• 座談会：視覚障害者が高等教育で学ぶ〜スーダンと日本の経験を語る
  モハマド・オマル・アブディン、青木慎太朗、星加良司、福地健太郎
• 視覚障害者の情報保障の技術と課題　斉藤龍一郎
• 後紛争国ルワンダにおける障害者の現状　曽田夏記
• アフリカ障害者の10年　African decade of persons with disabilities 中西由紀子
• 日本から「アフリカ障害者の10年」を支援する 宮本泰輔
• アフリカの現場から〜ルワンダ　On the spot in Africa / Rwanda 加藤悦子
• 『見る・つくる・知る　おしゃれなアフリカ』シリーズを完成して 白鳥くるみ
• 書評：”Witness to AIDS”　Book Review: “Witness to AIDS” 米良彰子

Namibia: Paralympics Team Scoops 26 Medals At SA Champs

The Namibian (Windhoek)
1 April 2008
Posted to the web 1 April 2008

Windhoek

A Namibian Invitational Paralympics team of 12 athletes scooped 18 gold medals, five silver and three bronze during the South African National Paralympics Championships held in Stellenbosch last week.

Four of the Namibians broke six South African records while five of them qualified for the Paralympics Games set for Beijing, China in September.

Four others received wildcards to the Paralympics.

The group flew to South Africa on March 22 to compete in the Nedbank-sponsored championship from March 20 to 28.

Host South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho took part in the SA championships that served as qualifiers for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Paralympic Games.

Although most Namibian athletes did well, one athlete who stood out was sprinter Martin Aloisius, who won gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m events and at the same time broke the South African records in each of those disciplines.

Aloisius, a visually impaired runner, qualified for the Beijing Paralympics in the 400m race and received wildcards for the 100m and 200m events.

Another great performance came from visually impaired sprinter Sondaha Namutenya, who also won gold in 100m, 200m and 400m, which also earned her qualification to the Paralympics.

Joachim Bohitile, also a visually impaired sprinter, won gold in the 400m and 800m, while he managed silver in the 200m.

He won wildcards to the Paralympics in the 200m, 400m and 800m races.

Pelgruna Nduma (visually impaired) won gold in the 100m and 200m.

Totally blind sprinter Ananias Shikongo won gold and broke the South African record in the 100m and won silver in the 200m and 400m disciplines and received wildcards to the Paralympics for the 100m and 200m events.

Johanna Benson won gold in the 100m and 200m in the T37 cerebral palsy category.

She slashed the South African 200m record, while her first place in the 100m earned her a place in the Paralympics team for Beijing.

Namibia won another gold courtesy of F36 cerebral palsy athlete Reginald Benade in the shotput event and silver in the discus throw.

He qualified for the Paralympics with his second place in the discus and for still holding the South African shotput record.

Field athlete, David Ndeshenhen, an arm amputee, won gold in the discuss throw, while another arm amputee Simson Gariseb won gold in the 100m and 400m and silver in the 200m races.

Wheelchair-bound power lifter Ruben Soroseb, competing in the 100kg category, won a gold medal when he managed to lift 170kg.

With his attempt, he also broke the South African record that stood at 162kg.

He salso qualified for the Paralympics.

Another wildcard was awarded to Francois Beukes (cerebral palsy) for still holding the SA javelin record.

He did not participate in javelin this year but won bronze in the shotput and discus events.

Epriam Tjiueza (visually impaired) won Namibia's third bronze medal in the 100m.

The only athlete that did not do well is wheelchair-bound Frans 'Tupac' Paulus, who participated in the 400m, 800m and 1500m races.

Unfortunately, his outdated racing wheelchair was no match for the top-of-the-range wheelchairs used by his competitors.

Head coach Michael Hamukwaya told Nampa on Sunday that his athletes did exceptionally well, considering that the team was in camp for one week only.

The group received clearance to compete as an invitational team from the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), which also funded their participation.

Hamukwaya said that they could not get full national colours because the Namibia Paralympics Committee did not have national trials to select a team.

He added that the 12 athletes were originally destined for the All Africa Games in 2007 but were left out due to administrative hitches.

Hamukwaya said his team could win a good number of medals at the Paralympic Games if they are properly prepared and equipped.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804010852.html

Uganda: Empower Disabled - Activist

New Vision (Kampala)
2 April 2008
Posted to the web 3 April 2008

Flavia Nakagwa
Kampala

Disabled youth should be empowered and mentored to boost their esteem at the workplace, the executive director of the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda, Michael Sebuliba, has said.

"Apart from offering academic and career guidance, the youth with disabilities need effective role models for leadership, interpersonal and problem-solving skills in order to be independent," Sebuliba said.

Sebuliba told The New Vision recently that there was still need to change the attitudes of many disabled youth, who are not receptive to attending school.

"We need to work towards increasing the school attendance rates, higher secondary school enrolment and educational aspirations."

Sebuliba criticised society for stigmatising disabled children.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804030304.html

Malawi Union for Blind wants parliament meet to pass Disability Bill

Ruby Suzgika on 02 April, 2008 08:43:00

Pressure continues to mount on President Bingu Mutharika who is refusing parliament to meet for fear of losing bulk of his members of parliament in the implementation of floor crossing Section 65.

On the latest to ask for the reconvening of the august House in the Malawi Union of for the Blind (MUB).

Addressing newspersons in Blantyre, the Executive Director of MUB Ezikiel Kumwenda highlighted the need for parliament to meet and pass the Disability Policy Bill, which was drafted in 2003.

"We people of disabilities drafted a disability policy in 2003 but until today, parliament has not yet passed it. We know there are many equally important issues to be tackled during the next sitting of parliament, but we are asking Members of Parliament to seriously consider passing the bill," said Kumwenda.

He said the bill tackles issues like their right to education and access to HIV and AIDS information among other challenges the blind face in their lives.

Once the bill is passed, Kumwenda explained that persons with disabilities would fully enjoy their right to education, travelling and access to HIV and AIDS information just like the able people do.

MUB director also said it was key for parliament to resume and seriously consider to pass the disability bill to allow most of the blind and visually impaired people to manage to vote in the next year's polls.

"It is the wish of every partially visually impaired and blind person to vote on his or her own in the 2009 elections. We no longer want someone else to vote on our behalf," he said.

"When others vote on our behalf, we are not 100 percent sure that they have indeed voted for the candidate we wanted. We feel that some of them vote twice for their own favourite candidates and not ours," Kumwenda said.

Malawi Union for the Blind was established in 1994 with the aim of among others, looking at the needs and interests of the visually impaired people in Malawi.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.nyasatimes.com/index.php?news=2391

Ghana: State Media to Blackout Disabled Again?

Public Agenda (Accra)
4 April 2008
Posted to the web 4 April 2008

Frederick Asiamah
Accra

Between today and Sunday, regional and district executives of the Ghana Society for the Physically Disabled (GSPD) from the northern sector of the country would be gathering in the northern regional capital, Tamale for a workshop.

But leaders of the group are uncertain about receiving any media coverage, particularly from the State-owned media, following a boycott of a similar event held at Oyibi near Accra last month. It was the second major event in seven months to be boycotted by all State-owned media.

Like their colleagues from the southern sector, the northern sector participants to be drawn from the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions would be gathering as part of a GSPD-Busac Project christened: "Advocacy for Economic Empowerment of PWDs through Access to District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF)and the Capacity Building Project on Livelihood Support."

With the exception of the Public Agenda, and later the Daily Guide and TV3, no media house covered the society's southern sector workshop which brought together some thirty GSPD regional and district executives from the Greater Accra, Eastern, Western, Central and Volta Regions.

Journalists from the Daily Graphic, the Ghanaian Times, the Ghana News Agency, GBC Radio and Ghana Television were all conspicuously absent because they reportedly had other programmes to attend. This forced organizers to cancel the opening ceremony scheduled for the morning of Saturday March 15.

In August 2007, only Public Agenda turned up at the 27th anniversary celebration and 13th biennial national congress of the GSPD, which took place at the Aburi Girls' Senior High School in the Eastern Region under the theme: "The Achievements of Persons with Physical Disabilities in the 50 years of Ghana's Independence."

In an interview with Public Agenda during the southern sector workshop, Mr. Alexander Tetteh, National Administrator of the GSPD regretted the media blackout, especially that of the State-owned media.

