Three members of government and other dignitaries distributed kola nuts to some elderly people as a sign of conviviality, reconciliation and a symbol of unity between the elderly and the youthful population, on Wednesday September 23, 2015 in Yaoundé.

This was during the ceremony to launch activities to commemorate the 25th International Day of Older Persons in Cameroon under the theme, “Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment.”

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Social Affairs, Catherine Bakang Mbock reiterated the importance of events which are geared towards creating and promoting good living at old age. She added that the week-long events include roundtable discussions which will mobilise everybody around problems old people face and how such problems can be solved.

After highlighting government’s efforts to improve the living conditions of the old in the society, Catherine Bakang Mbock noted that in the fast aging world, older people will increasingly play a critical role - through volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with childcare responsibilities and increasing their participation in the paid labour force.

As such, their living conditions need to be fully improved so that they effectively play their role in an emerging Cameroon by 2035.

The event was an occasion for the Ministry of Social Affairs to present the National Protection Policy Paper for the Promotion of Older persons in Cameroon. The document tends to bring more visibility to the action of the Head of State in favour of older persons while making a diagnosis of the problems of old people in the country and advocate for the effective consideration of their concerns in development sector-based programme and projects.

On the occasion of the 25th International Day of Older Persons, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon in a statement said older persons make wide-ranging contributions to economic and social development. However, discrimination and social exclusion persist.

“We must overcome this bias in order to ensure a socially and economically active, secure and healthy ageing population,” Ban Ki Moon noted.