The Cameroon Human Rights Commission (CHRC) issued a statement Monday on the eve of World Braille Day citing the difficulties experienced by blind and visually impaired people in the country.
"About 600,000 people in Cameroon are visually impaired," with 150,000 unable to read with their eyes and fewer than 2,000 able to read Braille, the CHRC said.
In this Central African country with a population of more than 26 million, the lack of Braille books and teachers is the reason for the low level of education and the difficulties disabled and visually impaired people have in being independent, according to the commission.
It said that "90% of all published materials are not accessible to the blind or visually impaired," noting that these people are also excluded from certain activities, which leads to prejudice, intolerance and discrimination from sighted people.
The COVID-19 pandemic’s context also exposes visually impaired people to a higher risk of infection due to limited access to information on guidelines and precautions to protect themselves and stop the spread of the pandemic, according to the Cameroonian human rights promoter.
It praised technological advances that recognize the visually impaired and give them skills in reading and writing in Braille.
It also advocated for the need to produce materials in accessible formats in large print Braille or audio editions.
The promotion of a response to COVID-19 taking into account blind people, children’s initiation to Braille code, access to facilitated communication means and innovative solutions are among the other recommendations the CHRC mentioned.
"The commission encourages private investment initiatives for the creation of inclusive and affordable schools for the education of the blind and visually impaired, as well as for the training of teachers in the use of Braille," it added.
