27 Nov 2022

Forty-nine children with special needs from different Greater Gaborone schools were recently gifted with spectacles worth P60 000.

 Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Gaborone recently, Minister for State President Mr Kabo Morwaeng thanked the benefactors, Special Olympics International and Lions Club Federation of America in partnership with Special Olympics Botswana.

    He said the spectacles would go a long way in enhancing each child‘s quality of life.

Minister Morwaeng expressed gratitude to the volunteer eye doctors team led by Dr Olebole Kehemetswe for their contribution in conducting screening and SO Botswana for offering to conduct the tests in many different parts of the country.

The minister also hailed Special Olympics Botswana patron and University of Botswana chancellor, Ms Tebelelo Seretse for being part of an organisation that had children’s needs at heart.

He informed his audience that in July last year, government ratified the convention on the rights of people with disabilities which was further enhanced by Parliament’s approval of the revised National Policy on Disability in July. 

“We are now in the process of drafting the Disability Bill, which we are hoping to present to Parliament before the end of 2023,” he said.

For her part, Ms Seretse thanked government for its efforts in helping people with special needs and ensuring that their right to education was complied with.

She was also thankful to the sponsors and companies which hired people living with disabilities. 

Ms Seretse however lamented that some facilities were still not accessible to people with disabilities. ENDS