アフリカ障害者の10年　2013年4月～6月

Nangobi crawls from her house. She had a rough experience during the last child birth newvision

When Sarah Nangobi discovered she was pregnant, she was excited and terrified ? excited because this was her first child; and terrified because she did not know what to expect.
“I didn’t know how I was going to carry the pregnancy to term and what would happen at the time of delivery,” says the mother of four, who is living with a physical disability.

Nangobi was also worried about how she would get to the nearest and only health facility, which is 2km away, for antenatal clinics.

Though despondent, Nangobi resolved she was not going to wallow in self-pity. She would wake up early in the morning and do her domestic chores before crawling to the health facility.

She never missed any antenatal clinics as she did not want to endanger her life. When she was due, a health worker at the facility was not comfortable to handle her although she never said it openly. Due to the disability, the midwife feared she would get complications.

Fortunately, she managed to carry the pregnancy to term without any complications. “One Wednesday morning as I did my laundry, I noticed a strange discharge from my private parts.

Little did I know the birth waters had broken. I informed my sister, who immediately started running around looking for transport to take me to the hospital,” Nangobi says.

Unfortunately, the nearest health facility where she was scheduled to give birth did not have an ambulance, yet back home, the family did not have any means to get her to the hospital. The nearest ambulance was at Iganga Hospital, several miles away.

In such a condition, Nangobi could not sit on a boda boda, so her sister negotiated for a wheelbarrow, which a neighbour provided, and two gentlemen pushed her as her sister carried the bag containing her maternity essentials.
As the labour progressed, Nangobi says she prayed to God to give her time to reach the hospital. She knew delivering on the roadside would require them to hire a car to cover the remaining distance to hospital yet they did not have the money.

Nangobi says it took them an hour to get to hospital and luckily, the midwives were still on duty. However, the facility neither had a wheelchair nor a stretcher to push her to the labour ward. She was lifted from the wheelbarrow to the labour ward.

“Without sympathy, the midwife told me to get onto the delivery bed, but I could not, as it was too high. She scoffed at me, asking why, with such a kind of disability, I even bothered to become pregnant,” she adds.

On realising I could not get myself onto the bed and there was no one to lift me, the midwife placed a black plastic bag on the floor and told me to lie on it. With the help of a nursing sister, she examined me. “I had already dilated, so she asked me to push. I gave birth on the floor.

After that experience, Nangobi says she shunned hospitals and resorted to traditional birth attendants, whom she says, are receptive and besides, they live within the community.” Nangobi appeals to the Government to set up disability friendly health facilities to enable people with disabilities access them.

Government health facilities do not have special facilities for people with disability. The referral hospitals and health centres New Vision visited did not have special facilities such as beds to cater for mothers with disabilities.

In addition, many of the facilities are difficult to access as they do not have ramps or elevators, where people with disabilities can be moved or wheeled.

Like Nangobi, women with disabilities face challenges when it comes to accessing reproductive health services. Some members of society portray women with disabilities as sexually infertile and incapable of being mothers.

Uganda Bureau of Statistics has no national statistics of people with disabilities or the number of disabled women who are in their reproductive age.

However, according to the last population census reports, about 10% of the national population make up the total number of people with disabilities.

The representative for the people with disabilities in the northern region, William Norkrach, says representatives for people with disabilities have proposed to Uganda Bureau of Statistics to bring out clear statistics on people with disabilities and the categories of disabilities.

He notes that while there has been a worldwide decline in maternal mortality rates, mothers in developing countries, like Uganda, especially the disabled, continue to face challenges in receiving effective reproductive healthcare.
According to Uganda Health and Demographic Survey, Uganda’s maternal mortality ratio dropped to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010, from 435 deaths in 2006, translating to 4,300 maternal deaths every year, down from 6,000.

Ministry of Health’s public relations offi cer Rukia Nakamatte, says “Currently we don’t have specialized delivery beds for disabled women in any health facility.

However, according to the hospital equipment policy, the ministry requires that at least 20% of the beds procured should consider mothers with disabilities,” she clarifi es.
Nakamatte says disability-friendly beds have not been procured for health centres because the policy was only passed last year.

Previously, patients with hearing impairment seeking medical services have been facing challenges due to lack of communication.

Nakamatte, however, says the ministry has trained midwives in sign language to enable them communicate to deaf mothers.

Safi a Nalule, the Woman Member of Parliament for Persons with Disabilities, says Uganda approved the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
The treaty obliges the Government to provide the highest attainable standards of health for people with disabilities. Nalule says as representatives for people with disabilities in Parliament, they have raised several issues affecting disabled people.

