10 Jul 2017

An official from Thuso Rehabilitation Centre in Maun has highlighted the importance of family support in the success of rehabilitation for people living with disability.

Ms Precious Musakwa-Bondayi said although government played a major role in provision of appropriate steps to restore the dignity of people living with disability, it was equally upon family support for success of the aids.

She noted that Non-Governmental Organaisations (NGO)s as Thuso Rehabilitation Centre assisted people with disability in habilitation; helping them acquire new skills as well as restoring lost skills.

Speaking at a workshop organised by the Attorney General’s office in Maun recently, she observed that people with disability ought to be equipped in knowledge and resources to enjoy their human rights at all costs.

An official from Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, Ms Thomo Pelekekae said people with disability were still faced with challenges of accessibility to buildings and stigma.

Ms Pelekekae said some people living with disability were faced with social exclusion and discrimination. However, Ms Pelekekae said people should change mindset towards disability as it could happen to anyone in the cause of their lives.

She said in that event, one would require modification to their environment to help lesson reliability on other people.

In her remarks, head of Maun Regional Directorate on Public Prosecution, Ms Connie Letsoalo said it was important to capacitate members of Wellness and Disability committees as it was mandate of the workshop as well as to revive the committees and promote their effectiveness and efficiency.

Ms Letsoalo said the committees made it possible for other employees to appreciate issues of disability and wellness and reach out to those with disabilities, hence capacitating them was crucial.

 “We have people living with disabilities in our communities, disability can mean anything from poor eyesight to an inability to walk or complex intellectual or mental health challenges. But any condition can be overcome when the community supports education for people living with disabilities,” she said.

Ms Letsoalo said it was disheartening that some schools lacked resources and infrastructure to accommodate children with learning needs whereas some offices were inaccessible to those with disabilities especially those with inability to walk.

She however, appreciated that some buildings and offices were modified to accommodate those with disabilities. ENDS