04 May 2014

Batswana have been advised not to treat people living with disabilities as imbeciles but instead give them support and love for their own recognition.

Kgosi Elaasare Phologolo of Goo-Tshweu ward said this at the commemoration of International Disability Day in Hukuntsi recently.

He called on government to construct buildings that are more accessible to people living with disability so that they could be able to get information from offices to develop themselves.

Officiating at the event, Motor Vehicle Accident fund (MVA) case manager, Ms Lydia Nkhoma commended the government for setting up an office at the Office of the President which coordinates all matters pertaining to disability.

She called upon all other stakeholders to embrace the idea and support the office as it has raised both the level of accountability, effectiveness and service delivery.

Ms Nkhoma noted that there were about 220 people living with disabilities in the Hukuntsi Sub-district, adding that such disabilities vary from visual, audio, to physical impairment.

She however applauded the Hukuntsi Sub district Council and various stakeholders for providing services such as shelter and education among others to people with diability.

Ms Nkhoma said the council has also enrolled such people in various programmes such as poultry, small stock rearing and kiosk amongst others.

She said in the past people with disabilities were shunned, and mostly hidden by families in secluded places behind the mainstream, but nowadays  things have changed and people are embracing the concept that disability is not inability hence the need to break up all barriers and open doors for an inclusive society.

Ms Nkhoma said disability can be attributed to various causes such as birth, road accidents, chronic illness and other natural causes.

However, she noted that other disabilities could be prevented through heeding road safety messages. ENDS