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

The sick, orphans, widows and widowers in the municipality of Douala II have received financial and material assistance from government and the Douala II Council, within the framework of decentralisation with the transfer of competence to municipal councils.

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

While handing over the special packages, Douala II Council Mayor, Denise Fampou, underscored the fact that the gifts, which fall within the framework of support for the 2014 year, should help beneficiaries meet their priority needs.

Patients with diabetes, renal diseases, 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 livelihood to cater for themselves and children, received either money for small income-generating activities or wheelchairs 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 considered 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, were meant for people with the least likelihood of survival.