‘Disabled facing many challenges’

The disabled in Malawi say they still face many challenges, including lack of representation on issues affecting them.

Members of the Federation of Disability Organisation in Malawi (Fedoma) made the observation in Liwonde, Machinga, on Wednesday at the opening of training of key government ministries and departments.

Boniface Massa of the Albino Association of Malawi said people with disabilities are educated but they do not present themselves to contribute to solutions on the challenges they face.

“Issues of self-representation are more important in mainstreaming. A person with disabilities has to be where issues of disabilities are taking place,” he said.

Massa said when people with disabilities are well represented, their challenges are appreciated by people and institutions.

Juliana Mwase of the Malawi National Association for the Deaf (Manad) asked government and stakeholders to assist in the scaling up of information access to the disabled.

She noted that it is only MBC which is using sign language, but asked the State broadcaster to extend the sign language to other programmes .

Ezekiel Kumwenda of the Malawi Union for the Blind said it is government’s duty to ensure that everyone has a right to education.

He said teachers who are specially trained for persons with disabilities are misallocated and overloaded with work; hence, making their job uninteresting.

Fedoma executive director Mussa Chiwaula, however, commended government for recognising persons with disability on cross-cutting issues.

He said Malawi has opened a window on rights and a national policy of people with disability.

Chiwaula said the training would empower participants with knowledge of problems affecting the disabled.—Mana