US gives K26m to disability NGOs
The US government has given K26 million ($67 000) to seven organisations in Malawi for projects aimed at helping persons with disabilities to access HIV and Aids services.
US Ambassador Jeanine Jackson disclosed this during a grant signing ceremony between her government and the recipients on Wednesday in Lilongwe.
She said the funds came from the US government’s Presidential Emergency Plan of Aids Relief (Pepfar) that funds small innovative community driven projects, in Malawi to prevent HIV and Aids in the country.
“We all know that people with disabilities may be vulnerable to HIV infection due to their physical challenges, poverty and misperceptions among some communities that disabled persons are cleansers of HIV. Today, I am very pleased to announce that Pepfar is awarding grants to seven organisations selected out of 250 applications, with grants totalling more than K26 million [$67 000],” said Jackson.
Jackson said the money will go towards projects that sensitise health workers to the rights of persons with disabilities as stated in the Disability Act, which integrates HIV services and education into existing health services, empowering them through innovative schemes.
Principal secretary in the Ministry for Disabilities and Elderly Affairs, Fletcher Zenengeya commended the US for the support.
“However, persons with disabilities have not benefited much from all these efforts. You might wish to be informed that despite the efforts in the last 20 years or so, there is still a big gap in HIV and Aids knowledge among persons with disabilities. Their inclusion and participation in national HIV and Aids response programme has been limited, leaving a majority of them at risk,” he said.
About 3 000 organisations will benefit, including the Federation of People with Disabilities (Fedoma).