Parliament has enacted laws against discriminating people with disabilities; however, the laws are yet to be implemented. She observes that Uganda has some of the best policies on disability, but the health sector still remains blind to the needs of people with disabilities because many of the guiding principles are still lacking.

Regarding reproductive health, she clarifies that, Government promised to purchase adjustable delivery beds for disabled expectant mothers, which is yet to be effected.
However, Norkrach, says the beds will be acquired in the next fi nancial year. “There have been delays in acquiring these beds since it is a gradual process where change cannot take place over night.”

ALL is set for the National Paralympic Games starting this week with provincial officials expected to be in Gweru tomorrow ahead of a technical meeting and inspection of the sporting and accommodation facilities to be used during the event.

Teams from different provinces will fight for honours in athletics for the visually impaired, amputees, intellectually challenged, goal ball, football for the intellectually challenged, 5-Aside and 11-Aside, 11- Aside for the hearing impaired, netball for the hearing impaired, wheelchair basketball and tennis.

All provinces have confirmed their participation in the event and have already made part payments to the Local Organising Committee.

The participation fee is US$50 per athlete and they are all expected to pay the balance on arrival in Gweru.

Sport and Recreation Commission Midlands provincial sport co-ordinator, Simon Masaka said they are going to hold a technical meeting on Wednesday ahead of the Games to update participating provinces on the preparations and how the Games will be run.

The meeting will be attended by provincial general managers, provincial technical managers and competition directors.

"The meeting is being held so that we update each other and agree on how the competitions are going to be run and avoid the previous challenges that were encountered especially with the results.

"All the provinces have made part payments of the participation fees to the Local Organising Committee and have made an undertaking that they will settle the remaining balance once they are in Gweru," said Masaka.

Masaka noted that they had moved wheelchair basketball and tennis from Chaplin High School to Regina Mundi in order to de-congest Chaplin High School and spread the Games to other venues so that more people may have access to watch the competition.

Other sporting disciplines will be held at Mkoba Teachers College and Mkoba Stadium.

Teams are expected in Gweru on Wednesday and upon arrival they will be classified according to their degree of disability and thereafter accreditation will take place at the Command Centre at Chaplin High School.

The Games which, were inaugurated in 2008 by the Sports Commission are meant to create opportunities for people living with disabilities to access sport and are also being used as a tool to promote the integration of people living with disabilities into the society thus fighting stereotypes against them.

Midlands are the defending champions and will be out to retain their title when the Games roar into life.

A visually impaired man begging for alms has been severely brutalized by a private guard at the Exclusive Super Store in Sinkor, Monrovia. The incident occurred on Sunday, March 31, 2013.

By-standers told the NewDawn the guard who allegedly assaulted the blind man is an employee of the Blue Water Protection Service (BPS) hired by the management of the Exclusive Super Store to help in preventing beggars from embarrassing customers going to buy.

The management reportedly hired the BPS security firm due to the inability of its (Exclusive Super Store) own security to prevent beggars from around the supermarket.

The private security guard, Kenneh Glay, reportedly hit the visually impaired man, Clarence Mangou on Sunday night with baton on his head and kicked him several times for begging around the Exclusive Supermarket.

Onlookers said the manager of the Exclusive Supermarket came outside and instructed the BPS officers to drive away all physically challenged people who were standing around the supermarket.

While carrying out the instructions, the guard Kenneh Glay and the victim got into bitter exchanges, which led to the latter being brutally flogged. The blind man was left unconscious, lying in a pool of blood after he was hit several times by the security guard.

He was later taken to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (JFK) in Sinkor where he was treated and discharged. Eyewitnesses said the manager of the Exclusive Supermarket usually orders guards to manhandle people for loitering around to beg customers going there for business transaction.

Meanwhile, the management of the Excusive Super Store has refused to comment on the allegation, referring this paper to the BPS Security Firm. Authorities of the security firm also refused to give detail on the matter, but said investigation was being conducted by the Police.

Zanzibar - MAJORITY of beggars on streets in the country are people with disabilities probably because of misconception that majority of them cannot engage in productive activities to earn a living other than begging.

Some studies also suggests that children and adults with disabilities engage in begging as seen in many towns in Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha because of unfriendly environment, neglect, and stigma in communities they live in.

Research and other studies conducted have it that many people with disabilities consider themselves as 'useless' in communities they live in and cannot do any meaningful work. Likewise, some members of the community including parents also have similar view of their relatives with disabilities, but this belief has been proved the opposite by members of the Zanzibar National Association of the Blind (ZANAB).

