Christopher J. Lamora, US Ambassador to Cameroon has appreciated the efforts by orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), their families, and stakeholders in Community HIV Care for working towards self and community resilience at large.
Ambassador Lamora was speaking in Bamenda during a visit to the CoSMO Project. CoSMO is an acronym for ‘Consolidating Systems and Services for the Management of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Cameroon.
The visit allowed Ambassador Lamora to get direct testimonies from the project beneficiaries.
“Thank you to the beneficiaries – who gave us your testimonies. Your story, all of the stories that we were told touched me, very much” remarked Ambassador Lamora.
“When I first came to Cameroon, almost two years ago, one of my first trips I took as US Ambassador was to Doula. When I was in Douala, I visited the KIDDS Project – which you know CoSMO is the evolution of the KIDDS Project, and I heard similar testimonies from people who’d benefitted from what that project had done. As we transitioned from the KIDDS Project all of us at the US Embassy in Cameroon, were happy that the work they had done was going to continue with the support of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), he said.
“I will say the same thing to you that I said there: She said your excellency, he said your excellency, other people pointed to me and said your excellency. But, excellence is doing what you do. Excellency is achieving your academic goals, and professional goals, taking care of an OVC like grandma is doing, and volunteering for the CoSMO Project and other sub-grantees. So, I want to thank you for what you’re doing. You’re all giving back [to your community]. You are the ones who deserve the applause you gave me. So let me applaud” further said Ambassador Lamora, clapping boisterously – pushing all present to reciprocate with thunderous applause in turn.
Presenting an overview of the CoSMO Project in the Northwest Region, Dr. Ayeah Benito Afumbom, Senior Care and Treatment Officer noted that 6863 OVC were served and 458 families sustained through livelihood services of either cash grants, vocational training, and business startups, and 138 OVC were enrolled into school during the last project year in 2023. Despite the successes recorded, The Senior Care and Treatment Officer told Ambassador Lamora, that insecurity due to the armed conflict in the region remains a major challenge in rendering services to OVC in hard-to-reach areas.
Addressing the Ambassador during the visit, His Grace Andrew Nkea, President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon thanked the US Government for all they’re doing in improving the welfare of many.
“We’re all very happy in the interest that the US Government showing around the world – especially in our country, in alleviating suffering, and poverty and improving the livelihood of many,” said His Grace Nkea.
It’s worth noting the CoSMO Project is USAID/PEPFAR-funded and implemented by NECC. The CoSMO Project is in all 10 regions of Cameroon and serves beneficiaries in very hard-to-reach areas.
