ASODI News

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August, 2010	Successes in Education and Epilepsy Treatment
Hilux in Use	Congratulations to Marceline Ambiliyam and Akouifei Rose!  These two orphans under ASODI’s sponsorship for the past five years, both passed the national examination for the General Certificate of Education (GCE).  They had 5 and six papers respectively. Six out of the lot of persons living with epilepsy in Momo who have been receiving anti epilepsy drugs from ASODI are now seizure free .They now live their normal lives without epilepsy. l will be sending some of their pictures to you latter when we will return from our evaluation exercise in the next two weeks. We will be purchasing school materials for the Orphans on the Friday  20th Of August this year, take one week to package them according to the names and classes of the Orphans.  Distribution will take place in Ngie on Saturday 28th of August this year.
February, 2010	A Visit to African Pioneer College
Orphans sponsored by ASODI at APC Teze	On February 24^th ASODI met with the orphans under our care at African Pioneer College in Teze.   During the meeting ASODI wanted to see the Orphans under our sponsorship program and talked to them. In my speech, l told them to take studies seriously, always be in class and copy all their notes so that they too will grow up to be responsible citizens and take over the batten of Orphan care from us when we are old or no more there so as to enable other Orphans benefit and the program will be sustainable for life. The Orphans sent their thanks and gratitude to St. Johns Presbyterian Church L A in general and to Hearts for Cameroon in particular for their efforts in canvassing funds for their education as l explained to them again. I went on to tell them that they should impress us by passing their exams well and that as from this term ending, l shall be collecting their report cards and scan them to you over there, then keep track of all their academic records. The Orphans were so happy and promise to work harder than ever before to prove that the scholarship scheme be sustained. It was a nice meeting as the authorities of APC thanked us for this initiative. Similar meetings took place in Widikum, Mbenwgi and Njikwa within the week.
January, 2010	Donors Contribute a Truck to ASODI
The Toyota Hilux	Thanks to very generous donations by MIVA Switzerland and ETS Ayenebe and Sons Cameroon, ASODI now has a Toyota Hilux double carbine (four wheel drive) which will help us immensely in all we do, including: - Travel between Bamenda and the villages, and between villages. - Transport orphans, disables, epilepsy patients’ supplies.  - Transport palm oil from Ngie to Bamenda for sale. - Bringing the children together when we need them from the various far off villages. We thank God for these donors that have heeded to our cry!
December, 2009	ASODI Distributes Food to 1,500 and Anti-Epilepsy Drugs to 2,000
December, 2009 Food Distribution Students Receive Birth Certificates	Thanks to donations from Hearts for Cameroon, and outreach of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, California ASODI was able to distribute food and supplies to orphans, disabled people, and epileptics in the region.  Activities kicked off in Teze at 8am.This started with the distribution of five bags of Rice to over 500 Orphans from the villages of Teze, Abebung, Umon, Angong, Bonambufei, Azem, Akuwu and Esaw.  Some 600 persons living with epilepsy also took anti epilepsy drugs and 19 birth certificates were distributed to Orphans who are going to write the first school leaving certificate exams. We proceeded to Andek where we met a large crowd of over 800 Orphans, over 600 persons living with epilepsy and over 200 disables.  Five bags of Rice was not enough for them and the anti epilepsy drugs were just ok while some 31 birth certificates were given out to Orphans who are going to write the first school leaving certificates in upper Ngie. These beneficiaries came from Andek, Ebang, Bonatu, Mbabum, Achang, Ajei, Etwii, Bonayang, Etoh, Angai, Tinekoh, Tinechung, Mbambe villages. All of these children expressed a lot of thanks and appreciation to ASODI and to St. John’s Presbyterian Church for their constant assistance to them. At the end of the day, 1,300 Orphans took food stuff, 50 Orphans took birth certificates, 200 disables took food, 1,200 persons living with epilepsy took anti epilepsy drugs in Ngie and more 800 in other parts of the North West region making a total of 2000 persons living with epilepsy benefiting from ASODI and her partner. For more information about Hearts for Cameroon or to learn how to become a sponsor, visit their web site at www.heartsforcameroon.org.
November, 2009	Meeting with UNICEF
	I am delighted to inform you of the meeting we had yesterday, 3^rd November 2009 at the District Hospital Mbengwi under the umbrella of the “4 P’s” of UNICEF. The 4 P’s are: - Primary prevention, - Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, - Pediatric care, and - Protection and support to orphans and vulnerable children. UNICEF organized this meeting under the Ministry of Social Affairs represented by Madame Kwate Rebecca, and the regional coordinator group for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Northwest Cameroon, Dr. Ayonga Gladys. ASODI participated in this meeting, representing all the associations in MOMO.  Other participants included divisional delegates of youth and sports; women’s empowerment and the family; secondary education and the district medical officer Mbengwi health district, coordinators of health clubs of St. Joseph Catholic Comprehensive College Mbengwi, and the Government Technical College Mbengwi. During the meeting UNICEF wanted to know who is doing what in the care of children, and our view on the challenges each person is going through. ASODI was given 30 minutes to tell them what we have been doing and what we think can be done to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Momo and beyond.  I gave them what needs to be done and what we have been doing  so far.  I also gave them a copy of the project for the Comprehensive Secondary School and vocational training Center which I introduced to you last month.
