‘Include people with disabilities in disaster management’

Federation of Disabilities Organisations in Malawi (Fedoma) has said lack of inclusion of people with disabilities in committees dealing with disaster risk management  committees puts their lives at risk.

Fedoma disability inclusive disaster risk reduction coordinator Christina Nthenda said this on Tuesday in Karonga during a briefing on the importance of including people with physical challenges in such committees.

She said when people with disabilities are, for example, included in Area civil protection committee (ACPC) or Village civil protection committee (VCPC) they present reliable data of other physically challenged people affected by disasters.

“The biggest challenge that we have so far is lack of representation in ACPCs and VCPCs. As a result, it becomes difficult to have data of people with physical challenges during disasters,” said Nthenda.

She expressed concern that people with disabilities generally face discrimination in society.

Councillor for people with disabilities, Noel Simwaka, said many people think the physically challenged cannot contribute to national development and urged people to stop that stereotype.

Karonga district disaster risk management officer Oswell Mkandawire said his department is doing all it can to include people with disabilities in different committees.