COPAAP’s
12m EC Grant set for North West Villages AIDS control projects
Four
villages in Cameroon’s North West have been named as the next
beneficiaries of a European Commission Stagiaires' Central Charity
Grant to be administered by Bamenda-based NGO COPAAP.
The
four are Alatening, Baba II, Babungo and Konene.
Each
will receive a grant of around 2,000,000 CFA towards setting up a
sustainable income generating activity that will benefit local people
and raise revenue to empower rural communities in the fight against
HIV and AIDS. Remaining funds will be used for training workshops
for village community leaders, associations of people living with HIV
and AIDS and community health volunteers.
It
is anticipated that a percentage of the funds will also be matched by
the villages themselves as they add their support to the plan.
The
four follow previous local grant recipients Akum, Njong, Mbu and
Bamessing.
COPAAP
Founder Dr Achu P.N explained: “COPAAP was created simply because
there was the recognition that it was impractical for people to
regularly travel from their villages for treatment. It was
expensive, time consuming and often impossible if roads were bad.
“By
providing supplies to be administered locally and by training a
local person to do this we are putting in place a new system that not
only prolongs life but also offers everything from AIDS awareness and
education through to testing, counselling and support for HIV
sufferers.
“In
addition, income generating businesses ensure continued revenue for
community solidarity funds that help towards the cost of this scheme
– making it truly sustainable.”
The
European Commission Grant was awarded specifically by the Association
of the Stagiaires (Trainees) of the EC – Summer Stage 2008.
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COPAAP celebrates International Women's Day
Staff from COPAAP and the Mezam Polyclinic participated in the
International Women's Day march pass in Bamenda on March 8, 2007.
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