Access To Civil Status Documents: Traditional Chiefs, Community Leaders Learn Roles, Commitment

“Some people continue to believe that children born with disability are of no use to society. Meanwhile, disability is only a limitation that can be overcome. When a disabled person does not have a birth certificate, National Identity Card and disability card to obtain preferential services, that person does not actually exist,” said Mrs. Soppi Etame Adele, the Divisional Delegate for Social Affairs for Mfoundi Division in the Centre Region.

Their Involvement, Commitment  
She spoke in Yaounde on Thursday, August 28, 2025 while opening a workshop organized by PROMHANDICAM Association. A charity that handles the concerns of people living with disability. The two-day training is for traditional chiefs and community leaders in Mfoundi. To debrief them and solicit their cooperation and commitment in the implementation of a new project, “Promoting Access to Inclusive Social Protection for Vulnerable People Living with Disabilities in Mfoundi Division, Centre Region of Cameroon.”

Crucial Civil Status Documents 
The Mfoundi Divisional Delegate for Social Affairs said the project seeks to ease access to the deliverance of official civil status documents (birth certificates, National identity Cards and disability cards) to vulnerable people living with disability in Mfoundi Division. Without which they cannot access social protection services. She blamed the situation partly on some parents who had long considered disability as a taboo. Thus, such children were not given consideration. 
Soppi Etame said the workshop was to brief community and traditional leaders on the project and what is expected of them because they know people in their communities better. 

Several Unused Laws
She felicitated PROMHANDICAM for conceiving the project, calling for a change of mentality, beginning from the grassroots. Adding that there are several laws protecting the disabled, which they need to take advantage of. “Every Cameroonian child, no matter their disability, should feel integrated in the society,” the Divisional Delegate underscored. “Access to civil status documents has been a problem for vulnerable people with disability. The State has made provision for legal and institutional frameworks, but their implementation faces hurdles because of socio-cultural considerations concerning the disabled," she noted. 

Benefitting From What Society Offers 
“The workshop is therefore important because traditional and community leaders will serve as interface between the families of people with disability and project field staff. Every disabled person must be recognized by society and should benefit from all what society offers. But for this to happen, they must possess a birth certificate, National Identity Card and disability card to access education, healthcare and all what society offers,” Mrs. Soppi Etame Adele stressed.           

40 Million Project
“The 9-month project is funded by Christian Blind Mission, CBM, to the tune of 40 million FCFA. Participants in the workshop are divided into two sets according to the 7 subdivisions in Mfoundi Division - with each having its own whole day of training,” explained Paul Bernard Noah, the Director General of PROMHANDICAM. He said the project is a pilot whose success depends on the mobilization of field stakeholders. He commended the Ministry of Social Affairs, MINAS for its unyielding support to the work of PROMHANDICAM Association. 

Children With Additional Needs 
Urging stakeholders to truly get involved in implementing the project, “Promoting Access to Inclusive Social Protection for Vulnerable People Living with Disabilities in Mfoundi Division, Centre Region of Cameroon.” Noah recalled that disabled children are now referred to as “children with additional needs” because society tends to neglect them.

70 People As Target
According to Paul Bernard Noah, the workshop is part of PROMHANDICAM’s strategy in implementing the project “because we need stakeholders on ground to help us.” He clarified that the project, worth 40 million FCFA, will be implemented from August 2025-March 2026. Some 70 people with disability – 40 adults and 30 children – in Mfoundi Division are expected to be reached. The project will ensure that birth certificates, National Identity Cards and disability cards - as needed - are issued to them.  

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