October, 2009	Proposed Projects and Other Updates
	ASODI has declared and established some 80 birth certificates for the orphans who are going to register for First school-leaving certificate exams and Government Common Entrance Exams.  We shall distribute the birth certificates to them this November, during which we shall carry out a food stuff distribution. 30 more students/orphans will be sitting for the General Certificate of Education Examinations (GCE) this year and we are expecting good results. We have come up with three big projects for which we are looking for funding: - Planting of Vetiver grass to stabilize roads in Cameroon and protect bridges and culverts from damage from landslides. - Creation of an Oil Palm nursery to be staffed by orphans and people with epilepsy under the care of ASODI. - Construction of a Comprehensive Secondary School and Vocational Training Center to be built in Bamenda North West Region and exclusively serving orphans and people with Epilepsy in Cameroon and West and Central Africa. Meanwhile the project we previously sent to the Ministry of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Husbandry is under study – the Minister has asked the Regional Delegate for Livestock Northwest to study our proposal and recommend action. Six orphans who had completed primary school this year are currently undergoing modern furniture training at Mile 18 Mbengwi under ASODI’s sponsorship.
August, 2009	Cameroon Epilepsy Federation
	ASODI’s president and founder, Jerome Akeneck was elected as the pioneer president for the newly created Cameroon Epilepsy Federation .The election took place on August 10 at the conference hall of the neurologic department of the central hospital in Yaoundé in which the numerous Associations working in the domain of people living with epilepsy converged. Jerome’s duties will include advocacy for the Epileptic population with top government officials like Ministers, delegates and directors to talk on the plight of people living with epilepsy and the needy at large, proposing ways through which they can be helped, then coordinating meetings, making proposals and sensitizing along side the rest of the 9 executive members. This is an excellent opportunity to closely align the work of ASODI with broader efforts to combat Epilepsy across Cameroon.
June, 2009	Mid-Year Update on ASODI Activities
	As we reach the midway point of 2009, here is an update on ASODI’s expanding support for the orphaned and disabled population in the Ngie region: ORPHANS The over 2,500 orphans we support are going on summer holidays in June 2009 and 350 of them will be sitting in for the Government common Entrance and First School leaving certificate exams between May and  June this year. Those who succeed in this exam will join 57 of those who are in secondary school and some will be doing vocational training in Ngie and Bamenda under our sponsorship still. Meanwhile, we shall be having some 500 Orphans who will be going into final year classes for 2009/2010 academic year.  Therefore, 500 birth certificates will be established for them so as to enable them register for the examinations. In addition, the 10 Orphans who are training in carpentry and hairdressing will soon graduate to join the 16 others who have completed their tailoring training and are pending establishment, and the cycle will continue. The goat rearing exercise is moving on well. We have got some more six goats delivered to add the ones we bought the last few years. Within the week, l met with with Rev .Tim who is establishing an Orphanage in Foncha street Bamenda. We are trying to see how we can work in synergy so that some of our Orphans can be housed, educated, trained vocationally at this centre her in Bamenda. All the Orphans that will be taken by this centre will come from the whole of Momo Division. EPILEPSY Following the meeting l had with the Sub director in the Ministry of Public health last month, he asked us to put in place an Association specifically for those with epilepsy so that he shall see how he will liaise us in to the National Control program on Epilepsy and as one of the policies of International Bureau for the treatment of Epilepsy as well. Currently we are carrying out elections in all the villages, sub divisions and divisions of the North West Region.  An association has been formed with a nine man executive to this effect. It is called Association for people living with Epilepsy abbreviated ASOPLEN. We shall be meeting the administration of North West for legalization next week and consequent submission to them (Ministry of public health and International Bureau for the fight against Epilepsy). Similarly, we have put up a sketch plan for the construction of a multiple treatment centre for mental health, neurology and rehabilitation in the North West Region for the aforesaid groups of people. To this effect, a total door to door survey is going on in the seven divisions that make up the North West Region so as to enable us know the number of epileptics that exist in the Region. This will enable us to plan well as we shall submit the statistics to the above mentioned groups/Ministries. This is quiet tedious on our part as we move from one division to the other but it will be good for the welfare of our target group (epileptics). The minister/his ministry will in future assist us in all the domains (not long from now) on the care and treatment of people living with Epilepsy. There after, we shall see how we can extend to the entire Country of Cameroon. DISABLED Some of the disabled persons groups are waxing strongly as they are carrying out a lot of work in Craft/embroidery and petit business. They are trying to make ends meet and the Government is granting them some National disability cards which will show their level of disability, granting them and their children free from paying school fees in Government owned institutions of learning and also trying to see how they can sensitize the communities in which they live to the fundamental rights they have to everything.
