18 Jun 2020

A Botswana Council for the Disabled official has appealed to the nation to assist people living with disabilities (PLWD) who have been hit hard by the outbreak of COVID-19.

Mr Dickinson Samaemo, the organisation’s chairperson, made the appeal on Tuesday when updating the nation on the impact and effects of Covid-19 on PLWDs.

He lamented that due to the pandemic, most organisations working with PLWDs were now competing with government in seeking donations with donors seemingly prioritising support to the state.

The current state of affairs had resulted in shrinking financial resources, shortage of personnel as organisations were now required to have SHE officers, he said adding shortage of transport was another challenge.

Mr Samaemo also spoke of possible mental health challenges experienced during the lockdown and its aftermath.

Due to restricted movements, PLWD were not able to interact with the environment they had been used to, he said explaining that not being able to go to school or work caused confusion and fear in some.

He said some suffered panic attacks because they did not understand why things around them had suddenly changed, especially those who could not comprehend the Covid-19 situation.

The chairperson said because of extreme social distancing, conditions of some PLWD worsened due to disrupted service delivery.

Some clients, he explained, needed constant intervention from rehabilitation expects and any break led to deterioration of their conditions.

Due to lack of transportation, it was difficult to offer clients services in their homes, he said.

Mr Samaemo mentioned that a number of PLWDs were unemployed and therefore depended on informal businesses which had been negatively affected by the pandemic.

He pointed out that most businesses were closed during lockdown period and the majority of PLWD struggled to get food.

Mr Semaemo called for the economic empowerment of PLWDs to minimize dependency and a special dispensation for them during pandemics. ENDS