A donation of wheel chairs, a long walk and fanfare marked celebrations in Douala on December 3, 2014.

The celebration of the 23^rd edition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in the port city of Douala put smiles on the faces of disabled children and parents, through the donation of wheelchairs by a Non-Governmental Organisation known as Handi Plus. During the handing over by the Senior Divisional Officer for Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea, the crowd of persons with disabilities expressed their appreciation through thunderous applauses.

Speaking after the ceremony, Wouri’s Divisional Delegate of Social Affairs, Marie Diné Bouem, said the government through her ministry has reached out to disabled children and parents and to children of parents living with disability. In the region, she said there are about 3,000 persons with disabilities and over 500 disabled students in Wouri Division alone benefit scholarships with a complete waiver of tuition fees in their various schools.

Commemorated on the theme: “Sustainable Development, the Promise of Technology,” the representative of persons with disabilities in Douala, Marie Florence Sout, commended government efforts on the free education of disabled persons and mentioned that emergence will be easily realised with the contribution of disabled persons. She appealed for free medical care for persons with disabilities and enjoined the public to change their perception about persons with disabilities.

Ayuk Akoachere, a disabled person who is also Financial Planning Manager for MTN Douala, said the greatest barrier for disabled persons is their mindset. “Disability is not inability. With a positive mindset, a physically-impaired person can move mountains,” he stated. He said an enabling working environment will permit persons with disabilities take part in the socio-economic and environmental emergence.  After listening to their various appeals, Naseri Paul Bea promised to transmit them to hierarchy.