ZANAB has succeeded in providing training and various skills to some of its members (the blind). They include handcrafts skills, with view to help them fight poverty through self employment and formation of entrepreneur groups to produce goods for sale.

So far 20 members, including 12 women, have completed 18 days training on handcraft making at Masikini-hajengi area, in Wete District, Pemba Island, thanks to ABILIS Foundation of Finland for supporting the training project.

ABILIS Foundation is a development fund, founded by people with disabilities in Finland in 1998. Its mandate is to support the activities leading to the empowerment of disabled persons in the Global South (developing countries). ABILIS Foundation supports activities that contribute towards equal opportunities for disabled people in society through human rights, independent living, and economic selfsufficiency.

Special priority is given to projects advocating for human rights of disabled people and to activities developed and implemented by disabled women. Mr Masoud Suleiman, leading the trainers' team, says most of the beggars who are blind or as are referred to as visually impaired people, can engage in many income generating activities, and there have been many proof that they are capable of doing so.

"A person who is visually impaired can do almost any job that a person without such disability can do. There are many successful people who are blind in all areas of business, but it is important to have skills," said Mr Suleiman. He added, "We have trained our members and they are now capable of producing handcrafts - mainly shopping baskets, door mats, chairs, and mats of all sizes.

We believe that the skills would change the well-being of the blind people." Mr Masoud said fortunately coconut fibre, which is raw material for the handcrafts is abundantly available in the isles, and again, the market for the products was also available.

The local people, tourists and other visitors from abroad, buy the items. He said the training in handcraft production was second phase project in developing the blind in Zanzibar. The first phase training was conducted in October last year, which involved imparting knowledge to members about entrepreneurs' policy and regulations, Activity of Daily Living (ADL), and mobility (the use of white cane)."

Mr Masoud said that over 8,000 Euro was approved for the project and it was being released in three installments, set for three rounds of training and provision of coconut fibres, scissors, and monitoring. Mr Said Bakari, a blind trainer, said the training was important in helping the blind community in the isles to secure self employment.

This, he said, would prove to the disabled and communities around that disability was not hindrance to work. Bakari said the training beneficiaries were picked from all the ten districts of Zanzibar and camped for the training in Pemba where they learned how to make mats, basket weaving, and other handcrafts mainly by use of the available local materials.

Ms Mwanajuma Hassan, one of the 20 beneficiaries of the training said "we are happy and thankful for the training, although it has been a challenge for us to grasp the skills in a short time. We need more skills on income generating activities. Mr Abdul Said also a beneficiary says "It is a shame that some members of the community including families isolate people with disabilities.

People should know that disabled have different talents and can work." The ZANAB secretary Mr Adil Mohamed thanks ABILIS Foundation for the invaluable support for the blind in Zanzibar, saying the skills will bring change in the blind community as some of them now have income generating activities skills.

"Many members of ZANAB are faced with poverty, lack of conventional education, and discrimination in work opportunities, just because members of the community view people with disability as people who need help all the time."

The Ghana Federation of the Disable (GFD) says critical issues affecting persons with disability (PWD) are not well articulated on the floor of Parliament to facilitate the formulation of appropriate policies.

The Federation is therefore taking steps to get Parliament form an inter-party parliamentary caucus on disability to facilitate discussions on disability issues.

Mr Yaw Ofori-Debrah, President of the Federation who made this known to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said so far it had been able to organise a luncheon for six Parliamentarians across the political divide, who had expressed keen interest to be part of the caucus.

He said, the driving motive was to try to influence Parliamentarians to develop keen interest in disability matters, as well as learn more about issues of vulnerable persons.

Formation of inter-party Parliamentary caucus would also help Parliamentarians to keep an eye on social interventions like the District Assemblies Common Fund, he added.

“This caucus will afford law-makers the opportunity to devote attention on disability matters and raise questions that call for Ministers to appear before Parliament to answer.

“Many of the law-makers are oblivious of disability matters and are therefore not able to raise substantial matters on disability for the initiation of appropriate policies and programmes, said Mr Ofori-Debrah.

He pointed out that, Ghana, in spite of its democratic credentials, neither practices inclusive education nor has policies on inclusive education.

“Ghana as it is now does not practice inclusive education, though inclusive education is now phenomenal.

“PWDs should not be restricted to residential schools; they need to be in the community with their families who will appreciate the problems they are going through,” he added.

He observed that, restricting PWDs to residential schools means taking away their ‘rights to inclusiveness’.

The President noted that, it was therefore, imperative to get the law- makers form a caucus on disability to articulate these and others giving critical consideration to PWDs.

