This region comprises nine member organisations: The Burundi National Association of the Blind (ANAB), Cameroon National Association of the Blind (ANAC), the Central African Blind Union (UNAC), the National Association of the Visually Impaired in Chad (ANDVT), the Congolese Union of the Blind (UNAC), the National Union of the Blind in DRC (UNAC), the Gabon National Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted (UNAMG), the Rwandese Union of the Blind (RUB), and the Association of the Blind in Sao Tome and Principe (ACASTEP).
Our member organisations in this region are Francophone for the most part, Except for Sao Tome and Principe, which is a Lusophone country. This has historically marginalised the organisation in Sao Tome; thereby, hindering its growth and participation in the region. AFUB is launching a project in partnership with NABP to address these disparities.
The organisations in Rwanda and Cameroon are among our strongest member organisations. The leaders of the organisation in Cameroon, Gabon, and Rwanda, have been actively involved in AFUB, namely Paul Tezanou (note: clicking this link will take you to an article in French), who is currently serving as AFUB Immediate Past President, Odette Juimo of Cameroon, who is AFUB Women’s Representative for Central Africa, Jean Claude Minko of Gabon, who is the regional officer for Central Africa, and Pierrette Mbanzonghe of Gabon, who is the AFUB Women’s Committee Chairperson.
Except for Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Sao Tome and Principe, this region has its lion’s share in low-income countries, with most of them ranking at the bottom of the Human Development Index. Conflict situations, internal displacement, refugee camps, rape and violence are by no means alien to the region: Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. The challenges are immense, and most of our member organisations lack the requisite capacities to take up the challenge and advocate for including visually impaired persons in mainstream policies and programs. Topping our priorities in this region is increasing access to education by visually impaired girls and boys.
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