10 Dec 2013

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, has appealed for integration of people living with disabilities in all spheres.

Mr Matlhabaphiri said this recently during the International Day for people with disabilities in Ghanzi. He said the purpose of the day was to focus on issues related to the inclusion of people with disabilities in development; both as beneficiaries and agents of change.

He also said it was a day for creating awareness on issues pertaining to people with disabilities; taking into consideration that they were relatively left out of the mainstream society. He acknowledged that although government was providing a number of social safety nets; it was clear that either most of them partially included people with disabilities or completely excluded them.

Therefore, he said there was urgent need to establish disability specific social safety net for their protection from prominent social ills like poverty. Currently, Mr Matlhabaphiri noted that government was reviewing the 1996 National Policy on Care for People with Disabilities.

The policy is crafted based on the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. “It is intended to provide a conducive environment for improving the quality of life for People with Disabilities in general,” he said.

He further noted that the reviewed policy will include among others promoting active participation in all societal spheres.He also said the policy document was expected to provide a comprehensive and contemporary blueprint on how to effectively implement programmes to redress the critical challenges faced by people with disabilities.

Already, Mr Matlhabaphiri said structures for effective implementation of disability initiatives continued to be established; including the District Disability Coordinating Committee.

The role of the committee, he said was to ensure effective coordination, mainstreaming and implementation of the disability programmes in the district. He applauded the management of Ghanzi District as the committee was already functional in their district.

He was hopeful that the committee was fulfilling its responsibilities and obligations as expected by the National Coordinating Office in the Office of the President.

“Disability is a cross cutting issue and its response warrants our concerted efforts as a society,” stated Matlhabaphiri who implored all sectors to play a role in addressing challenges in disability.

Approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability and persons with disability the world over face barriers to participation in all aspects of society.

Thus the day was celebrated under the theme “Break Barriers, open doors: for inclusive society for all.” If barred for participation, people with disability are denied access to society or services, including education, health care, employment, transportation and political participation or justice.

Therefore, the United Nations has made a deliberate move for the integration and inclusion of people with disability in the mainstream in all development agenda, thereby promoting active participation and restoring dignity. Ends