In a major step toward making healthcare more accessible for persons with disabilities in general, CUAPWD advocacy team visited the ABII Specialist Polyclinic in Bamenda recently. The team met with Dr. Okwen Marvicc Tebid, the clinicβs CEO, Pediatric Ophthalmologist, and Squint Surgeon, to discuss concrete ways to deepen disability inclusion in healthcare delivery.
This visit was carried out under the Building Effective Networks (BEN) project. Implemented within the framework of the CBCHS EDID–Liliane Fonds-MIVA partnership, the initiative positions CUAPWD at the strategic forefront of advocacy efforts aimed at driving systemic inclusion across communities. The core focus of this visit was to improve the quality of health services and ensure inclusive care for children, youth, and the broader disability community.
Turning Dialogue in to Action: Key Outcome
The discussions yielded highly positive and actionable outcomes. To ensure disability-related concerns are handled efficiently, CUAPWD proposed
- Designating a Disability Focal Person: To ensure disability-related concerns are handled efficiently, CUAPWD proposed assigning a dedicated focal person within the polyclinic. Dr. Tebid warmly embraced the idea, agreeing to appoint a staff member to take charge of this crucial role.
- Easing the Financial Burden: The conversation also centered on providing financial relief, specifically through subsidies and reduced treatment costs for children and youth with disabilities.
The CEO shared that this is an initiative she had already started, and she welcomed CUAPWDβs collaboration to make these financial relief measures more effective and sustainable.
Building Long-Term Capacity
To ensure the clinic’s environment is fully supportive, CUAPWD will also step in to train the polyclinicβs staff on inclusive healthcare practices, equipping them with the skills to effectively interact with and attend to patients with different impairment types. To solidify these commitments, the meeting concluded with an agreement that CUAPWD will draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This document will formally put all discussed points on paper, creating a structured framework to achieve a truly inclusive healthcare environment that will benefit not only children and youths with disabilities but the entire disability community.
