REALIZING RIGHTS, IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEERS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (CDVTA) IN THE PROMOTION OF ELDERLY RIGHTS & LIVELIHOODS IN THE NORTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON

By NJUAKOM NCHII FRANCIS | Department of Development Studies 

ABSTRACT

In recent years, there have been huge advocacy efforts calling for enhanced international thinking and actions on elderly rights. Various stakeholders have called for stronger visibility and increased use of international human rights standards to address the vulnerable situation of older people. The situation of older people has been a social policy concern in the developed and least developed countries. This study x-rays the situation of older people in the North West Region of Cameroon, to find out areas where older people are having problems on their rights and livelihoods and investigate whether or not CDVTA is addressing these problems. The stratified random sampling technique was used and data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS, frequency tables, pie charts and histograms). It further recommends measures to promote elderly rights and improve livelihoods. A sampling frame of 500 older people within 4 Divisions in the North West Region of Cameroon was considered and a sample size of 140 was extracted for thorough investigation. The results showed that the older people in the study area were not given adequate care and CDVTA as a nongovernmental organization was doing all in its capacity to ensure the amelioration of these poor conditions. This research therefore, recommends that an active social ageing policy should be enshrined into law in Cameroon to improve on the lot of the old and the elderly. Download