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Inadequate funding crippling MAP

 

Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAP) says its success story in promoting the welfare of people with disabilities is being drawn back to square one due to lack of funding, which has led to suspension of some programmes.

MAP operations manager Alex Dzinkambani said this on Friday during a MAP Open Day organised to sensitise the public to the dangers of HIV and Aids held at Kachere Rehabilitation Centre in Blantyre.

Pic by theconversation.com
Pic by theconversation.com

He said since its inception, MAP has registered several achievements, including reaching people with disabilities in the remotest areas nationwide.

But Dzinkambani said the story has completely changed in the past few years due to lack of funding and most beneficiaries it reached with wheelchairs are back to crawling.

He said they suspended all outreach programmes which targeted physically challenged people in the rural areas.

Dzinkambani said in the past they had many donors, but each of them had a condition that MAP should later be self-sustaining and government was their surety. However, he said when the donors  phased out their programmes, government failed to release funds to sustain them until now.

The day was celebrated under the theme ‘Together Against HIV and Aids-related Disabilities’ and discussed largely how HIV and Aids contribute to physical disabilities.

Physiotherapist Bester Kamakanda said there is need to check the pandemic, saying through stroke, tuberculosis and cancer, among other common diseases linked to HIV and Aids, many people are becoming disabled.

 

 

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