The wife of the visiting UN Secretary General undertook a guided tour of the Chantal Biya Foundation yesterday.

It was an exceptional day at the headquarters of the Chantal Biya Foundation in Yaounde yesterday. Ban Soon-Taek, wife of the visiting UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, paid a courtesy visit to the foundation. Cameroonians of all walks of life, especially women and children, lined up the main entrance of the foundation to welcome the august guest. Dance and choir groups from across the country could be seen in strategic corners to animate the event. Mrs Ban Soon-Taek was received by the minister of Public Health, André Mama Fouda, the Secretary General of the Chantal Biya Foundation, Habissou Bidoung and the Government Delegate of the Yaounde City Council, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna.

Shortly after her arrival, Mrs Ban Soon-Taek held a brief working session with the officials of the Chantal Biya Foundation. Present at the meeting were other members of government, representatives of international organisations as well as officials of the Centre Region. During the meeting, Mrs Ban Soon-Taek watched a presentation of the Chantal Biya Foundation and its achievements in the Cameroonian society.

For her part, Mrs Ban Soon-Taek said she was impressed by the First Lady Chantal Biya who is helping Cameroon to meet the Millennium Development Goals which her husband is focusing on. She expressed hope that she and Mrs. Chantal Biya will meet in New York in the UN General Assembly in New York in September. After the meeting, Mrs Ban Soon-Taek visited the Mother and Child Centre and the Children First Centre for orphans and needy children. Created in 1994, the Chantal Biya Foundation has as objective to fight against poverty, disease and social exclusion. The Chantal Biya Foundation has three medical centres – the Mother and Child Centre, the Endoscopic Centre in Yaounde and the Meyomessala Medical Centre.

Elizabeth MOSIMA