At launch of 2nd phase of project: CBC Health Services, CBM award councils promoting inclusion.

They were recognised by the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, CBCHS, and its partner, Christian Blind Mission, CBM.

This was during the celebration of 13 years partnership in promoting disability inclusive development and the launch of the 2^nd phase of a Community-Based Inclusive Development Project implemented by both organisations.

The event February 17h in Bamenda Up Station brought together representatives of both organisations, relevant government services amongst others.

The Council Excellence Inclusion Award, CEIA, was introduced to encourage councils in their unilateral and collective efforts to foster inclusion in regional development by the CBCHS in partnership with CBM and Australia Aid during the first phase of the project.

CBCHS’ Socio-Economic Empowerment of Person's with Disability Programme, SEEPD, is directly implementing the project.

The Program Manager, Awa Chirac, explained that: "The objective of the award is to celebrate councils and decentralised support structures that have been outstanding in promoting disability inclusion in their municipalities. The categories cut across health, education, social inclusion, safeguarding and empowerment categories".

Wum, Bamenda III and Tubah Councils received the award in the health category; Jakiri and Bafut Councils won in the education category while Santa and Fundong Councils received the award in the Social Inclusion Category.

Bamenda I, Bamenda II Councils in North West Region and Magba Council in the West Region won in the Safeguarding category while Nkambe Council emerged overall best in the Empowerment Category.

SEEPD's Programme Manager, Awa Chirac, outlined a strategy that will bring all councils on board this initiative.

"We have formalised a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the United Cities and Councils of Cameroon, UCCC. Through it, we intend to use the UCCC as a vehicle to transfer good practices documented with our work with the 11 councils and we have workshops planned for councils in the North West Region to upscale the work done in the past couple of years," he said.

Ten of the councils involved developed and adopted community-based inclusive development strategies with focal person's put in place to ensure the implementation of their plans in consultation with SEEPD. Seven went further to introduce a budget line to address the empowerment needs of Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, institute a few waiver for all civil weddings of PWDs, promote the use of sign language by training interpreters and established essential documents for PWDs.

Enter second phase CBID project

The second phase of the project has as objective to improve access to health, education, economic and social participation opportunities for over 200,000 persons with disability and other vulnerable groups at risk of impairment in the North West Region.

"The target population are policy-makers which includes the ministries of health, social affairs, basic, secondary and higher education, women's empowerment and the family, the University of Bamenda and NASLA, five district medical officers, 35 Mayors, CSOs, service providers amongst others," the me Manager said.

Celebrating 13 years partnership

According to the Director of the CBCHS, Prof Tih Pius, "we are celebrating 13 years of intensive work for persons with disability with a God-given partner like CBM.

"I appreciate all who contributed in the success of this partnership amongst which are the relevant government services and the media who have accompanied us in bringing inclusive services to all," Prof Tih said.

He made a call on their partner, saying “as we launch the second phase of this project, I call on you our partner to stay with CBCHS for inclusion to be a reality in Cameroon and that can be copied by all".

CBMs Regional Quality Programme Manager, Peter Mue, on his part saluted the partnership and all who made it a success.

"I appreciate the representatives of person's with disability, the SEEPD program, a key contributor in ensuring PWDs are included in aspects of our work. The government services have particularly demonstrated what public-private partnership can bring to the population. To local councils and other decentralised services, the work of inclusion is evident in what you do for your municipalities," Mue said.

CBC Executive President, Rev Dr Charlemagne Nditemeh, prides himself with leading an institution referenced with promoting disability.

"I am humbled to be leading an institution referenced in promoting disability inclusive development. The work we do has changed the narrative in relation to PWD and I feel so proud. We can't compose a heavenly song for CBM because all of this wouldn't have been possible without a partner like you. We hope to do more in the next phase of the project," Rev Nditemeh added.