Pig Rearing Project for Widows in Cameroon

On Tuesday, January 22, the field team visited Tole to survey the living residence/conditions of three widows residing in Tole, Cameroon. Mbe Gladys Kum, Anjeh Anne-Marie, and Esong Lydia Nyenti were the three widows selected from eleven women to participate in the Cameroon Widows Pig Project in Tole. The three widows were selected after completing a Vulnerability Index survey and scoring in the highest percentile.  Upon arrival, the field team met with the three women and discussed the residence /conditional terms of having available land were pig pens could be constructed and isolated feeding areas away from other wild pigs. These conditions would reduce the interaction and spread of disease from wild pigs and disturbance from thieves or neighbors.

After the brief meeting, the field team surveyed two of the three widows’ residences. Mbe Gladys Kum, opted out of the viewing of the residences due to her not owning any available space to construct a pig pen. Mbe Gladys Kum, was renting her home and did not believe her landlord would provide consent to use the property for rearing piglets. Moving forward, Anjeh Anne-Marie, and Esong Lydia Nyenti residences were surveyed and deemed satisfactory. In light of the small selection pool, the field will attempt another Vulnerability Index survey in order to increase the beneficiary group.

Subsequently, on Wednesday, January 30^th, a field team visited Tole again to administer the second round of Vulnerability Index surveys. Mrs. Amah Ansah, Mrs. Anoh Sera Dewah, Mrs. Wanyuka Ichemambi Susan, and Mrs. Jenu Susan participated in the group of nine widows that completed surveys. The project would like to select a total of five widows to participate in the second round of piglet distribution. It is important to note that five widows that were not selected from the last survey, participated in the second round of surveys into be reassessed. The program is attracting many widows from different areas and requesting for our assistance in their locality.

On Monday, February 4^th, to begin the new month evaluation,  the veterinarian administered a first round of vaccination to the piglets in Ikata.  All of the piglet are in good health and are not showing any signs of disease. Each widow displays excitement about the growth and development of the piglets. The last feed donation to the widows was done on Thursday 7^th February. Meanwhile assessment of site for piglet pen construction will be done in Tole on 14^th February 2013. The booster dose of the vaccine shall be done on the 25^th Feb.

The project is in appreciation of your efforts and monetary support that allows our organization to reach widows with pigs rearing activities for income generation.

Thank you