Rumbek - Police in Lakes state arrested a deaf man on Wednesday who they suspect killed a man in Rumbek Central market following a dispute on Tuesday afternoon. The murdered man, Awuor Majur Bec, who is reported to have have had mental problems, is believed to have been killed by Matur Makur Ruai after an argument broke out.

Awuor, who died of a broken neck, is alleged to have started the dispute at around 1pm by throwing a stone at Ruai. Lakes state police intervened and captured Matur Makur Ruai but investigations have stalled once they discovered he was death and they could not easily question him about the incident.

Abraham Mayen Kuc, the Rumbek Central County commissioner said: "Matur Makur Ruai is a deaf man. He killed Awuor Majur Bec, who is also a person with mental problem". According to eyewitness, the reason for Awuor and Makur's quarrel was unclear.

Code Inconnu: Recit incomplet de divers voyages (2000) aka Code Unknown: Incomplete Tales of Several Journeys is showing today only, at the Gaborone Film Society at 7:00 pm in the A/V Centre at Maru a Pula School.

It was awarded a Special Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for works that deal with universal themes. It is the first of six unique films being shown by the GFS during the Maitisong Festival month. The film features drumming by deaf people. Cross rhythms- even the deaf can feel the vibrations and sense the sound. Michael Haneke's way is to leave images to be completed by the viewer, to fill in the spaces, as to what actually is happening. Short sequences end with an abrupt black cut. Stay for the closing.

There is a drawn out display where an African music teacher's deaf students perform in an amazing outdoor performance. It suggests new ways of communicating that transcend the limitations of what we now experience-there may be a universal language of empathy and responsibility. A young Frenchman, Jean (acted by Alexandre Hamidi), accosts his older brother's girlfriend, an actress named Anne Laurent (played effectively by Juliette Binoche), on the street after being unable to reach her on the telephone. He wants to have Anne's support in a complaint against his father (acted by Josef Bierbichler), and for her to achieve backing from his older brother Georges (played by Thierry Neuvic). Georges is a photojournalist on assignment in Kosovo in the Balkans.

Jean, without solicitation, begins to plea to the polite, but hurried and preoccupied Anne, his concern about his father's plans to renovate the family's farmhouse in the country with the expectation of apprenticing Jean to become a farmer. That is not Jean's life choice.

Pressed for time and unprepared to appropriately consider and confront Jean's personal issues, Anne attempts to placate him with a snack purchased from a nearby vendor. She gives him the keys to the apartment, while reminding him that he cannot stay long. Jean's frustrated attempts to voice his grievance to her leads to his performing a thoughtless act-as he walks by a seated beggar he discards his crumpled paper bag into her lap. Unknown to him she is an undocumented immigrant from Romania, Maria (Luminita Gheorghiu), who is selling near the entrance of a shop. A music teacher of African descent, Amadou (Ona Lu Yenke), who has been brought up to have manners and respect others, sees what has happened and is concerned.

Amadou cannot resist confronting Jean over his inconsiderate behaviour. He asks Jean to apologize to the woman. Jean refuses. This leads to a fight that attracts the police. Amadou's attempt to teach a lesson will have serious ramifications for the different people who become unintentionally involved. One act, the inconsiderate discarding of a bag of half-eaten pastry has totally unexpected consequences. The movie transects between the lives and networks of Jean, Amadou and Maria. The fulcrum in all this is Anne Laurent. Events will test her relationship with her lover, the photojournalist, Georges. The disturbance caused by Jean's actions and Amadou's civility will attract the Parisian police. Jean is white, Amadou is black, so whom will the police listen to, who will they take in? Unfortunately Maria is even more vulnerable and the easiest person for the police to crack down on. There is another racial incident in the film that shocks. Anne Laurent is on a Metro, tired from a day at work re-recording film dialogue. On the underground train an Arab (Maurice Benichou) begins to challenge her - "Don't talk to commoners? How can you be so beautiful yet so arrogant?

" When she moves to a seat away from him, he follows her. Suddenly he spits in her face. Another man speaks to the Arab, who at the next station leaves the train, suddenly threatening them both. Code Unknown: Incomplete Tales of Several Journeys moves between Romania, Mali and France. We meet and befriend in small ways a variety of people. Here is Amadou's father (Djibril Kouyate) and his beautiful girl, Aminate (acted by Maimouna Hne Diarra). In Maria's Romanian village we will meet a slew of her friends and relatives. When Georges does return home he finds he cannot enter his flat because the access code has been changed. Code Inconnu is cin?ma verite at its best.

