Benin’s 1,422 new chance equality cards: a real game-changer for people with disabilities?
Can a single card truly reshape the daily lives of people living with disabilities in Benin? That is the question at the heart of the government’s latest move, as 1,422 new Chance Equality Cards were officially handed over to beneficiaries. The initiative, led by Social Affairs and Microfinance Minister Véronique Tognifodé, brings the total number of cards produced by the National Agency for the Identification of Persons (ANIP) to over 6,100, all set for gradual distribution across the country.
A card that opens doors to priority services
Established under Benin’s law on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, the Chance Equality Card is far more than a simple ID. It serves as a legal and social tool designed to guarantee preferential access to a range of essential services:
- Healthcare: Reduced fees and free specific treatments or orthopedic equipment in public health facilities.
- Education and training: Exemption or reduction of tuition fees in public institutions, plus priority access to scholarships and vocational training.
- Transport and employment: Easier access to public transport and incentives for socio-professional integration in both the public and private sectors.
During the handover ceremony, Minister Tognifodé stressed that this effort aligns with the government’s vision of turning vulnerable people into true “privileged citizens of the Republic,” breaking down barriers of stigma and economic exclusion.
How the system ensures reliability and nationwide reach
The issuance process relies on strict traceability, managed jointly by ANIP and the network of One-Stop Social Protection Centers (GUPS) located in communes. Each applicant undergoes a medical assessment by state-approved doctors to formally determine the disability rate and nature before the card is issued.
Speaking for the beneficiaries, the Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities of Benin (FAPHB) welcomed the program’s continuity while urging families and eligible individuals to complete the necessary steps at GUPS offices to claim their rights. ANIP and the Ministry of Social Affairs are continuing distribution operations across all 12 departments to process the thousands of pending applications.