MIDENO Partners with SEEPD Program, Gift 3000 Chicks to Persons with Disabilities
70 persons with diverse forms of disabilities, and 36 parents and care givers of some persons with disabilities in the Northwest Region have received 3000 chicks from the North West Development Authority with its French Acronym MIDENO. The distribution of the 3 weeks old chicks to these persons from Mbingo Baptist Hospital, SAJOCAH Bafut and Treasure Center Bamenda was an outcome of a partnership between the SEEPD Program and MIDENO to promote Inclusive Development in the mandate of the work they do.
The chicks were handed to the beneficiaries by the Director General (DG) of MIDENO on April 15, 2023 at the MIDENO premises in Bamenda. According to the DG of MINDENO Anye Cletus Matoya, the gesture is aimed at improving productivity in livestock. He added that within the context of MIDENO’s collaboration with the CBC Health Services SEEPD Program, he got motivated when he attended a workshop on disability inclusion organized by the CBC Health Services in 2021. “I discovered that we cannot talk development without taking everybody including people with disabilities. He implored them to use the chicks judiciously to ensure a sustainable livelihood.
The recipients of the chicks were selected in collaboration with the SEEPD Program after a needs assessment led by the Coordinating Unit of the Associations of Persons with Disabilities ( CUAPWD) in the North West Region. The beneficiary amongst whom are those who already own poultry farms were also given feed to enable them grow the chicks till when they are ready for the market. The distribution was motivated by the fact that as agents of development, persons with disabilities also deserve to be empowered like their peers with disabilities so that they can have an independent means of livelihood
Speaking during the event, the Board person of CUAPWD Armelle Nogning applauded the CBC Health Services for always advocating with and for persons with disabilities and linking them up to helpful opportunities. She expressed gratitude to MIDENO for the gesture which she said will serve as start off capital for most of the recipients.
The supplier of the chicks Hamza Danpullo assured the recipients that the chicks were the best breed, fully vaccinated and will be ready for consumption after one month.
Beneficiaries during the event showered praises to the MIDENO and the SEEPD Program for always ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the development process. Kuna Galabe Henry a beneficiary of 25 chicks described the gesture as empowerment to them. He says “Do not only give someone fish but teach them how to fish so I think this is a net that has been given to us so we can fish. If we have an independent life, we will no longer depend on others.”
The crisis in the two Anglophone regions has also rendered persons with disabilities more vulnerable. This is the story of Mr. Chi Joseph Atangam, an internally displaced person who was forced to leave his native home after being robbed of his table birds. He has been surviving from alms with his children but after receiving these 25 chicks, Mr. Joseph says he will no longer be asking for alms because he will now be able to take care of himself and his children.
It should be noted that Treasure Center Mile 2 Mendakwe received 400 chicks, SAJOCAH Bafut benefited from 350 chicks and Mbingo Baptist Hospital (MBH) received 350 chicks as a strategy to strengthen their existing systems to continue supporting the needs of children and adults with disabilities that receive services from these institutions. Shortly after the distribution SAJOCA Bafut and MBH were given 9 bags of feed each with Treasure center receiving 12 bags to enable them grow the chicks. In an interview with DG of MINDENO last year, he noted that they have allocated 25millionCFA for the social and economic empowerment of people with disabilities in the region. This chick distribution was carried out thanks to the budget that had been allocated.