He said the State-owned media has an obligation to give equal and fair coverage to all groups because they are public funded.

The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana provides under Article 163 that "All State-owned media shall afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions."

This weekend's event would be used to "share and disseminate information on the outcomes of a survey conducted in five districts of Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Northern Regions on the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF)."

The workshop will also be used to plan and redefine strategies to influence target groups at national, regional and district levels. It will also be used to develop a strategy on employment for physically disabled persons, as well as, "to develop a position paper on the DACF."

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804040386.html

Cameroon: Kumba Handicapped, Orphans Deprived of Donation

The Post (Buea)
4 April 2008
Posted to the web 4 April 2008

Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh

Handicapped people, orphans, NGOs and other vulnerable groups in Kumba have not benefited from the money and other items worth FCFA 7 million, which Social Affairs Minister, Catherine Bakang Mbock, had allocated for them.

The Minister's visit to Kumba on April 1 exposed this as the beneficiaries were left with hopes of another allocation apparently next year.The Post learned that in an earlier scheduled visit to Kumba for February 26, the Minister reportedly sent FCFA 7 million for the handicapped, orphans and other vulnerable people and groups.

Of this amount, FCFA 3 million was used to buy tricycles, trucks, foodstuff and cell phones amongst others, to be distributed to handicaps in Kumba.The remaining FCFA 4 million was to be distributed amongst earmarked needy persons, Common Initiative Groups and NGOs.

Unfortunately, the recent unrest caused the Minister to postpone her visit. Meme Social Affairs Delegate, Aaron Nimbom Yong, claimed that bandits who were among rioters invaded his Delegation, stole the money and items allocated for the beneficiaries and burnt the building. He also estimated the damages on the building at FCFA 14 million.

Nimbom told the press that he had hoped that since the Minister had postponed her trip, the same amount (FCFA 7 million) would be sent to his Delegation to prepare the gifts and donations to the needy.

The Minister stopped in Kumba on her way to Mundemba as part of her working visit in the Southwest Province.She doled out FCFA 500,000 to five needy groups that came out to welcome her.

But Bakang Mbock, in her speech, stated that what was lost in the strike cannot be replaced. She said FCFA 3 million was part of the money which government sent to orphans and vulnerable children yearly as HIPC funds since 2005.

The Minister regretted that Kumba would not benefit form the donation this year because of the malaise.She, however, told the disabled to remain hopeful.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804041010.html

Ghana: MTN to Give Disabled Persons Stable Jobs

Public Agenda (Accra)
4 April 2008
Posted to the web 4 April 2008

Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Ghana, the leading telecommunications service provider in the country, has announced its readiness to offer stable jobs to more disabled persons at its new state-of-the-art call centre at Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

Miss. Mawuena Adjo Dumor, Corporate Services Executive of the company, disclosed this at the second MTN Editors Forum.

She noted that the previous operator of MTN provided jobs for disabled persons by furnishing them with specially made wheelchairs and tricycles to enable them to work as vendors of the then Areeba transfer units and scratch cards and also offer mobile communication centre services.

"But MTN is taking it to another level by really integrating them fully into the MTN family to work at our new state-of-the-art call centre, where they will have the opportunity to work as permanent staff of MTN Call Centre in a more comfortable and less stressful atmosphere," she said.

Miss Dumor, however, said the vendor wheel chair system would not be entirely abolished as yet.

On subscriber figures, she noted that between December 2006 when MTN took over from Areeba and December 2007, subscriber numbers in Ghana had increased from 2.6 million to four million, making Ghana second to Nigeria in the West and Central Africa (WECA) region of MTN operations.

"The MTN Group is pleased to announce that it has recorded 61.4 million subscribers across its 21 operations as at 31st December 2007. This is an increase of 53 per cent from 40.1 million subscribers as at December 2006," she said. Ms. Dumor said as a result, MTN Group revenue increased by 42 per cent over the same period and hit US$9.12 billion, adding that, within that period over two billion dollars of that amount was spent on network infrastructure improvement alone, besides other heavy investments into technological improvement.

"In Ghana, network enhancement continued to take priority during the review period with the installation of 718 new Base Transmission Stations (BTSs), bringing the total number of BTSs since 2006 to 1,660."

Asked if MTN would consider listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) to enable Ghanaians have a share in the profits it was making from local subscribers, Ms. Dumor said that, it was a possibility but the nitty-gritty needed to be looked at critically before such a crucial decision could be taken.

She said going forward from the just ended African Nations Cup tournament, dubbed: 'MTN Ghana 2008,' the company would continue to make substantial investment into social interventions through the MTN Foundation, which was geared towards providing high impact and sustainable assistance in the areas of education and health.

Ms. Dumor said MTN would, for instance support the upcoming UNCTAD conference in Ghana, which was in line with the company's commitment to supporting development discourse in all the countries MTN operated in.

Some editors who attended the forum appealed to MTN to provide subsidized mobile phones and phone lines for journalists to cover the upcoming general elections more effectively.

Others called for "a fair distribution" of the MTN advertisement funds to benefit as many media houses as possible.

The argument was that, "since all media houses are considered as channels to reach MTN target groups when it comes to issuing press releases from MTN, it is only fair to do same when it comes to reaching the same target groups through adverts."

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804040437.html

Uganda: MP Wants Interpreters in Courts

New Vision (Kampala)
7 April 2008
Posted to the web 8 April 2008

Brenda Chipo
Kampala

COURTS should provide interpreters to deaf suspects if they are to get justice, an MP for people with disabilities has said.

Sofia Nalule (PWD Female) noted that people with disabilities deserve equal treatment in all spheres of life like any other groups in society.

"Sign language is like any other language. Disabled people are also entitled to justice, especially the deaf and dumb," she said during a dialogue at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

It was organised by the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda in conjunction with the Justice Law and Order Sector.

"Some organisations deny the disabled people services. We should not be judged according to our appearance."

Nalule asked the courts to provide well-trained people in sign language to interpret proceedings to the deaf suspects to avoid "miscarriage of justice."

However, the Justice Law and Order Sector, the MP observed, should be commended for fighting forms discrimination against the disabled and other disadvantaged people.

Nalule also thanked the Government for various efforts geared at empowering people with disabilities and protecting their rights.

She cited representation in Parliament where the disabilities MPs lobby and/or argue for the laws that favour their lot.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804080031.html

Namibia: Supreme Court Hears Appeal On Rape of Disabled Hostel Child

The Namibian (Windhoek)
8 April 2008
Posted to the web 8 April 2008

Werner Menges
Windhoek

A landmark judgement, in which the High Court last year ordered the Minister of Education to pay more than N$100 000 to a mentally handicapped child and her guardian because of an incident in which the child was allegedly raped by a teacher during a weekend when she was supposed to be in the safety of a State school hostel, went on appeal in the Supreme Court yesterday.

The question whether it was indeed proven that the girl had been raped or sexually assaulted took centre stage during the hearing of the appeal before Judge of Appeal Gerhard Maritz and Acting Judges of Appeal Johan Strydom and Simpson Mtambanengwe.

The three Judges reserved their judgement after hearing arguments on the appeal from Christie Mostert, representing the Minister, and Lynita Conradie, representing the child's grandmother and lawyer Susan Vivier, who had been appointed by the High Court to represent the child's interests in the legal proceedings that were started as a result of the alleged rape or indecent assault of the girl.

Judge Elton Hoff ordered the Minister - and by implication, the public treasury - on August 30 last year to pay N$80 000 to the child for general damages and damages for emotional shock, pain and suffering that she was claimed to have experienced as a result of events that were claimed to have happened on the weekend of August 2 to 4 2002.

Judge Hoff further ordered the Minister to pay N$25 000 to the child's grandmother and foster parent as damages for emotional shock that she was claimed to have experienced over the same incident, as well as N$1 346,70 to compensate her for medical expenses incurred when the child was treated in hospital after the alleged incident.

The girl was 17 years old at the time of the incident.

According to evidence heard by Judge Hoff, she was mentally handicapped, with the result that she at that age had the mental capacity of a pre-school child.

She was a pupil at Moreson School in Windhoek, and was living in the school hostel.

Before the weekend in question, her grandmother informed the hostel superintendent by telephone that she would not be able to fetch the girl for the weekend.

