MALAWI: ECM Raising Awareness on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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| Mr. Stephen Ndhlovu, ECM National Education Coordinator |
The
Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) on 6th May drilled members of
Mchinji District Executive Committee (DEC) on issues to do with disabilities as
part of its awareness drive under a three-month pilot project on mainstreaming
disability rights with financial support from the Atlas-alliansen of Norway
through the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA).
Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) on 6th May drilled members of
Mchinji District Executive Committee (DEC) on issues to do with disabilities as
part of its awareness drive under a three-month pilot project on mainstreaming
disability rights with financial support from the Atlas-alliansen of Norway
through the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA).
ECM National
Education Coordinator, Stephen Ndhlovu said the meeting with DEC members was a
crucial one as it will enable policy makers in the district to treat with
cautious issues related to disability rights hence mainstream their activities
in favour of people with disabilities.
Education Coordinator, Stephen Ndhlovu said the meeting with DEC members was a
crucial one as it will enable policy makers in the district to treat with
cautious issues related to disability rights hence mainstream their activities
in favour of people with disabilities.
Ndhlovu said
this was in line with the goal of the project which is to contribute towards
the reduction of incidences of stigma and discrimination among people with
disabilities in the district.
this was in line with the goal of the project which is to contribute towards
the reduction of incidences of stigma and discrimination among people with
disabilities in the district.
According to
Ndhlovu, people with disabilities face many challenges, citing access to
education and health services as some of them.
Ndhlovu, people with disabilities face many challenges, citing access to
education and health services as some of them.
He said it
is against this background that the project seeks to reduce such challenges by
raising awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities among different
stakeholders, duty-bearers and community leaders hence one such meeting in
Mchinji.
is against this background that the project seeks to reduce such challenges by
raising awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities among different
stakeholders, duty-bearers and community leaders hence one such meeting in
Mchinji.
Federation
of Disability Organization in Malawi (Fedoma) chairman for central region Juma
Mkandawire observed that the environment around many public places like schools
and government offices are not conducive as they do not recognize people with
disabilities.
of Disability Organization in Malawi (Fedoma) chairman for central region Juma
Mkandawire observed that the environment around many public places like schools
and government offices are not conducive as they do not recognize people with
disabilities.
“It is high
time that policies to do with disability be implemented,” said Mkandawire.
time that policies to do with disability be implemented,” said Mkandawire.
Mkandawire added
that disability issues should be regarded as an advocacy issue such that policy
makers should have an inclusive approach whenever planning for their
activities.
that disability issues should be regarded as an advocacy issue such that policy
makers should have an inclusive approach whenever planning for their
activities.
He said the
challenge so far is that there is no accessibility in terms of the flow of
knowledge and information hence policy makers have a crucial role to play in
making sure that they are in the fore-front in raising awareness and advocating
for the rights of people with disabilities.
challenge so far is that there is no accessibility in terms of the flow of
knowledge and information hence policy makers have a crucial role to play in
making sure that they are in the fore-front in raising awareness and advocating
for the rights of people with disabilities.
Fedoma’s
Inclusive Education District Manager for Mchinji, Malonje Phiri said a lot of
disability challenges are for instance faced in education sector because of the
infrastructure set up of most schools which are not friendly to the people with
disabilities.
Inclusive Education District Manager for Mchinji, Malonje Phiri said a lot of
disability challenges are for instance faced in education sector because of the
infrastructure set up of most schools which are not friendly to the people with
disabilities.
“Let our
schools be friendly for all learners. We are also calling upon specialist teachers
in these schools. We want children leaving with disabilities to have access to
education so that they leave an independent life in future,” said Phiri, adding
that “We don’t want disabled children to be roaming in streets and begging”.
schools be friendly for all learners. We are also calling upon specialist teachers
in these schools. We want children leaving with disabilities to have access to
education so that they leave an independent life in future,” said Phiri, adding
that “We don’t want disabled children to be roaming in streets and begging”.
Meanwhile,
Director of Planning and Development at Mchinji District Council, Justine
Kathumba has commended ECM for equipping them with knowledge on issues of
disability rights.
Director of Planning and Development at Mchinji District Council, Justine
Kathumba has commended ECM for equipping them with knowledge on issues of
disability rights.
“Honestly,
we didn’t know that we were violating some of the rights of people with
disabilities through our acts but from now onwards, we promise to be changed
ones. We will strive to mainstream disability rights in all our activities as
policy makers,” he said
we didn’t know that we were violating some of the rights of people with
disabilities through our acts but from now onwards, we promise to be changed
ones. We will strive to mainstream disability rights in all our activities as
policy makers,” he said
By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications
Officer
Officer
