During his visit to Douala to lay the foundation stone of the second bridge over river Wouri and to inaugurate the Ndogpassi natural gas plant, the President of the Republic His Excellency Paul BIYA was accompanied by his wife Madam Chantal BIYA. A resounding homage was paid to the First Lady for the numerous humanitarian actions taken in favour of the destitute population of the economic capital.
The Cameroonian first Lady Chantal BIYA, sitting by her husband on the banks of river Wouri in Douala: this is a highly symbolic visit, like a bridge towards humanity. The hardworking population of Douala took opportunity of this official visit to give her a befitting welcome in recognition of the several humanitarian endeavours she has undertaken in this cosmopolitan city.
In the various speeches that were made, be it at the Wouri bridge or at the natural gas plant at Ndogpassi, the speakers hailed her exemplary philanthropic commitment. This was the case with the Government Delegate to the Douala Urban Council, Dr. Fritz NTONE NTONE and the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, Laurent ESSO, on behalf of the elites.
The most recent example is the rehabilitation of the Government Practising School in Bonamoussadi in Douala V Sub-division. In sum, six primary schools all in one premises were all renovated by the Circle of the Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), a humanitarian foundation which she founded in 1995.
A well was also dug and public gardens were rejuvenated. The rehabilitation was combined with the presentation of gifts to 100 associations from Wouri V Sub-division. Those involved were mostly women, handicapped persons and orphans. These are vulnerable people who are sometimes marginalised by the turbulent economic times in Douala. The hardship endured by these vulnerable people is somehow reduced by the First Lady of Cameroon.
A school for all
Still in the economic capital, the wife of the President of the Republic caused a revolution by helping to set up at the Orchidée Home in Douala, a school block that is open to all, which was inaugurated some three years ago by Cameroon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Madam Catherine BAKANG MBOCK. This school has the particularity of admitting children who suffer from autism. These children are offered education from class one to class six, as well as they equally have qualified tuition and adequate logistics to enable them surmount the deficiency they have in communication and social interaction. Before the construction of this school block, children suffering from autism in Cameroon had no institution that could admit them. The specialised tuition which they receive from this Chantal BIYA school block is the surest way to success and the best escape from the stigmatisation which could have been their lot.
We should also be reminded that Madam Chantal BIYA personally pays the school fees for some of the children in this school, especially those from poor families. By so doing, she brings a grain of hope to the population. Gifts were offered by the vital forces of Douala to salute the humanitarian passion of Madam Chantal BIYA. These gifts came from the wives of administrative authorities of the Littoral Region, the Regional Delegation of CERAC and the residents of the Centre, South and East Regions. Souvenirs which serve as an indelible memory of the last visit of Madam BIYA to Douala.
