Disability and Inclusion, a Necessity in Cameroon.

Persons living with disability in the Northwest Region have criticized the inaccessibility to public institutions in Cameroon. Access to many public places have been a problem but little or no attention is paid to them.

According to the World health organization (WHO), there are 2 million people living with disability in Cameroon, with a prevalence rate of 6.9%  according to Cockburn et al, 2011, and 10.2%  according to Mactaggart et al, 2014 being 138,000  and 204,000  PWDs respectively.

 Most of them have limited access to education, healthcare, employment and public transport. Myths and believes have continue to make life even more difficult as  discrimination and a sense of sad feelings looms in their minds.

Ambe Wilta Bihnwi, living with disability is a level 3 three student studying English Private Law at The University of Bamenda. She expresses dissatisfaction about the inaccessibility of the campus and study halls.

Ambe Wilta Bihnwi

"Since I came to this school, it has not been easy. I think everybody at the university is supposed to be inclusive but that is not the case here expecially for us. Most classes are held upstairs which is very difficult for me to attend. Now I'm supposed to graduate this year, but I'm not quite sure I will graduate because I have been missing classes, CAs and most lecturers give marks for attendance. I grew up to discover that I was disabled and my mother told me I missed a polio vacine vaccine. It is not my fault that I am disabled, so i feel bad when infrastructures here are not inclusive and students don't associate with me."

However, the awareness on the need to be inclusive is gradually being considered by some.
The Bamenda General Hospital has been undergoing some rehabilitation works. The rehabilitation has put a smile on the faces of persons living with disability for it’s disability inclusive sensitivity.

VIP public toilet General Hospital B'da

Persons with disability can have access to the toilets and other infrastructures of the hospital.



Comfort Mussa a journalist, media personality and an award winning Freelance Journalist initiated a women’s empowerment organization called SisterSpeak237, with desire to an open space engaging discussions about women's issues in Cameroon and Africa. SisterSpeak237 under its founder, recently organized a fashion show in Cameroon's capital Yaoundé featuring models with disabilities.

Models living with disabilities 

Its aim was to change perceptions and break down barriers. The fashion show was dubbed Access 2019. This was an opportunity to inspire a new generation of Cameroonians living with any form of disability to feel accepted.
"One thing we want to achieve at SisterSpeak237 is to change perceptions around what people think about women with disabilities in Cameroon" said the event organizer, Comfort Mussa.

As the advocacy for inclusion and mainstreaming of disability continue to take center stage in discussions around, many people in Cameroon have been making their voices heard to break the chain. Lawong Kendra Yaah a female activist is going this way and shall be hosting a seminar at The University of Bamenda campus on Tuesday 16th April 2019, organized under the theme "Hands Together with The Physically Impaired"

Ambe Macmillian Awa