Agreement reached in favour of PWDs
An agreement between the Cameroon Government, the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services, and the Liliane Foundation in cooperation with the AFAS Foundation is being brokered with its primary goal to render quality services to children, youths and adults with disabilities by ensuring quality services through training. With training already going on at the Baptist School for Public Health (BSPH) in Mutengene, the Baptist Training School for Health Personnel (BTSHP) in Banso and the Baptist Institute for Health Sciences (BIHS) in Mbingo, the parties are working to secure an enabling and comfortable environment for the training by constructing a center for excellence.
The Minister of Social Affairs, Mme Pauline Irene Nguene has wholeheartedly pledged the support of her Ministry for the realization of the construction project intended to host the training of rehabilitation specialists in Physiotherapy (PT), Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and Occupational Therapy (OT).
The Center for Excellence previewed to be constructed in Mutengene in the Southwest Region of Cameroon is the brainchild of the CBC Health Services under its Rehabilitation Compass for Inclusion (RCI) Project. The RCI project focuses on the training of PT, CBR, and OT and is supported with funds from AFAS Foundation through the Liliane Foundation. The Liliane Foundation it should be noted has continued to support the CBC Health Services in all aspects, and in different domains. With regards to the RCI project, while the AFAs Foundation supports financially for its realization, LF is working to ensure that students acquire professional knowledge that meets international standards. All the parties in this project are working together for a solid foundation in the training, and the support of the Ministry of Social Affairs will go a long way to boost expected high standards, numbers and eventual integration into service.
The Minister’s support was pledged during an audience with the Liliane Foundation and AFAS Foundation teams led by the Director of AFAS Foundation Gerben Eversdijk, and the Head of International Partnerships and Programmes of the Liliane Foundation Anneke Donker, all from the Netherlands. Accompanying them were the Communication Officer for Liliane Foundation Chiara Beltramini, a Board Member of the AFAS Foundation Marko Filipovic, and a Netherlands-based journalist Bob van Huet. Gerben Eversdijk during this audience disclosed the intent of the AFAS Foundation which is to help needy populations in countries all over the world. He also revealed that the purpose of AFAS Foundation in helping people around the world is because they have realized how difficult it is for them to make a living without external assistance. Getting this assistance through an established organization in disability work in Africa, the Liliane Foundation will go a long way to reach their expected target group.
The visit of the team to communities where work is ongoing to improve the lives of children, youths and adults with disabilities, revealed a positive outcome, with the funders appreciative of the work the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) workers are doing in the communities. They also commended the expertise of the CBC Health Services workers, the love and support from families and communities where children with disabilities live.
When constructed, the Center of Excellence will train students from Cameroon and beyond to render professional rehabilitation care to children, youths, and adults with disabilities in the communities. This center will be of great relief, given the need for a center to train specialists in these cadres. “The need is huge. If there is another institution in Mutengene, it will be a good thing for all the South area of Cameroon. It is a good thing especially as it is a zone of crisis,” said Minister Irene Nguene.
Also present at this Ministerial audience were the Director of the CBC Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih and the Program Manager of the Empowerment and Disability Inclusive Development (EDID) Program, Mrs. Agho Glory.