The grandmother asked the superintendent to keep the child in the hostel that weekend.

The grandmother did not give any written permission that the girl could spend the weekend with anyone else.

However, during the weekend of August 2 to 4 2002, the superintendent allowed the child to leave the hostel to spend the weekend at the home of another staff member of the school in Windhoek.

The superintendent did not have the discretion to allow that to happen without permission from the girl's grandmother, Judge Hoff found.

After the girl had returned to the hostel, it was noticed that her behaviour had changed.

She had lost appetite, was less spontaneous, and was more aggressive.

While visiting her grandmother 12 days later, she reported that a teacher who had been in a relationship with the woman at whose home she spent the weekend, had raped her and threatened that he would kill her if she reported the incident.

The girl never returned to the school after that.

A disciplinary hearing was later held, and it was recommended that the teacher in question should be dismissed.

Two psychologists testified before Judge Hoff that the girl had been severely traumatised, and stated that it was unlikely that she had fabricated her claims about the incident.

Judge Hoff found that the girl was a very vulnerable child and that it would have been expected that special care would have been taken and precautionary measures put in place to prevent harm from befalling her.

He found that the hostel superintendent was negligent in allowing the girl to be taken out of the hostel for the weekend.

Because the superintendent had done this in the scope of her duties in the employ of the Ministry of Education, the Minister was according to the law liable for damages caused by her actions, it was ruled.

Mostert argued yesterday that it had not been proven that a rape or sexual assault had taken place.

He pointed out that there was evidence that the child was seen to be smiling when she returned to the hostel on the Sunday of the weekend - something that would not be expected if an incident had taken place as was claimed later, he indicated.

Judge Hoff had made a mistake when he found that the probabilities of the case favoured the version that the child had indeed been raped, Mostert also argued.

He further argued that even if the court accepted that such an incident had taken place, it had not been sufficiently proven that the girl's grandmother had also suffered emotional shock that would make the Minister liable to compensate her for damages suffered.

If this had been a criminal case, there would have been a problem to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the child had been raped, Conradie conceded in her arguments.

She added, though, that it had been proven on a balance of probabilities - the standard of proof needed in a civil case like this - that such an incident had taken place.

It could not just be a coincidence that the child's behaviour had changed so drastically after that weekend, she argued.

The change in the child's behaviour and the evidence that experts found that she had been seriously traumatised cannot just be explained away, Conradie also argued, saying that if the facts in the case were viewed in their totality, it had to be found that a rape or indecent assault had taken place.

It would follow that the Minister would have to be held liable for the damages suffered, she also argued.

The case is the first of its kind to have been steered through Namibia's High Court and now up to the Supreme Court.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804080638.html

Zambian delegation checking out state's disability efforts

In the midst of a 10-day visit here, a delegation of Zambians is hoping to bring back to their country ideas and strategies that will improve the lives of the southern African nation's disabled and sick.

The nine visitors - including several priests and nuns and a representative of the Ministry of Education - toured the Minnesota State Capitol Friday and met with Minnesotans involved with the disability community. The group wraps up its stay on Sunday.

They are participating in a program organized by Arc Greater Twin Cities, which advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Arc describes the visit as "a learning exchange of best practices, policies and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families."

Zambians hope to ease stigma for citizens with disabilities Often in Zambia, people with disabilities don't get educational opportunities or chances to work, said the Rev. Patrick Chisanga, a church official in the province of Zambia. "There is a stigma; some disabled people may be accepted by their families, but many don't ... and stay isolated in their houses," he said.

Much of the advocacy and aid comes from churches and missionaries, he said. But there is little collaboration among the many groups. Sister Joyce Phiri, of the Sisters of St. Francis, and Chisanga said they were impressed by the cooperation of disability organizations in the Twin Cities. The group sat in on a meeting of the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, an umbrella group of 100 organizations that advocate for the disabled.

Although much of the meeting was about current legislative strategies in Minnesota, the Zambians thought it impressive that leaders of so many groups work together.

They also seemed captivated by an electronic speech machine used by Bob Gregory of United Cerebral Palsy. "We do not have those at home," said Phiri.

Rep. Diane Loeffler, DFL-Minneapolis, spoke briefly to the group, urging them to inspire others and build partnerships. Even though there are never enough resources, Loeffler said, working together with other interested people and groups can leverage their actions and improve conditions.

Kim Keprios, CEO of ARC Greater Twin Cities, said the Minnesota group hopes to send a delegation to Zambia this summer to further cement relationships and offer more training.

Visitors impressed with interagency cooperation Grace Banda, of the Zambian Ministry of Education, said she was impressed by the cooperation among parents of children with disabilities and the many organizations that provide help. "Our country is not fully developed yet, so we do not have as much cooperation," she said.

One strategy she particularly like here, and hopes to implement back home, is individual learning plans for children with special needs. She saw some specific examples, using words and pictures, that will be very applicable in Zambia, she said.

Several of the Zambians work with those infected with HIV; it's a major problem in the country and receives much of the attention, and much of the limited funding, available from government and outside sources.

Sister Phiri, who works primarily with HIV patients, said the training received in the United States will help her organization form more support groups. Much of the existing support comes from close family members, but joining them together - as ARC and other groups do here - will make their advocacy even more effective, she said.

As well as learning much from the disability groups in the Twin Cities, Chisanga said he was also impressed with another Minnesota feature. The early April snow was a treat for him and many of the other Zambians. "We saw people drive on frozen water," he said.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.minnpost.com/joekimball/2008/04/08/1431/zambian_delegation_checking_out_states_disability_efforts

Disabled demand for tax break

Written by Albert Muriuki

April 9, 2008: People with disabilities are demanding immediate action from Finance minister Amos Kimunya to enable them enjoy tax benefits that are provided for in a law that Parliament passed five years ago.

The law, which received presidential assent in 2003, exempts people with disabilities from paying income tax “to help mitigate the extra costs that comes with disability.”

These benefits are, however, yet to accrue to qualified people because the minister is yet to bring it into force through a gazette notice. For this law to come into effect, the minister must gazette new rules on the levying of income tax.

Mr Lawrence Mute, a visually impaired lawyer and a commissioner with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), described the delay in bringing the law into force as discriminatory.

“The privileges and rights conferred by this legislation (Disabilities Act) have as yet to be enjoyed by those for whom they were enacted. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

It is estimated that there are about three million Kenyans living with disability and about 500,000 earn some income that is taxable.

“We are not asking for any favours. All we are saying is that exempting us from the income tax puts us on a level playing field with the rest of society,” said lawyer Tim Wetangula, a nominated councillor who is physically disabled.

Persons With Disabilities Act states that all persons with disabilities who are in receipt of an income may apply to the Finance minister for exemption from income tax and any other levies on their income.

The Act also states that materials, articles and equipment, including motor vehicles, that are modified or designed for the use by persons with disabilities are exempt from import duty, value added tax, demurrage charges, port charges and any other government levy.

Similarly all goods, items, implements or equipment donated to institutions and organizations of or for persons with disabilities should be exempt from import duties, value added tax, demurrage charges, port charges and any other government levy which would in any way defeat the purposes of or increase the cost of the said donations.

Eighty per cent of the world’s 650 million persons with disability live in developing countries, according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

There are no statistics on the number of people with disability in the formal labour market.

In the United Kingdom, 75 per cent of the companies listed on the London Stock Exchange have been found to have failed to meet basic levels of accessibility for disabled persons. This it is said to make them miss out on more than $147 million in revenue annually.

In the current Parliament, no political party nominated a person with disability. Safina is the only party in the history of Kenya to have nominated a person with disability, Mrs Josephine Sinyo, to Parliament, who was visually impaired.

“It is as if people with disabilities are not Kenyans and our issues are thrown to the periphery,” said Mr Mute.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.bdafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6898&

CNE to Provide for Polling Booths for Disabled Persons

Luanda, 04/09 - Angola’s National Electoral Council (CNE) might set up special polling booths to suit people living with physical disability and move on wheelchairs.

This was announced Wednesday in Luanda by CNE chairman, Caetano de Sousa, who said the measure is intended to enable that group of persons to participate on equal terms with physically unimpeded people in the legislative elections set for September this year in Angola.

Caetano de Sousa was speaking to journalists after a meeting he held with the chairman of the National Association of Disabled People of Angola (ANDA), Silva Lopes Etiambulo, that served for the two to discuss the creation of conditions facilitating people with physical disability to cast their vote.

