By Wifah J Nde
In a development landscape where global commitments often struggle to translate into everyday realities, Awa Jacques Chirac is reshaping the narrative by bringing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into sharp focus at community level.
The Programme Manager of the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SEEPD) Programme of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services was recently honoured with a Life Time Achievement Award in Bamenda. He received the distinction for spearheading a transformative agenda that mainstreams disability-inclusive development in Cameroon.
Validated by a panel of academics, rights advocates, journalists and authors, the award marks a decade of impactful leadership. For Chirac, it affirms that his mission to bring a marginalised sector into the spotlight is making meaningful progress.
Global Agenda, Local Impact
Within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the mantra of “Leaving No One Behind” is often reduced to rhetoric by many community-based organisations. Chirac, however, has turned it into a call to action. His leadership has focused on converting policy intentions into lived realities, challenging institutions to adopt development models that address the unique needs of every individual.
Under his stewardship, the SEEPD Programme has shifted perceptions of disability from a charity-based approach to one centred on dignity and empowerment, positioning persons with disabilities as active contributors to national development.
His tenure is marked by several landmark achievements that have embedded equity within Cameroonian systems, spanning education, healthcare, empowerment, advocacy, participation and social integration.
Inclusive Education
In partnership with the Cameroon GCE Board, examination scripts are now provided in Braille for candidates with visual impairments. Equitable time allowances have also been introduced to ensure fair competition. Additionally, the creation of a national accessible digital library has expanded opportunities for learning and information sharing.
Healthcare
Healthcare support for persons with disabilities has remained central to SEEPD interventions. The programme has worked to reverse treatable impairments, preventing children from developing long-term disabilities.
A key initiative is the treatment of clubfoot using the Ponseti method, through which thousands of children across eight regions of Cameroon have received corrective care. This approach has now been institutionalised as a national programme under the Ministry of Public Health.
Beyond treatment, the programme has upgraded health facilities, donated medical supplies worth billions of francs, and promoted inclusive healthcare practices tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities.
Systemic Sustainability
Chirac’s advocacy has ensured that inclusive practices in health, education and livelihoods are being integrated into local governance at council level across the North West Region. Councils now actively involve persons with disabilities in budgetary discussions.
This transition from project-based interventions to systemic adoption represents a more sustainable impact that extends beyond individual programmes.
The Weight of Excellence
For Chirac, the accolade from Life Time Media Group is not a culmination, but a renewed responsibility.
“Recognition of this magnitude carries a constructive weight. It challenges me to ensure that excellence is not a destination we have reached, but a standard we must uphold every single day,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Rather than resting on his laurels, Chirac is using the recognition as a springboard to expand paediatric eye care to remote communities. The initiative aims to prevent blindness among thousands of children and provide corrective treatment for refractive errors, ensuring that physical limitations do not hinder access to education.
The programme targets providing life-changing eye surgeries for at least 1,500 children annually, addressing conditions that often go untreated in underserved areas.