June, 2009	Day of the African Child
Jerome with the Minister of Social Affairs	June 13, 2009 Dear All, From Wednesday to Friday this week, the Honourable Minister of Social Affairs visited the North West Region.  She came to the North West to Launch activities marking the day of the African Child. This day was instituted by the Organisation of African Unity after the massacre of several children in Soweto South Africa during the apartheid regime. This day was then made so that the African community could remember the rights/dignity of the African child just like those set aside by the United Nations. Minister Catherine Mbakam Mbock then came in to the North West to launch the national events that will culminate with the Childrens' assembly in Yaounde on June 16th this year. She equally granted audiences to leaders of Organisations operating in the Region amongst whom l was present. We did discuss on ways through which we can partner and work for the good of ASODI's Orphans in the months ahead. See me in the picture greeting the Minister attached. In a similar story, I will be joining the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon Jean Paul Lavoie on the 1st of July this year in Yaoundé to celebrate the 140th Anniversary of his Country's Federation's day at his residence in Yaoundé.  This was made known to me in an invitation on the 2nd of this month. God bless us all, Jerome.
May, 2009	Epilepsy Research Results
	We received unfortunate news this week from the Principal investigator for our Epilepsy Research project, Professor Carter Snead. We could only find 24 people from all over Ngie who are positive to neurocysticercosis that is tape worm gotten from pigs that causes epilepsy in them.  We are however trying to figure out other risk factors that we can still carry out another study on them in Ngie.  Here is an excerpt from Dr. Snead’s report: “I am pleased to tell you that the CDC finally managed to assay 494 samples that Jerome successfully shipped from Cameroon to Atlanta. of these only 24 showed a positive serology for cysticercosis. On prelmininary examination of the data, these serologies appear to be equally and randomly distributed between controls and seizure patients. Therefore, we seem to have completely disproven our hypothesis that neurocysticercosis is the cause of the increased incidence of epilepsy in Northwest Cameroon. In a way, this is not too surprising to me since the seizures as described by Jerome sound to be much more severe than would be suggested by my experience with seizures associated with neurocysticercosis when I was in Los Angeles where we saw a lot in children from Mexico. However, I am uncertain where we can go from here in terms of alternative testable hypotheses of causation. I am open to any and all suggestions.”
March, 2009	Meeting of ASODI Coordinators
Output from the Coordinators Meeting	The ASODI Coordinators from all of the villages served by ASODI came together on March 21st.  Click on the link below to read the meeting report. March 2009 Coordinator’s Meeting (PDF)
March, 2009	Two Letters from Jerome
	February 26, 2009 The coordinators meeting of ASODI has been slated for Saturday the 21st of March 2009 at the ASODI'S head office in Teze.  The time is 10 am prompt. In compliance with the International Bureau for the care of persons with disability, all coordinators have been asked to form support groups of persons leaving with Epilepsy with their executives. A big thank you from the epilepsy patients who are on anti epilepsy drugs.  It is wonderful to see most of them relieved of many bars of epilepsy when they are taking the drugs. We have over 300 Orphans this year that are going to write the end of year exams.  l made a tour on some of the Primary schools  in which they are and they were happy to see me.  Some lacked text books and l got them supplied.  More on this in the statement of account to come.  Please remember them in your prayers. We started the week of Lent here yesterday. We went to church early in the morning and took the arch as a sign of from dust we came and unto dust we shall return.  This arch came from the palms we stored from palm Sunday last year that were burnt. This is another time of suffering, fasting, deep prayers and remembrance of what our lord went through here on earth.  This will last for forty days. May God bless you all, Jerome. March 16, 2009 Dear All l hope you are having a nice lent as we are preparing seriously for the passion, death and resurrection of our lord at Easter. l spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. l went there with Parliamentarian of my Constituency to deliver letters of appeal and projects on how we could have some other funds from the U.S and the Japanese Embassies.  We are still waiting for the responses. Also, l had a meeting with the director in charge of epilepsy in the Ministry of public health trying to explain the difficulties we are encountering such as more patients with little means to procure drugs for them all the time and moer and more Orphans. He asked me to come  up with an executive made up of people living with epilepsy in the North West Region, get it legalized and then submit it to him as ASODI will continue to play the technical role.  l will be doing this with the doctor who works with us in the domain in Momo division, Dr.Angwafor Samuel. Meanwhile, all is set for our coordinators meeting in Teze this coming Saturday the 21st of March this year. In other news, Pope Benedict the sixteenth will be leaving Rome to Cameroon as from this 17th of March to the 20th of March this year.  He shall be in Yaoundé through out his three days visit to Cameroon as the rest of central African Countries will meet him here in Cameroon. May God bless us all, Jerome.