40 US Peace Corps volunteers commissioned

Some 40 American Peace Corps trainees have been commissioned to serve in Cameroonian communities for the next two years in the agricultural and health domains.

The community volunteers were commissioned at the American Embassy at a ceremony presided over by the Ambassador, H.E Michael Hosa.

The US Ambassador cautioned them to be prudent in the discharge of their duties, given that their services are very important, the sacrifices real and the rewards even greater and lasting for a lifetime.

“Trainees, your fellow Peace Corps Volunteers currently in the field have set a high bar for you to meet. As a result of their work, over 21,000 individuals have received HIV prevention training; 16,000 individuals have been trained on the use of bed nets with over 3,500 individuals already trained on food security and agriculture productivity,” he stated. He added that the trainers have enabled over 1,400 women to adopt better nutrition practices and over 900 new gardens were created in their difficult communities of service.

The commissioned volunteers, who took a 10-week training in the health programme are, therefore, expected to continue to support the priorities of the Government of Cameroon in reducing maternal, child and infant mortality and morbidity, and in preventing HIV, with specific emphasis on preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

“Volunteers are community health agents who work closely with public and private health institutions at the operational level. Their interventions are mainly focused on prevention activities, sensitisation, health education and implementation of comprehensive behavior change communication,” explains part of a press document.

The Country Director of Peace Corps Cameroon, Mark Orlic, said the 40 volunteers were trained in Ebolowa and Mengong in the South Region where the US community-based centre is located.

“The agriculture volunteers also spent four weeks at the Ku-Bome fish cultural station near Mbengwi in the Northwest Region. Our recently redesigned agriculture programmew currently focuses on support for integrated farming systems on smallholder farms. Agriculture volunteers will be working with farmers to practise improved crop production, gardening, pig and poultry production, fish farming, beekeeping and other enterprises, with special attention to maximising the benefits of integrating these activities,” he stated.

He added that the agriculture programme aims at addressing food security in Cameroon, while also providing opportunities for employment of youth in rural areas.

For the newly commissioned agriculture volunteer, Maoulay Adjorlolo, he will be providing a critically needed service by assisting farmers to develop comprehensive farm plans, which incorporate production, conservation of natural resources and other business aspects.

“I strongly believe that this approach to agriculture will, in the long run, be sustainable and will deliver results for local communities that are increasingly challenged by malnutrition and poverty,” he said.

The Peace Corps is an agency of the US Government created by President Kennedy in 1961. Their operations began in Cameroon in 1962 with 20 education and rural development volunteers but have, today, been diversified to include agribusiness, community health and youth development. Over 3,500 American citizens have served as Peace Corps volunteers in Cameroon since their operations began in the country.