Fighting Against Poverty: Chantal Biya At The ForeFront

Cameroon’s First Lady, Chantal Biya, the one whom Cameroonians and the world discovered on May 20th, 1994 as an epitome of love, care, assistance and sharing is still and remains that figure of humanity to all and sundry. As the First Lady of Cameroon, for over two decades, Chantal Biya has untiringly worked towards curbing poverty and suffering, mainly amongst the most vulnerable segments of people in society.

Mrs Biya’s exceptional touch of generosity led to her creation of humanitarian institutions such as the African Synergy against AIDS and Suffering, the Chantal Biya Foundation (CBF), the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre of Excellence for Research on Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDS (CIRCB) and the Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproductive Teaching Hospital (CHRACERH) in Yaounde. One cannot enumerate all the social and humanitarian actions Chantal Biya has carried out over some 25 years.

Whether acting as wife to the Head of State, as Founding President of the Chantal Biya Foundation (CBF), Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), or as an active member of the Pan-African NGO, African Synergy against AIDS and Suffering, of which she is the founding president, Mrs. Chantal Biya has made it a priority helping the poor, disaster victims, as well as vulnerable and marginalised groups of people in Cameroon and beyond.

The First Lady's actions have not only earned her meritorious awards such as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion, but also admiration and support from foreign partners. As such, there is no doubt during the 23rd anniversary of the Chantal Biya Foundation, the First Lady: in an editorial, revealed that there is still “More Work” to be done to be victorious over human suffering, poverty and loneliness.

For 23 years, the CBF has continued to nourish hope and expectation around the mother and child health, youth education and specialised actions for orphaned children, elderly and disabled persons. Members of CERAC, through its action plan this year, will continue to pursue th...