Government and Douala II Council came to their help on June 30, 2015.

The sick, orphans, widows and widowers in the municipality of Douala II recently received financial and material assistance from government and the Douala II Council within the framework of devolution of activities and funds to municipal councils.

A financial package of between FCFA 50,000 and FCFA 100,000 each, and gifts comprising foodstuff and wheel chairs, were handed over to several underprivileged persons during a ceremony presided by the First Assistant Divisional Officer of Douala II at the esplanade of the Council in New Bell on June 30, 2015.

While handing over the donation, Douala II Council Mayor, Denise Fampou, underscored the fact that the gifts, which fall within the framework of support for the 2014 year, would help beneficiaries meet their priority needs. Patients with diabetes and kidney problems with very little or no means for medical care; people with disabilities and orphans without any source of help for education and feeding, and widows and aged widowers without any means of livelihood, received either money for small income-generating activities, wheel chairs or foodstuff.

Mayor Denise Fampou, who had earlier on disclosed that her Council added FCFA 1.5 million to the FCFA 900,000 given by the government, rejected many people applying for the gifts, stating that they do not fall under “social cases” and so cannot be considered “underprivileged.” She castigated the selection criteria by Social Centres in her municipality, calling on them to revisit the process and restate who is an “underprivileged” person. The support, she emphasised, was meant for people with the least likelihood of survival.