Visually Impaired Persons Honoured

A specialised library for this category of people was inaugurated in Douala on Tuesday, January 28, 2014.

The campus of the University of Douala last Tuesday January 28, received a special wave of visitors, who turned out to witness the concretisation of a long-time dream.

The Divisional Officer of Douala III, Jean Marie Tchakui, accompanied by the Littoral Regional Delegate for Arts and Culture, Michel Edouard Ndoye Messi, alongside other dignitaries, officially inaugurated an ultramodern specialised library for the blind and visually impaired dubbed "Bibliothèque Le Pavillon Blanc".

The newly acquired structure comprises books in audio formats, reading machines, books with large font sizes and Braille materials. The initiative according to the centre's promoter Joli-Beau Koube, a Cameroonian based in Italy, was spurred by the reading and learning difficulties he encountered as an albino throughout his academic experience.

Thus, in response to the Head of State's call for the implication of the Diaspora in developmental strides back at home, his modest gesture aims at restoring the smiles and even lost hopes of persons suffering from visual imperfections. His endnote launched a call for the government and local authorities to afford space whereby a befitting structure can be erected to house the over 2000-volume package and machines available for the masses.

The donators were represented by Marco Bongi, the president of APRI Onlus; an association for the blind and visually impaired based in Italy. He announced future prospects like travelling possibilities, in line with the existing relations between Cameroon and Italy.