Tuesday, December 16, 2014

CDVTA Re-echoes Need For Parliament To Enact Law On Pension For All Elderly




Ignatius Nji Reports 



Francis Njuakom General Coordinator Address the Press 
The Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistant CDVTA which is an NGO based in Bamenda with objectives to improve the livelihood of the elderly has re-echoed  the need for parliament to enact a law on pension for every elderly person in Cameroon be they working class or not. According to the General Coordinator of CDVTA Francis Njuakom, the NGO had tabled a bill which understudy by the government. This was once more made public during a presentation of a five years balance sheet of the activities since 2009. In a related move towards this direction government has open up for individuals to contribute in to the old age pension scheme unlike before which was a preserve for workers in enterprises be there public or private.
At the public scrutiny of the NGO by the local Press through a question and answer exchange, took place at the Ayaba Hotel this day August 18 during what was termed evaluation of media and publicity in the last 5 years of the project realizing the rights and improving livelihood, Mr. Njuakom revealed that having come to the end of this project, a second project is beginning in October 2014 funded by all we can. This new project shall be extended to other two Divisions in the North West and also to the South Region of Cameroon.
Talking on the activities of CDVTA Mr. Njuakom said the organization in the last five years carried out training programs for the elderly empowering them with skills on market gardening, processing medicinal plants and hygiene and also gave out microloans to groups in clubs littered allover in the Region. These activities so far have improved on the livelihood of the elderly both health wise and financially. To keep the elderly warm and lighted, CDVTA donated blankets and bushlamps to those in areas without electricity. A yearly come together has been organized in various Division bringing together the elderly from all the Divisions where clubs are found. Members foot their transportation to events, make their signboards and sew their uniform which amounted to 100.000 Pounds of the 600.000 Pounds made available by the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the MRDF.
Evaluation and audit teams have visited CDVTA on several occasions from the funding bodies and the State of Cameroon to ensure that what the organization meets specificity of the project and gave a pass mark. In the new project CDVTA is also looking up to constructing schools for grand children of the elderly. According to the project coordinator of CDVTA, Mr. Mulema Wilfred said for sustainability the organization has 280 volunteers working with the elderly in the communities and a permanent staff of 11 couple with the fact that the clubs generate their own income locally for use among members. To buttress the untapped values imbued in the elderly in Cameroon, Mr. Njuakom said the most precious treasures do not lie in the gold minerals found under the earth but in the wisdom enshrined in the elderly persons found in the communities.

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