For Committed Services : Cameroon Government Acknowledges Helen Keller Officials

Since rolling out its activities in Cameroon in 1992 to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people, Helen Keller Int’l has made great strides. Fighting the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programmes based on data and research conducted on sight, health and nutrition. Helen Keller Int’l builds the capacity of government, the civil society and private sector.

As Recompense Of Services Rendered  
In acknowledgement of all these services, the Cameroon government, through President Paul Biya, recently awarded decorations of the Knight of the Order of Valour to two former Helen Keller Int’l officials and one serving official. The decorations were affixed on the chests of the recipients on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 in Yaounde by the Minister of Public Health, Dr Malachie Manaouda. 

Ismael Teta, Kathy Spahn, Michel Hendji
The recipients are Dr Ismael Teta, former Helen Keller Int’l Cameroon Country Director; Kathy Spahn, former Helen Keller Int’l President and Chief Executive Officer, CEO and Michel Hendji Yoya, the current Helen Keller Cameroon Deputy Country Director. Dr Ismael Teta and Michel Hendji were decorated with their medals of the Knight of the Order of Valour by the Minister of Public Health, Dr Malachie Manaouda. Kathy Spahn will be decorated later in Washington DC, USA.    

The Dividends Of Cooperation 
“The cooperation between Helen Keller Int’l and the Cameroon government has been demonstrated in another dimension by the medals awarded by President Paul Biya for the decoration of some its former officials. To me, the decoration is a call for greater devotion to service and loyalty to the Cameroon government so that together we can fight our common cause against malnutrition and diseases that affect most vulnerable people,” commented Michel Hendji. “I am very delighted with the decoration given by the Head of State. I am very happy and I say thank you Mr President! I commit to do more in the future,” Hendji said.

Commitment To Mobilise More Resources 
“I thank the Ministry of Public Health and the entire Cameroon government for the Knight of the Order of Valour medal awarded me by President Paul Biya. This is also an honour for international partners in Cameroon, especially Helen Keller Int’l. It is a sign of recognition of the services rendered by development partners in Cameroon. The country has taken note. On our part, we commit to continue to mobilise the resources required by government for its health, malnutrition, Neglected Tropical Diseases, eye health purposes. These are the main areas of focus of Helen Keller Int’l work,” Dr Ismael Teta said. 

Accepted In All Humility 
“It was with great humility that I accepted the decoration by the Cameroonian government. It is not only for my person, but recognition of the support offered to the Cameroon government by Helen Keller Int’l and international development partners. I am delighted and grateful for the award,” Dr Teta remarked. 

About Helen Keller Intl
Founded in 1915 by Helen Keller and George Kessler, Helen Keller Int’l is a Non-Governmental International organisation whose mission is to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people. It fights the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programmes based on data and research conducted on sight, health and nutrition. Operational in Cameroon since 1992, Helen Keller Int’l builds the capacity of government, the civil society and private sector.

HKI Activities, Programmes
The organization promotes the development of preventive and curative programmes in the medium and long term that provide considerable support for effective eye health and eye disease control. As well as malnutrition in Cameroon. These services are...