According to him, some will cast their ballot standing, but others will vote seated, due to their specific condition.

"We have come to consult with ANDA, to learn about the most common disabilities in order for us to create the conditions helping its associates with the voting process,” he stated.

In his turn, Silva Lopes Etiambulo said a study has been conducted to see how people with disabilities can reach to the booths without constraint.

He admitted this will take some time as the number of people moving on wheelchairs in the country is high.

He stated as well that the possibility of the blind to vote with the help of their guides is being considered as many do not master the appropriate reading techniques.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=608643

「大統領選挙後の知的障害者とその家族への衝撃；ナイロビ北マザレ地区におけるケーススタディ」

題:
「大統領選挙後の知的障害者とその家族への衝撃
　　　　；ナイロビ北マザレ地区におけるケーススタディ」

内 容:
ケニア知的障害者協会の紹介と、ケニア協和国で２００７年１２月２７日に行われた大統領選挙後のケニア選挙をきっかけに元々ある収入の格差、高い失業率、若者の潜在的な未就労、政府の汚職の横行などが一気に吹き出し、想像のつかない事態を引き起こした。
選挙後の混乱は結果的に３５万人以上の難民と何千人もの死者を出した。
その後の知的障害のある人のいる家族の被害状況のレポートです。

レポート:
report 2008.4.10
PDFデータ（183KB）

Fund raising for cripple kids

The Greater Accra Region Physically Challenged Educational Fund has been launched with a call on government to provide scholarships for children with disability from the basic to tertiary level. The National President of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Joseph Adu Boampong, who made the call said the society would identify and advocate better socio economic facilities for its members to improve their living conditions.

He said it is essential that the society is educated on the need for disabled children to attend school like their colleague able bodied children. The Director for the Special Education Division of the Ghana Education Service, Victoria Donkor urged the public to show love to the physically challenged and help them to develop their talents.

Posted on: Sunday, 13, April, 2008

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://gbcghana.com/news/19612detail.html

The disabled demand recognition in new order

Story by CAROLINE WAFULA
Publication Date: 4/13/2008

People with disabilities are calling for the creation of a department under the Office of the President or Prime Minister to address their issues.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) commissioner Lawrence Mute said there was need for the such an office to deal with issues of persons with disabilities.

This, he said, would give people with disability visibility, resources and political goodwill. It would also enhance monitoring and reporting across government ministries and departments. The disabled also want a special advisor appointed to guide the government on disability issues. They further demand appointments to key positions in the grand coalition government.

“As Kenyans with disabilities, we have for far too long been forced to remain on the periphery of this country’s policy and legislation making processes,” said Samuel Kabue of the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (Edan).

“Even where policy or legislation has recognised our needs, its implementation has been patchy and half-hearted,” he added. Mr Kabue said the marginalisation of the disabled encouraged the society to heighten discrimination against them in the family, education and work.

The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003, has been in place for almost five years, with little progress in implementation.

Timothy Wanyonyi of the Kenya Paraplegic Organisation asked the grand coalition government to fulfil election promises to ensure the rights and development needs of the disabled were addressed. They urged the government to finalise the review of the constitution in one year.

The group noted that the Bomas draft captured a lot of their concerns and desires, particularly to the extent that it included specific articles on their rights.

The new review process, they said, must ensure that the Bomas gains are retained and other provisions included to ensure that they have effective representation in national and local governance structures.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&category_id=2&newsid=121074

The deaf teaching the deaf

The conversation rippling through the conference room in Benoni on Gauteng's East Rand was animated. Several of the 60 people packed around half a dozen tables were talking to one another at the same time.

Despite the hype of activity and tangible energy, everything was dead silent. Those who were present are deaf and were talking in sign language.

They are the chosen ones who will soon go into South Africa's towns and villages to find illiterate deaf people who could benefit from the government's Kha ri Gude mass literacy campaign.

Ingrid Parkin of DeafSA, which represents the interests of deaf people and has been instrumental in recruiting the volunteers and conceptualising the training for the campaign to reach the deaf, says the process is unique.

"Using the deaf to teach the deaf -- this can set a trend for the rest of the world," says Parkin, who is studying towards her master's degree in inclusive education.

One of the benefits is that the hearing world -- and hearing trainers -- may not be adequately tuned into the culture and the needs of deaf people and are often uncomfortable in the presence of hearing people.

According to Parkin, who is married to the Olympic swimmer and medal winner Terence Parkin, the country has a 75% illiteracy rate in the deaf community (an estimated one million people).

The campaign will give illiterate deaf people a limited ability to sign, the basics of South African sign language, before teaching them to read and write in English (they don't know other South African spoken languages).

Jabaar Mohamed, a young deaf graduate and one of the coordinators of the deaf trainers, says the Kha ri Gude campaign will change lives.

"The majority of deaf people cannot read or write. This is the start of many things for deaf people in South Africa," he says.

Hilda Mbetha from Cape Town already works as a teaching assistant at a school for deaf children.

"In the past there has not been education for the deaf. They cannot write their names, they can't manage their money or take their tablets correctly. Maybe in 2010 when visitors to the World Cup get lost, deaf people can write directions for them," she says.

As part of the campaign aimed at people with disabilities 100 blind volunteer educators will be trained to assist, ultimately reaching 1 000 blind illiterates this year. In addition, the campaign hopes to reach some of the estimated 280 000 disabled children who are not attending school.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=336800&area=/insight/insight__national/

REPORT ON POST ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA

[Last updated Monday, April 14, 2008]

The KENYA ASSOCIATION FOR THE INTELECTUALLY HANDICAPPED (KAIH), members of Inclusion International, has put together a report on the post elections violence and the impact on the Persons with Intellectual disabilities and their families.

The report provides graphic details of the horrors of the situation and it includes recommendations to be adopted in order to help prevent further such situations. Please take time to read this touching and useful document.

click here to read the report

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.inclusion-international.org/en/media_room/publications/index.html#34

Khembo says handouts campaign for disabled, elderly to continue

Judith Moyo on 15 April, 2008 13:32:00

Minister responsible for people with Disabilities and the Elderly, Clement Khembo, says the government of President Bingu Mutharika will continue with its campaign to give handouts of cash and items to the disabled and the elderly as one way of empowering them.

Khembo also disclosed that government would soon introduce a universal social pension scheme for all the disabled who are over 60 years old as one way of enhancing their standard of living.

He was speaking when he donated assorted items worth over K500, 000 to the disabled and the elderly in Mzuzu City and Nkhatabay District.

He said the items donated would enable the recipients to engage in various business ventures.

"It is our hope that through the start-up capitals, the number of beggars in our country will be reduced," said Khembo.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.nyasatimes.com/index.php?news=2478

Zambia: Magwero School Band Lives Up to Adage 'Disability's Not Inability'

The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
15 April 2008
Posted to the web 15 April 2008

Pilate Ngoma
Ndola

THE name Magwero to many people in Eastern Province has been misconstrued as a place where people synonymous with different disabilities live and attain their special education.

This misapprehension has persisted in the minds of many for a long time especially about Magwero school for the blind and deaf in Chipata, Eastern Province.

However, recent visitations to Magwero have proved wrong many assertions about the school because the visually impaired school boys and girls at the Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) mission are full of eagerness, hope, promise, creativity and more interestingly very able to take up the tasks the so called able bodied are able to handle.

"Disability is not inability" so goes the old adage which defines the challenges faced by people with disabilities all over the world regardless of their colour, race or creed.

People with disabilities all over in the world including those at Magwero have and possess rare talents which should be harnessed and supported by the able -bodied people by forging strong partnerships with their brothers and sisters in such conditions brought about not of their own will but by the will of God.

Magwero school for the blind has a band composed of 18 members and has just released a 10 track debut album entitled, 'Magwero' , a typical example of the misplaced word disabled.

The song Magwero which means the beginning, has rhumba -gospel lyrics sang in Bemba and was composed by, Mekelani Sakala , a grade 9 pupil who is the band's bass guitarist.

The song urges or is asking the people of Zambia to praise God for he is the owner of everything.

The band which has 10 boys and eight girls, all of whom are visually impaired, is a marvel to watch on Tuesday afternoons from 14.30 hours to 16.00 hours as they go about belting out their newly released hits and heart rending songs.

