West region: Physically challenged persons have limited access to health care -Advocates
By Stephen TADAHA
Persons living with disabilities in the West Region have pleaded with competent authorities to facilitate their access to health care, decent work, and their involvement in decision-making.
Their plights were made head at the Foumban multimedia center, Noun division of the West Region on Sunday, December 3, 2023, during a ceremony to mark the International Day of Persons Living with Disabilities.
The day was commemorated under the theme “United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities”.
The ceremony which was presided over by the 3rd Deputy to the Senior divisional officer for the Noun division, was coordinated by Fidelis Njie Ewumbue, Regional delegate of social affairs for the West Region.
Physically challenged persons in the region, like their counterparts all over Cameroon, have limited access to health care, and decent work and are not always taken into consideration during decision-making processes.
The International Day of Persons Living with disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
Over 1 billion people in the world according to the UN, have some form of disability and more than 100 million disabled persons are children.
Also, children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children. Also, 50% of disabled persons cannot afford health care, and an estimated 46% of older persons aged 60 years and above are people with disabilities.
