Voluntary Service to Help People Who Stutter in Cameroon, Africa

by Samatha Jansen

This article focuses mostly on Canadian Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), Mr. Gordon Skinner and his contribution to the stuttering community in Cameroon. In the country of Cameroon, with a population of 16 million people and given that one percent of any given population is made up of People who Stutter (PWS), it would be expected that approximately 160,000 people stutter. However, the prevalence rate in Cameroon may be as high as 5 percent. The Speak Clear Association of Cameroon (SCAC) was created to bring hope to the people who stutter in Cameroon and this is a national self-help movement.
Mr. Skinner began his visit by organizing intensive therapy sessions for 12 adults who stutter, with a focus on slow easy talking (set). Remarkable progress was made that was recorded during the sessions as some of the participants who had difficulties saying their names at the start of the sessions could speak without much stuttering at the end of the sessions. In addition to offering speech therapy for PWS, workshops for teachers and health professionals were offered. Mr. Skinner also spoke on a television broadcast, where he spoke out against making fun of people who stutter because comedians on the television show were poking fun at stuttering right before he went on air.
I initially wanted to know why the author, Joseph Lukong, thought the prevalence rates were higher in Cameroon. This question had been answered previously, but I would still like to share the author’s explanation. He stated that it “was difficult to say,” but that “higher rates of stuttering have also been reported in some of the tribes in West Africa.” Therefore, it is not only in Cameroon that prevalence is higher in Africa. He felt that this may be an important subject for research and speculated that it may have something to do with ethnic origin, culture, climate or the food they eat. The question I asked Mr. Lukong was if there were other therapy techniques used besides the slow easy talking. He responded by saying other techniques were taught, although he didn’t mention which kinds. However, he stated that most of the emphasis was placed on slow easy talking, as the time was relatively short to cover all techniques in detail. They also used support group meetings when practicing their tools.
I believe that this article is relevant to our fluency class because it helps us to understand how diverse stuttering is and shows the influence that therapy can have in just a short amount of time. This article also provides encouragement to those who wish to work or volunteer abroad in countries that do not have a great amount of access to therapy.