The follow up number at position two and others at seven, eight and ten were composed by, Brian Siame, a visually impaired teacher at the same school.

Siame penned down Anthu a mu Zambia tili pamodzi a Kalindula tune, Nivichani ivi vimene nimvela which has an R & B touch, AIDS ilibe sankho and Freedom for Africa .

The band's chairman, John Phiri, a grade 10 pupil says the album was directed by Tadeo Phiri, another visually impaired teacher and pastor who is the band's patron.

Phiri told the Times that it was very difficult to produce the album because they used dry guitars.

Two other songs Africa my motherland and Tilimbike in the album were written by former Magwero school retired teacher, Noah Mwale, who has now settled down in his home town of Lundazi .

Africa my motherland, has a South African beat and in the song the band is asking African countries to be united for peace and development.

The rest of the songs are The Devil is a Gong'a, Mwanawasa musogoleri wa chitukuko and Ineumoyo wanga umayopa Mulungu completing the album.

The Devil is a Gong'a was written by James Mwale a grade 12 pupil while the song that has been dedicated to Dr Mwanawasa was written by Jairos Tembo a former pupil at the school and now living in Lusaka .

Magwero school, established in 1903 by the Dutch Reformed Church is one of the first schools in Central Africa for the blind.

School head teacher, Mastoni Shawa, who has rendered a lot of moral and material support to the band described the album's release which was directed by Tadeo Phiri, as a dream come true for the band.

Mr Shawa said he felt proud because the moral and spiritual support he rendered to the band had finally yielded results and was now appealing to President Mwanawasa and well-wishers to help the band to put the music on CDs as well as audio tapes.

The headteacher's sentiments were echoed by the band's chairperson John Phiri, a grade 10 pupil who is visually impaired.

"My special appeal goes to Dr Mwanawasa, business houses and well-wishers and individuals to help us produce CDs and audio tapes so that the music can be on the market.

We are asking those who would like to assist us, Magwero school for the blind band raise K45 million required to produce CDs and tapes of this album to come and God will reward them richly," Phiri said.

He said the visually impaired at Magwero have identified their talent and it was for this reason that they have decided to direct their energies and time towards that direction so that they could as well use this talent in future as a career depending on how they perform academically.

The band chairperson said that if these promising young boys and girls are not supported there is a likelihood that they could start begging for alms in the street.

"If they can not prosper in music, they will go on the street begging which is not healthy. The truth of the matter is that disability is not inability," Phiri said.

He howeversaysthe band was faced with problems such as lack of modern musical equipment and disclosed that it was very difficult to produce their debut album because they used dry guitars.

Phiri says the band would welcome both financial and material support especially in terms of a new set of electrical musical equipment that includes guitars and drums among others.

The band said it had decided to dedicate a song to President Mwanawasa because it felt he has done well in as far as fighting corruption was concerned.

The band leader said Dr Mwanawasa had shown that he was serious about the crusade against corruption and as such appreciated his efforts which they said have brought about development to the rural areas in Zambia.

In the song entitled Mwanawasa musogoleri wachitukuko which is cut number five on the album, the band eulogises President Mwanawasa for his tireless efforts to fight the scourge and urges him to continue with the fight because it says the sustained crusade against the vice has had a positive impact on the rural population.

It urges the President to continue because the rural population appreciates his work which has resulted in the construction of schools, clinics, provision of clean and safe water and rehabilitation of road network.

If these young and promising visually impaired boys and girls will be supported in their newly found musical career, then the sky will be the limit because they possess not only amazing skill and melodious voices in music but also unmatched determination to succeed against all the challenges facing them.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804150258.html

Uganda: Disabled Stuck in Camps

New Vision (Kampala)
15 April 2008
Posted to the web 16 April 2008

Flavia Nakagwa And Michael Odeng
Kampala

IT is mainly the elderly and the disabled who are still stuck in displaced people's camps, a study by the ministry for the disabled has revealed.

Herbert Baryayebwa, a commissioner, said the two vulnerable groups form almost 80% of the people still living in camps.

Addressing journalists in Kampala recently, he said children also posed a special problem.

"Voluntary resettlement is taking place but majority of the young people who were born in the camps have nowhere to go."

The commissioner also said the ministry was working on a regulation demanding all buildings be made friendly to the disabled.

"Most disabled persons have difficulty accessing several infrastructure like buildings and vehicles, but we want to bring an end to their suffering."

Minister Sulaiman Madada said there was need to economically empower the physically handicapped.

"We shall ensure that the disabled get enterprise-based skills."

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804160261.html

Uganda: Mukwaya Advises PWDs

New Vision (Kampala)
17 April 2008
Posted to the web 18 April 2008

Flavia Nakagwa
Kampala

Trade minister Janat Mukwaya has advised people with disabilities (PWDs) to train in courses that give them marketable skills.

Mukwaya also urged the disabled with vocational skills to make products that are marketable overseas and appeal to tourists.

"You need to look at what is on the market. If you continue training in tailoring and cannot get a tender to make school uniforms, then you are wasting your skills," she said.

Mukwaya was on Tuesday speaking during the International dissemination workshop on PWDs' skills and enterprises at Sports View Hotel in Kireka.

The workshop was organised by the gender ministry and the National Union for Disabled Persons (NUDIPU).

Mukwaya asked the disabled to also engage in aqua culture, agriculture and art and craft.

"Growing the artemisia grass used to manufacture malaria drugs is profitable because it grows very fast, and the market is available here. Why can't you venture into it?"

The NUDIPU chairman, Francis Kinubi, said the disabled wanted to be allowed to freely contribute to the social and political structure of the nation.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804180064.html

The disabled feel left out in AIDS war

TUMELO SETSHOGO
Correspondent

Disabled persons in Botswana have said they have been left out in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

They said at a two-day workshop this week that it is unfair for anybody to talk about success stories in the fight against AIDS without mentioning young people with disability. The theme of the workshop organised by the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) was: 'Commit to Zero Transmission Lifestyles: Youth with Disabilities Leading by Keeping the Promise to Stop AIDS'. It was held at Kagisong Centre in Mogoditshane.

Speaking at the workshop, Shirely Keoagile said it is sad that while people are saying HIV/AIDS rates are now declining, people with disabilities have not been reached.

She said that in the just ended Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) campaigns, no youth with disabilities was reached "which means we are not part of the society". Keoagile said the laws seem to address the problems of non-disabled people. She added that Botswana's response to AIDS is not serving the disabled. "We cannot make significant progress on national AIDS statistics unless government and community efforts better respond to the needs of people with disabilities," she said. She called for an urgent comprehensive national strategy. She said people with disabilities have been silent for many years and it is time to speak out.

"We need to take pride in our national anthem to wake up and rise and tell our government about our rights and concerns," she said.

She said major HIV/AIDS intervention and gender violence programmes do not take into account the specific conditions, needs and experiences of the disabled.

She said it is important for people with disabilities to target and challenge their negative self-image and to raise their voices to be heard. Other disabled people at the workshop shared her sentiments.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1&dir=2008/April/Thursday17

Kenya: Standard to Support Mentally Disabled

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
18 April 2008
Posted to the web 17 April 2008

Susan Anyangu
Nairobi

THE Standard Group Managing Director, Mr Paul Wanyagah, has expressed shock that 2.7 million Kenyans are living in deplorable conditions due to mental disability.

The chief executive officer of Kenya Society for the Mentally Handicapped (KSMH), Ms Eddah Maina, the stigma attached to mental disability had hampered proper management of the condition.

Wanyagah said the issue is serious and needs visibility and support from Kenyans

"We at the Standard Group will evaluate the issues and identify how to support KSMH's noble cause," he said.

KSMH has organised a charity walk on June 15 to raise Sh11.5 million for 500 affected families.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804171273.html

The disabled pitch their case over continued relegation

Story by CAROLINE WAFULA
Publication Date: 4/18/2008

Poverty, exclusion from decision making forums and general inequality in society are some of the key issues that affect disabled people more than any other group in society.

Kenya Paraplegic Organisation executive director Tim Wanyonyi (right) with Ms Teresa Njoroge of Friends of Disabled and Mr Lawrence Mute of Kenya National Human Rights Commission address a Press conference in Nairobi last week.Photos/FILE People with disabilities have pointed out in various forums that they are twice more likely to live in absolute poverty than able-bodied people.

