The technical group of the national AIDS Control Committee estimates at 304,000 the number of children, orphans and other vulnerable children in Cameroon as at 2010. It is believed that the number will increase to 350,000 children in 2020. It is in this light that a two-day workshop to adopt the national guidelines for orphans and vulnerable children opened in Yaounde yesterday February 15. Organised by the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) the workshop brings together representatives of partner ministries, international organisations, NGOS in charge of vulnerable children and development partners.
Speaking during the opening the Minister of Social Affairs, Catherine Bakang Mbock called on participants to work-hand-in-glove in order to come out with concrete recommendations for the success of the putting in place of the document. The objective of the workshop is to adopt the national guide in charge of orphans and vulnerable children in Cameroon. The workshop is the conclusion of a long on-going process to improve the national capacity to respond to the needs of children in general and the most vulnerable children in particular. The National guidelines follow the adoption of the National Strategy Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children care in 2011.
