CI-NEWS

Society: MINAS celebrates the old in Cameroon

2019-10-08

No: 450

Society: MINAS celebrates the old in Cameroon.

By Fonban Emmanuel.

Transverse section of some old persons people present at the occasion

Cameroon’s Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) has celebrated the 29th edition of the International Day for the Older Persons under the theme; “The Journey to Age Equality”. This took place at the esplanade of the Yaounde City Council on Tuesday, October 1, 2019. The event was presided over by the Secretary General at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Aboutou Rosalie Louise, who was the personal representative of the Minister.

Present at the event was the Representative of the United Nation Population Fund, Representative of the Government Delegate to the Yaounde City Council, stakeholders in the Ministry of Social Affairs and the elderly persons who were the reason for the gathering.

The ceremony mobilised some of the oldest people in the Centre region who have lived beyond a hundred years and are still waxing strong in their states.

The unique ceremony began with the singing of the national anthem followed by an ecumenical prayer from the Protestant, Muslim and Catholic religious ministers.

In their solemn words, the religious ministers thanked Almighty God, giver of life who has given the old present, long life and asked God to give the young generation the same long life and wisdom. They equally prayed for peace in the country, especially in these trying times when mystical clouds have covered Cameroon.

In her speech MINAS’ S.G wished all the old people present a happy feast while raising an alarm on the fight against age discrimination in the society. In her statistics as established from the United Nations records, she said the population aged 60 and above is growing faster than any other population. She stated that the number of old people who were 600 million in the year 2000 will be more than 1billion and 2billion in 2020 and 2050, respectively.

This number rapidly increasing also increases the challenges that come with age. At MINAS, efforts are made to give comfort to the old people who need assistance.

“We take care of them just as we do with people living with disabilities and children who are vulnerable. We have educative talks with them,” said Angelica Bih Mundi Ambe, Director at the Ministry of Social Affairs in charge of Persons Living with Disabilities.

The efforts of the ministry supported by partners, especially the United Nation Population Fund , have been able to respond to the needs of some old people, though much is still expected.

“This population is growing so we need to consider that they have specific needs that need to be taken care of”, said the Country Representative of the United Nation Population Fund, Siti Oussein.

As the sunny day excited grand and great grandparents, there was an award of gifts to some whose age seemed a miracle. This set of the old was above a hundred years with the highest, a great grandmother who records 109years old. Her contemporaries, ranged between 100 and 106years old. It was indeed an honour. The choral and artistic animations energized the old, who could not help shaking their body irrespective of age. The day began with excitement and finished with excitement as the old felt relieved again from the love shown to them at the ceremony.

Kuma Winifred, one of the beneficiaries of gifts from UNPF, felt elated.

“Today, as they called us to come here, they gave us things. We feel so happy that people somewhere remember us. So we are happy with what the benefactors have given us”, an elderly IDP from Boyo, member of PRECIOUS MOTHERS, said.

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Society: MINAS celebrates the old in Cameroon