It has further been noted that disabled people experience oppression, discrimination and violation of basic human rights on a daily basis.

Most disabled people, regardless of their age and gender, are prevented from making decisions that affect their daily lives, according to crusaders of disability rights.

With the formation of the grand coalition Government, the disabled in the country are in for another round of exclusion from key decision making level since none of their own was appointed to serve in the Cabinet.

This is because none of them was elected to the 10th Parliament or nominated by any political party, despite pressure from the fraternity.

It was the same case with party nominations, according to Mr Phitalis Were of Leonard Cheshire International. He says many candidates with disabilities offered themselves and worked tenaciously towards being elected as MPs and councillors but due to “shambolic and unjust nomination exercises”, as well as resource constraints, their effort became stillborn.

With the unveiling of the grand coalition Government, they were hoping that an office of the Status of Persons with Disabilities under the Office of the President or that of the Prime Minister would be included.

Such an office, which they had proposed, was to comprehensively deal with issues of persons with disabilities.

The fraternity of people with disabilities, led by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) commissioner Lawrence Mute, says it would have been more appropriate to create such an office in the Prime Minister’s office since the premier will coordinate and supervise Government departments and ministries.

Under the new Government structure, disability issues are handled through the ministries of Gender and Children Affairs and Youth and Sports.

But according to disability rights crusaders, under the relevant ministry, the disabled receive relative negligible attention and disability remains a poor cousin of apparently more important matters such as sports and gender.

“Disability entails multi-dimensional and cross-cutting agenda that cannot be pigeonholed in a single ministry,” Mr Mute stated on behalf of the group.

This measure, he argued, would give disability in Kenya much needed visibility, resources and political goodwill. It will also enhance monitoring and reporting across all Government ministries and departments.

Provide advice

Alongside a full fledged disability office, those with disabilities want the Government to appoint a disability adviser to provide technical advice to the Government.

They cite South Africa, Senegal and Namibia as some of the countries the model operates well.

Another expectation of the disabled fraternity is that the new grand coalition Government will ensure that persons with disabilities are employed in governance positions.

They state that people with disabilities should have effective participation and representation in planning and decision-making organs.

They want persons with disabilities to be appointed in senior public positions like permanent secretaries, constitutional offices (including the Judiciary), the diplomatic service, parastatals and to review/reform committees.

The group reiterates the need for all these players to ensure that the development needs of Kenyans with disabilities are at the heart of national policy priorities.

“As Kenyans with disabilities, we have for far too long been forced to remain on the periphery of this country’s policy and legislation making processes,” says Mr Samuel Kabue of the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (Edan). “Even where policy or legislation has recognised our needs, its implementation has been patchy and half-hearted,” he added.

Overall effect

The overall consequences of this status quo, according to the group, have included the continuation of exclusion occasioned by their physical, sensory or intellectual impairments.

“This marginalisation has also encouraged society to heighten discrimination against us in the classroom, the workplace, the hospital and the family setting too,” Mr Kabue says.

The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003, has been in place for almost five years, yet little progress with regards to implementing and enforcing it has been made.

Mr Timothy Wanyonyi of the Kenya Paraplegic Organisation says members of the grand coalition Government (ODM, PNU and ODM Kenya) should therefore stay true to their election promises and act decisively to enable the rights and development needs of over three million disabled Kenyans.

Policymakers and implementers should as well prioritise disability rights in public policy, legislative and administrative matters, he states.

The group proposes several steps, which they say should be taken urgently both by the grand coalition Government as well as by other public actors.

The fraternity wants full implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act and calls on the new Government to gazette all sections of the Persons with Disabilities Act which as yet remain inoperable. They include Section 22 of the Act which requires proprietors of public buildings to adapt them to suit persons with disabilities, Section 23 which provides that operators of public service vehicles shall adapt it to suit persons with disabilities and Section 39 which requires all television stations to provide a sign language inset or sub-titles in all news casts and educational programmes, and in all programmes covering events of national significance.

The fraternity also wants the Government to finalise and the development of the National Disability Policy which has remained in draft form for the last couple of years and have Parliament pass it in the course of this year.

It is now one year since the Government signed the convention which aims to enable the better protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities.

“The grand coalition Government should this year ratify the convention. It should also review all legislation covering disability issues so that domestication of the convention may happen,” Mr Kabue says.

Inclusive policies

Special interests can be best articulated by those directly affected and so inclusive policies and legislation will only be implemented if persons with disabilities are involved, according to the disability rights crusaders.

In this regard, they state that both public and private employers should be required or encouraged to employ persons with disabilities in their establishments. The guiding standard in the Persons with Disabilities Act is where at least five per cent of employees are disabled.

To all the people with disabilities, however, the constitutional review process holds the key to the solutions to the myriad of problems affecting them.

They urged the Government to finalise review of the Constitution in one year.

The group says the Bomas of Kenya Draft Constitution captured a lot of their concerns and desires “particularly to the extent that it included specific articles on our rights as persons with disabilities”.

They say the review must, therefore, ensure that the Bomas of Kenya gains are retained and that other provisions are included to ensure that persons with disabilities have effective representation in national as well as local governance structures, says the fraternity.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=39&newsid=121374

Kenya: Province Takes Two Titles As Special Schools Event Ends

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
19 April 2008
Posted to the web 21 April 2008

Rita Damary
Nairobi

Central clinched the football title after humiliating defending champions Western 3-0 at the finals of the Special Schools competitions played at Nakuru Boys' grounds.

The victors, who were playing in the hearing impaired juniors' category, started the title chase on a sound note and took an early lead in the 12th minute through Jacob Wainai.

Still reeling from the defensive lapse that led to the opener, Western hopes of retaining the trophy all but disappeared when Wainaina notched his brace 15 minutes later.

Boniface Kenga scored the all-important third in 45th for Central to secure the title as his team eventually ran out 3-0 victors.

In the semis, Western edged past Nyanza on post match penalties 5-3 win while Central topped Coast 2-1 a close encounter to qualify for yesterday's decider.

In the volleyball boys' junior category, Central continued their sterling performance, trouncing Western 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-18) to scoop the trophy.

To book a berth in the finals, the winners beat Coast 2-0 while in another encounter, Western hit Eastern 2-1.

In the Mentally Impaired category, Western walloped Eastern 10-0 to win the handball girls' title for the second year running.

Western had given an early indication for their serious bid for the trophy when they humiliated Coast 14-1in the semi-finals before Eastern ousted Nairobi 4-0 to qualify for the decider played at Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology.

In other matches, Eastern beat Nyanza 4-3 as Coast humbled Central 10-0 with Western hitting Rift Valley 6-1.

In the boys' category, Central trounced Eastern 6-2 before clawing Rift Valley 5-4 and then lost 13-12 to Western.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804210042.html

Excluded from the fight

By BAMUTURAKI MUSINGUZI

FOR FEAR OF THE STIGMA that usually comes with HIV and Aids, Christine Kyaterekera lived in denial for 10 years - a decision that eventually contributed to her blindness.

“I feared going to hospital. I feared discrimination if people knew I was HIV positive. I lived in self-denial for 10 years,” she said.

Kyaterekera, who has lived with the virus for 17 years, said that, without treatment, blisters and a dry cough intensified. She only got relief after her family decided to take her for an HIV test.

“On December 31, 2000, we held a family meeting and my children resolved that I go for a test. I was found to have the virus and tuberculosis in January 2001. I took TB drugs for eight months and I recovered.”

Talking to The EastAfrican during the 2nd Meeting of the Africa Campaign on Disability and HIV and Aids in Kampala, Kyaterekera, who has gone public about her status, recalled that in early 2002, she started experiencing pain in one eye.

“I went to hospital and the health workers claimed it was an allergy caused by the drugs I was taking for HIV. It was then that my husband became very sick and re-infected me with TB. I was put on TB treatment again, but my eye pain persisted.

“On April 1, 2003, I woke up to realise that my left eye had gone blind. I went to hospital and the doctor told me that once the virus gets to the eyes, they don’t easily recover,” Kyaterekera recalled.

“By then, the vision in my right eye was also dimming. I was then advised to start taking ARVs. Unfortunately, my right eye never recovered and I became very ill in May 2003. My husband died in November the same year.”

