs and the Buea Council for their joint effort in reaching out to them in their time of need.