Central African Republic

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In Central African Republic, Handicap International is working in the following areas:

• disability
• income generating activities

CONTEXT
The political climate has been unstable for many years with a consequent deterioration in its economic situation. 2003 was marked by a coup d’Etat in March, resulting in a new government and president. Everything remains to be done in this country that has been bled dry: re-establishing security, officialising the new government by the organisation of elections, regenerating the economy and improving health care, including the care of people with HIV/AIDS (approximately 20% of the population). All these circumstances have only added to the vulnerability of the most destitute, including people with disabilities.

BACKGROUND
1994: training of orthopaedic technicians and set up of a rehabilitation centre in Bangui

1996: training of rehabilitation staff

1998: seminar on the recognition of training, during which recommendations were made for the creation of a rehabilitation curriculum within the Faculty of Health Sciences

1999: creation of a 2-year curriculum for the training of rehabilitation and orthopaedic technician. A first intake of 16 rehabilitation technicians and 10 orthopaedic technicians qualified at the end of 2001.

2000: the rehabilitation centre created in 1994 became the National Association for Rehabilitation and Orthopaedics in Central Africa (Anrac), supported by Handicap International.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, a legislative bill concerning the status, protection and promotion of disabled people was drafted. This bill was voted into law by the National Assembly at the end of 2000 and its application order in August 2002.
A campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of intra-muscular quinine injections and to provide information about the club foot was carried out.

2001: launch of a campaign of infantile orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation in partnership with various hospitals and rehabilitation centres.

2002: an income-generating activities (IGA) project for people with disabilities was set up in partnership with the Crédit mutuel de Centrafrique (CMCA).
The staff was evacuated from the country in October because of the insecurity following an attempted coup d’Etat.

2003: return of the team in February and re-evacuation in March, after the coup d’Etat. Resumption of activities in April. Continuation of the IGA project for people with disabilities with CMCA, and new financial partnership with a Central African association, Carsa.

STRATEGY
Given the difficult situation in the Central African Republic and the scarcity of NGOs in the country, Handicap International has decided to maintain its presence here. The strategy for 2004 is:

• finalization of the first income-generating activities project for people with disabilities
• assistance to Anrac in working towards autonomy.

ACTIVITIES

• Continuation of the microcredit project for disabled people, in partnership with Crédit mutuel de Centrafrique and Carsa.
• Intensification of professional training and subsidisation of associations for IGA.
• Assistance to Anrac in working towards autonomy. Financial and structural support of the association and launch of an orthopaedics campaign.

Beneficiaries: people with disabilities, disabled people's organisations and rehabilitation staff.

CONTACTS
Tel: (236) 61 35 06
E-mail: hi_rca@yahoo.fr