The 49-year-old mother of seven later joined Blind But Able, a non- governmental organisation, where she has learnt to use the cane, knitting and Braille.

“My biggest challenge was to get used to my status and how to look after my young children, who were traumatised. Though I have now got used to my disability, my experience is that whenever parents get HIV, it is the children who suffer most. My neighbours discouraged their children from playing with mine for fear of infection.”

ACCORDING TO THE WORLD Health Organisation, nearly 34 million people are currently living with HIV and Aids worldwide. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most common cause of vision loss in Aids patients.

“Although the prevalence of cytomegalovirus retinitis is decreasing in industrialised countries because of the widespread availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy, between 10 and 20 per cent of HIV- infected patients worldwide can be expected to lose vision in one or both eyes as a result of ocular cytomegalovirus infection,” Philippe G. Kestelyn and Emmett T. Cunningham Jr, wrote in a paper titled, “HIV and Aids and Blindness,” published in the WHO Bulletin in 2001.

“Less frequent but important causes of bilateral vision loss in patients with HIV and Aids include varicella zoster virus and herpes simplex virus retinitis, HIV-related ischaemic microvasculopathy, ocular syphilis, ocular tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis, and ocular toxic or allergic drug reactions,” Kestelyn and Cunningham Jr, added.

“At present, most patients with HIV and Aids in developing countries who lose their vision have a very limited life expectancy.

“As antiretroviral therapy makes its way to these countries, however, both life expectancy and the prevalence of blindness related to HIV and Aids can be expected to increase dramatically,” they warn.

Although Kyaterekera is on ARV treatment through the Aids Support Organisation (TASO), 80 million people are being excluded from the fight against HIV and Aids in Africa simply because they are disabled.

They make up a large proportion of people in the poorest communities, which are also severely affected by HIV and Aids.

The National Union of Disabled People of Uganda in partnership with the Secretariat of the African Decade and Handicap International organised the Kampala meeting from March 11-13 this year under the theme, “Making Access for All a Reality.”

The meeting provided an important opportunity to review progress towards achieving the Africa Campaign objectives, to exchange lessons learned and to plan involvement in the International Conference on Aids and STI in Africa in Dakar, Senegal in December 2008. It was attended by delegates from over 20 African countries and seven countries in Europe and North America.

PERSONS WITH DISABILIties in Africa are at equal or greater risk of HIV infection, compared with their non-disabled peers. For many, being disabled means that they are less likely to marry and more likely to have several sexual partners.

Disabled women, girls and boys are also more likely to be victims of sexual violence. Other factors such as physical dependence, life in institutions and lack of access to legal rights, also make them particularly vulnerable to infection and abuse.

The Kampala Declaration on Disability and HIV and Aids issued at the end of the meeting suggested among other things that national Aids strategic plans recognise people with disabilities as vulnerable to HIV and Aids as well as valuable contributors in the response to the scourge at all levels, including planning, implementation and monitoring.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Magazine/mag210420084.htm

Uganda: 'Diasbled Denied Loans' - Minister

New Vision (Kampala)
20 April 2008
Posted to the web 21 April 2008

Kampala

FINANCIAL institutions should not ignore the elderly and the disabled.

"Many cases have been reported about elderly persons and the disabled being denied loans because it is feared they may not pay back," said the state minister for the disabled, Sulaiman Madada.

"Laws to cater for the rights of disabled persons are already in place although implementation is still missing. It is not only a challenge of the Government, but also the beneficiaries, we all need to work together," he said recently at the close of an international business workshop for the disabled at Sports View Hotel in Kireka.

"We are going to write to all employers on the rights of the disabled. Those who fail to comply will be prosecuted," he warned.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804210321.html

‘Teachers should go for training’

BY SELLINA NKOWANI
12:42:29 - 21 April 2008

Teachers who teach children with special needs need to go for refresher courses to keep them in tune with the ever-changing world, Head Teacher for Mountain View School for the Deaf in Bvumbwe, Thyolo Cassidy Magreta has said.

Magreta said this last Friday when he received a donation of K2 million and hearing aid kits for the pupils and stationery from a visiting team of Freemasons from the Province of Ross and Cromarty in Scotland.

He said most teachers at the school were failing to instruct pupils properly in sign language because they lack proper training.

“There is need for more training to keep them in tune with the new technology. We would love if these teachers would go for further training,” he said, adding that this was one of the challenges the school was facing.

In his speech, leader delegation Ramsay Mc Ghee said he was delighted that the school had managed to raise some funds on its own through self-help projects.

He added that the money would help the school to expand poultry and dairy projects.

“We have heard about what you do and we are impressed with what you are doing and we also want to help in whatever small way we can,” he said.

The 13-member team would be in Malawi for seven days and would support the initiative of the Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell and they would be meeting Malawian Freemasons to “exchange ideas and further cement the ties between Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Brethren in Malawi”.

“We want to encourage vocational skills. Next week, we will hand over the construction of two poultry houses,” Mc Ghee said.

Mountain View School for the Deaf opened its doors in 1997 and has full boarding facilities.

The school, which has about 200 pupils, enrolls pupils as young as six years old.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9174

‘Disabled need our love’

21 April 2008
Sibongile Mashaba

The message is clear. “In God’s eyes we are all the same.’’

That was the message to the congregation at a special service at the Seventh Day Adventist Church’s ministry for people with disabilities in Orlando West, Soweto.

More than 200 disabled people attended the service.

Guests included pupils from the Sizwe School for the Deaf in Dobsonville, which the church adopted two weeks ago, and the Sizanani School for the Disabled in Doornkop.

Sizanani caters for 100 disabled children and adults. It was founded by Sydney Ngwenya, who is physically disabled, in 1996.

Ngaka Tsagae, a committee member of the ministry, said the main purpose of the event was to highlight the plight of the disabled community.

“We need to show these people love all the time,” Tsagae said. “The love and respect we show them at church needs to spread to our homes and communities.

“So there is much to be done. Most of our public places, for example, are unfriendly to the disabled and we need to stand up for their rights.”

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=752488

Woman who lost legs and an arm graduates

Latoya Newman
April 21 2008 at 10:21AM

After surviving a vicious attack which resulted in her losing both legs and an arm, a woman has received a social sciences degree.

Nellie Ndlovu, 25, now wants other crime victims to know that there is life after crime and that being disabled need not be a hindrance.

"In the beginning it is very difficult, but you need to live past it. If you survive, it means life will carry on," she said on Sunday.

Ndlovu was among hundreds of students who graduated from the University of KwaZulu Natal during the weekend.

Ndlovu, from a rural community in Dududu, on the South Coast, said it took physical and emotional strength to achieve success.

Not having the finances to study, she also had the additional challenge of going out into the world disabled after her attack. "When I went to study it was a blind shot because I did not have the resources. But I did manage to get a bursary.

"In terms of my disability, when I decided to study I was okay, but when I arrived at Howard College (a campus at UKZN) it was very hilly and I was intimidated. But the varsity disability unit helped me and I had a motorised wheelchair," she said.

Ndlovu was attacked while walking near a railway line in Dududu in 2002. "During the attack two men knocked me unconscious and they placed me across the railway line. I was hit by a train and that is how I lost my legs and an arm. The men were never caught and so I do not know what the motive was," she said.

Ndlovu said getting used to her disability took time. "I was frustrated because I could not do everything I used to do. Even now I still have moments when I get frustrated."

In 2005 Ndlovu went to further her studies at UKZN. She said leaving home and a familiar environment was intimidating. "I was scared sometimes but you have to take the leap in order to succeed."

Being the first in her family to get a degree, Ndlovu's family is ecstatic. "My family has always supported me through everything, especially my mom and my nephew. And I have great friends at varsity too," she said.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20080421060954235C548998

Justice ministry plans to review disability bill

BY DEBORAH CHIPOFYA
12:45:15 - 21 April 2008

Ministry of Justice has finalised reviewing the draft Disability Bill and was now ready to present it to various interest groups for their input, Minister for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly Clement Khembo said last Friday.

Khembo was speaking in an interview on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony at Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) Lilongwe Vocational Training Centre.

He said after finalising consultations with stakeholders, the Bill would go before cabinet before it is finally presented to Parliament for adoption.

