17 Mar 2014

Government places provision of disability services very high on its development agenda.

This is evidenced by completion of reviewing of national policy for care of people living with disabilities, which will be presented to Parliament in near future.

The Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said this at a presentation ceremony of assistive devices to Rethabile Chaba.

He also noted that government has considered introducing social safety net targeting people living with disabilities beginning April this year to ease the burden of purchasing these expensive necessities of life.

Chaba is a standard three student at Bothakga Primary School in Lobatse who was born without limbs.

Mr Masisi said the devices worth over P50 000 is a milestone in ensuring that Rethabile do well in her studies.

“The devices are inclusive of specialised desk, a specialised laptop and other enabling equipment are by nature expensive because they literally change the lives of those who use them to be partially or fully independent,” he said.

He said while government places disability services high in its agenda, it is also true that NGO’s and private sector were better placed to reach some segments of people living with disabilities.

“In recognition of these contributions, government issues subventions through the Botswana Council for the Disabled to assist disability organisations in the community,” he said.

Mr Masisi commended Lions Club and Spar Tsetseng Group for the noble gesture they presented to Rethabile.

Receiving the devices, Chaba said she was happy as the devices were going to enable her do well in her studies.

She commended her teachers for the good reception saying it makes her life easier as a student.

President of Lions Club of Lobatse, Mr Amjad Ali said Lions Club’s intention was to assist all people in need as testified by the presentation of assistive devices.

Senior Teacher-Practical Subjects and Special Educator at Bothakga primary, Mr Motisetsi Popo said the school has three classes with students categorised in terms of their operational levels.

One of the levels is the Beginners and it offers learners stimulation by teaching them pre-writing and reading skills, self-help skills, adaptive and survival skills.

He said students do vocational activities that include projects like poultry, bee keeping, gardening, art and craft.

“The existence of the unit like Bothakga is one way of including, integrating and normalising children living with disability in the mainstream society,” he said.

He said the school was one of few unique Bothakga since it has an inclusive setup that comprise of students in regular class and those who are intellectually challenged.

The disability, he said, ranges from severe, moderate, mild intellectual disability with some students having multiple disabilities with conditions of speech and physical disability. ENDS