Social Inclusion & Development:

Nkum Council Brandishes “Inspiring” 2017 Report Card

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

Nkum Council set to achieve even more

Nkum Council in Bui Division of the North West region through her Mayor, Suila Aruna has over the years included Persons living with Disabilities in the conception, implementation and evaluation of public policies and projects in the municipality.

                In 2017, the council more than ever before and in close partnership with the Socio Economic Empowerment of Person with Disabilities (SEEPD) Program of the CBC Health Services came up with impressive projects/services that benefitted persons living with disabilities.

                The report of these projects were presented to councilors of Nkum council sitting in an ordinary session on April 3, 2018 at the Nkum Council Hall presided at by the SDO for Bui much to the satisfaction of the councilors.

                Through the Nkum Council – CBC Health Services SEEPD Program Partnership, 18 combined outreaches were organized in 18 communities throughout the municipality. 

                These outreaches according to Mayor Suila Aruna were characterized by free consultations and focused on diseases related to the eye, ear, nose, throat and mental disorder.

                He revealed that the ground work for the outreaches was the work of 4 Nkum Council volunteers who informed, educated and mobilized the over 1,757 persons during the 18 outreaches to turn out and benefit from free medical consultations.

                “This collaboration has also led to the identification of persons living with disabilities notably the case of a child with his anus on the side of his stomach. Successful surgery has been done to normalize the anus of this child” the Mayor added.

                He added that under the Nkum Council /CBC Health Services SEEPD Program Partnership, there has also been the training of 50 persons on American Sign Language to facilitate communication with persons with hearing impairment likewise a sensitization talk on the safe usage of motor-bikes.

                It should be recalled that the Nkum council under the leadership of Mayor Suila in its drive to improve on the wellbeing of persons with disabilities in the municipality led to a partnership with the SEEPD Program of the CBC Health Services which was formalized in 2015.

                Through this partnership, the council has appointed disability focal points, developed a comprehensive action plan aimed at transforming Nkum municipality into a citadel of inclusion.