In line with the 21st edition of their day, emphasis was laid on social inclusion and equality.
The Banquet Hall of Littoral Governor’s Office was full to capacity on December 03, as physically challenged persons within the Region turned out massively for activities marking the 21st edition of the International Day for the Disabled; under the theme “Removing barriers to promote the advent of an accessible and inclusive society for all”.
Presiding at the ceremony, the Secretary General at the Littoral Governor’s Office, Ngbwa Ludovic summarised government’s efforts as that of inclusion in diverse services of the community for the walk towards emergence as prone by the Head of State. Thus, he called on all and sundry to work together for the respect and promotion of the rights of the physically challenged who are liable to discrimination and stigmatisation.
Meanwhile, statistics from the World Health Organisation and recent population census, presented by the Littoral Regional Delegate of Social Affairs, Jean Pierre Edjoa revealed that there exist 376.539 physically challenged persons out of the over 2.500.000 inhabitants in the Region. He added that the government through the Ministry of Social Affairs strives to assist this group overcome their physical limitations by harnessing their inward potentials. This is through the creation of rehabilitation centres, the provision of formal and specialised education for capacity building; the social insertion and re-insertion of this group of people.
In an earlier address on behalf of the physically challenged, Innocent Sielahe recommended the free education of physically challenged children or children with such parents; the implementation of their rights for education, employment and health services; the effective functioning of the services created at the level of the Ministry, alongside the integration of the physically challenged in decision making milieus.
The day proper was preceded by weeklong educative, health and sports activities. In order to fully participate in decision-making, ELECAM officials distributed kits in Braille and DVD compatible formats, for them to understand the present electoral set up and register massively on the voter’s list.