“When the Bill is passed into law, it will remove all forms of discrimination towards the disabled and anyone who discriminates against the disabled will be punishable by law,” said Khembo.

The Disability Bill was drafted in 2004 and intends to replace Malawi’s sole disability specific law, the Handicapped Persons Act of 1971.

The Bill includes extensive provisions on employment and education and also addresses accessibility, transport and health requirements.

At the graduation ceremony, Macoha Executive Director Steven Msowoya thanked government for its efforts in promoting and empowering persons with disabilities.

“We are glad that the Bill is now out of Ministry of Justice and ready to be tabled before various stakeholders for further discussion,” said Msowoya.

Macoha graduated 50 trainees in tailoring, financial accounting and information technology.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9177

Rwanda: Living With an Unknown Disability

The New Times (Kigali)
21 April 2008
Posted to the web 22 April 2008

Sam Nkurunziza
Kigali

Since the age of four, Harerimana has been stuck in a squatting position.

This is the story of a disabled man who despite life's challenges has been able to lead a normal life. Once strong and fit, now crippled, Harerimana is only able to move from one place to another while squatting, his arms and legs shuffling him slowly forward.

His bones are deformed and keep him this position. His life is plagued by unrelenting trials, isolation and loneliness.

"You mean you want me to come and visit you?" Harerimana asked with disbelief upon receiving my invitation for a chat in a quiet place.

Thirty-six years ago, Vianne Harerimana was born a happy child like all others, four years later he vividly recalls waking up crippled in bed, unable to stand straight.

"At the age of about four, I woke up to find everyone gone fetching firewood and could not arouse because I was unable to stand straight," Harerimana begins his untold tale in a low and dry tone. From that day forth, he has never been able to walk upright.

However, Harerimana's life today is remarkably normal. He has a partner who is four months pregnant whom he hopes to walk down the aisle next month. He pays monthly rent of Frw5,000 and looks to the future with optimism.

But Harerimana has never discovered the cause of his disability. Having lost count of the medical centres he has visited, none of which have shed light on his condition, Harerimana has come to suspect that he was bewitched.

"Doctors could not establish the disease I was suffering from. I even went to the traditional ones but none helped me," says the father to be.

He even went to Gahini centre of the handicapped in 2003 hoping to get some assistance but all efforts to have his dilemma resolved seem to fall on barren ground and for him.

Harerimana recalls vividly the incident he believes to be the reason behind his crippled body. A neighbor had cows and while away grazing, the attendant fell asleep and the cows ate from people's gardens.

Being young, Harerimana had gone with this man whose name he does not remember very well and it is then that the trouble started. Three of the cows were hacked to death and both eyes of another one were pierced out by the angry garden owners.

"The attendant went on the run and his boss started accusing me. When I asserted that I was not responsible, he picked up a broom and then used its handle to strike me. He began to hit harder and harder and he kept hitting me with it. I can remember the pain and the force of the weapon," recalls Harerimana. Harerimana was hit mostly about the legs and also around the stomach.

"I can remember the bruises I had for several days after this vicious attack. I can clearly recall my friends fighting for me during this attack and made all attempts to stop it," revealed Harerimana.

"I can not remember my immediate reaction as result of this abuse but I can recall the incident being "swept under the carpet" and the next thing I knew, I could not stand on my own."

"I have always remembered this attack by my neighbor. I can still feel the emotional pain of this abuse when I focus on, or describe it," said Harerimana.

"I tried all medication but it didn't pay off because there was no change at the end of the day. Regardless of all this I remain hopeful that life continues against all odds."

His father Reverend Bubakimana Daniel and mother Zebriah Bampire live in the village and they can not stop to wonder why it is only Harerimana out of the whole family who has this rare disability.

"It was a shocking revelation most especially because he developed the deformity later after his birth," said Bubakimana upon learning that his son was never to walk again.

Born in a family of six, Harerimana who hails from Bugesera has two brothers and three sisters. Choosing not to follow his father's footsteps and become a man of the church, Harerimana always wished to become a businessman. To date he has not lost his vision.

"I feel like if I got money now, I would open up a shop in Nyabugogo," he said with hope. To look at he looks like a broken, vulnerable man, but Harerimana is a man of sound mental capability.

"After marrying my wife and producing children, even if I die I will have died a happy man," said Harerimana who started living with his better half mid last year.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://allafrica.com/stories/200804220140.html

Silent theatre punches through sound barrier

Published: Tuesday, 22 April, 2008, 01:39 AM Doha Time

By Sarmad Qazi

THE stage is set and actors are playing out their roles. The audience - initially doubtful - is fully immersed and fascinated by the act which has no score or vocals. This is Silent Theatre, all the performers are deaf.

The theatre set up three years ago, was the brainchild of the Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD), and has now gone international, winning several awards on the way.

Florence Mukasa Nightingale of the UNAD’s Deaf Silent Theatre, gave a presentation that included visuals of the artistic prowess of the deaf, here yesterday.

Her talks was part of a symposium on ‘Enhancing ability through sport and theatre for deaf and blind’ on the second day of the 3rd Annual International Shafallah Forum.

“Deaf people possess amazing ability to excite their audience, families or children. They can do anything and everything except hearing. There is no reason why they cannot be included in society,” she said. Uganda has 700,000 deaf people - the majority are children - which is almost 10% of its population. It was the first country in the world to make sign language part of the constitution. UNAD advocates the human rights of the deaf and the promotion of sign language.

“Our theatre has increased awareness among both deaf and normal people, and empowered our actors, who now realise their status in society,” said Nightingale who is also deaf.

She said, that service providers in the health sector have also realised that the deaf or people with disabilities (PWDs) are susceptible to diseases like HIV/Aids and steps are being taken to educate and provide health care for them.

Donalda Ammons, who is the president of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), echoed Nightingale’s views on social inclusion of PWDs as well.

“Recent studies show that deaf or blind people’s IQ distribution is nearly identical to that of normal people. Deaf children are more similar to hearing-children when it comes to motor and vehicular abilities. It is society that diminishes their ability to learn,” said Ammons.

“For example, too often people are anxious to make deaf children ‘normal’ or to ‘fix’ them. In the process children become more deprived due to their lack of understanding of certain things,” she said. According to her, ICSD - one of the oldest sports organisations in the world (established in 1924) with a membership of more than 100 countries, serves 10mn deaf athletes.

“ICSD is now extremely active in the Middle East and in the Gulf region in particular. The presence of deaf athletes from Arab countries continues to grow tremendously,” said Ammons.

Susan Flanagan of the British Columbia Blind Sports and Recreation Association in Canada talked about social inclusion - through community and specialised programmes - as well, from the perspective of blind persons. She was of the view that before a blind child is engaged in a social activity, his or her intellectual level of understanding has to be assessed first.

“We have to first find out the current needs of a child and the efficiency of his skill. We have to make sure that the child is not light sensitive and whether he likes sun light or grey light; only then can we encourage them to participate in community programmes,” said Flanagan,

“It is important to remember that it will take a blind child 7-8 trials of an activity to have the same understanding, than people with regular sight. Therefore, patience is the key for teachers, coaches and trainers,” she added.

【付記】上記ニュースのURL
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=214318&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

Metro cuts off cash for sick kids’ school

Victor Khupiso Published:Apr 22, 2008

School for the disabled relies for funding on two billboards that council wants removed

An Ekurhuleni school for the disabled says it is being victimised by the metro council, which is taking away the school’s biggest source of income.

The council insists that two advertising billboards on the grounds of the Ezibeleni School for the Physically Disabled ? which bring in almost R18000 a month for the school ? must be removed because they violate council by-laws, said the school.

Advertising company Primedia Outdoor has been paying the school close to R18000 a month for the past nine years for its use of the billboards .

The school receives a small government subsidy but has relied on the money generated by the billboards for its survival.

School principal Benzi Tenza said the government subsidy was not enough to run the school and the move by the council to force Primedia to remove the billboards was both “insensitive and irresponsible”.

“The 221 children who attend this school suffer from various ailments, such as brittle bones; there are those who can hardly push their own wheelchairs, those with no limbs. Others need urgent medical attention, such as those with lung conditions and epilepsy .”

Among those at the school are South Africa’s longest-surviving Siamese twins, Monde and Nomonde Mokoena.

Only a quarter of parents can afford to pay the school fees of R110 a month for day