Haneke is one of the more innovative filmmakers today - he has recently won for his Amour in various award races. Though it may seem a mysterious and complicated film, it is really the height of simplicity-we need to recognise how people we do not even know influence our lives - the unknown that shapes us.

Code is a word that has many meanings, but most of them embody rules, standards, classifications and symbols for others. If used as a noun it could relate to moral principles. As a verb, code may be written or assigned. Human behaviour has been governed by unknown codes long before the Roman Emperor Justinian formed his Codex - a collection of statutes.

Code Unknown: Incomplete Tales of Several Journeys is one hour and 52 minutes long. It is rated 15+. The director is Michael Haneke. The script is by Michael Haneke. The cinematographer is J?rgen J?rges. The editors are Karin Hartusch, Nadine Muse and Andreas Prochaska. The music is by Giba Gon?alves.

AllAfrica.com
BY LAURENT KAMANA AND STELLA ASHIIMWE, 4 APRIL 2013
RELATED TOPICS
Rwanda

A two-day national forum on disability and HIV?Aids ended yesterday with a call to achieve zero new infection, zero death and zero stigma by 2015.

Held under the theme, " Remove the barriers and achieve zero new HIV infections by 2015: PLWDs included", the forum which drew 108 people from various domains, aimed at exploring how HIV?Aids interventions can be adjusted to the specific needs of PLWDs.

"Disability is a cross cutting issue; therefore there is a crucial need to consider all aspects of disability and consider clinical, socio-economic approaches," said Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Coordinator of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Care and Treatment Department at Rwanda Biomedical Centre.

NAMIBIA excelled at the Nedbank South African Disabled Championships, winning a total of 40 gold, 16 silver and nine bronze medals, while five athletes qualified for the IPC World Championships which will take place in Lyon, France, from 20 to 28 July.

It was Namibia's best ever performance at the championships which took place in Pretoria from 24 to 27 March, and saw them finishing third overall behind Gauteng and Free State.

"The performance this year was really extraordinary compare to previous years. Our athletes who are on the Vision 2016 programme did very well. They all ran their hearts out and all qualified for the IPC World Championships later this year," said Namibia's team manager, Memory Kahlari.

Five athletes reached the A qualifying standard for the IPC World Championships, namely Johanna Benson, Ananias Shikongo, Ishitile Lahja, Johannes Nambala and Elias Ndimulunde.

Namibia's 2012 Paralympic gold medallist Johanna Benson was in a class of her own, winning three gold medals in the T37 100m, 200m and 400m.

Ananias Shikongo was also in exceptional form, winning three gold medals in the T11 category in the 100m, 200m and 400m.

Johannes Nambala, who had not been classified before and was competing at the Nedbank SA Champs for the first time, also won three gold medals in the T12 100m, 200m and 400m.

Lahja Ishitile, who is only 17 years old, won three gold medals in the T11 100m, 200m and 400m and qualified in the latter event for the World Championships.

Elias Ndimulunde also qualified for the World Championships after winning three gold medals in the T46 100m, 200m and 400m events.

According to Kahlari, Namibian disabled swimmer Gideon Nasilowski also qualified in the SB 2 50m breaststroke event.

"Gideon was the only one competing in this event at the championships but once his time has been verified, he should qualify for the World Championships," she said.

Another athlete who stands a good chance of qualifying is power lifter Ruben Soroseb, who broke the South African record in his category by lifting 190kg.

Some athletes who didn't make the grade this time include field star Reginald Benade, who is taking a break from athletics to allow for the recovery of a back injury, and T12 athlete Martin Aloysius.

It was Namibia's largest ever team with 42 athletes participating at the Nedbank South African Disabled Championships.

The secretary general of Disabled Sport Namibia, Pena Kandjii, said the emphasis was on development while the main purpose was to classify the new athletes.

All government and state institutions risk being sued for not restructuring their buildings and making them easily accessible to persons living with disability.

The Ghana federation of the disabled says it has waited for far too long for these institutions to abide by the disability act which calls for such restructuring.

The act mandates that all new buildings and public facilities built after 2006 the year the act came into force be disability friendly.

Existing structures before 2006 were also supposed to be restructured to make them accessible to the disabled.

But the federation says government and other public institutions have with impunity disregarded the laws.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister Responsible for Gender, Children and Social Protection

Currently the state is in court over failure to provide structures on the N 1 highway for the disabled. The advocacy officer at the Ghana federation of the disabled, Isaac Tuggun told XYZ News, disabled persons are being taken for granted in Ghana.

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled is considering suing all government and state institutions for not restructuring their buildings and making them easily accessible to persons living with disability.

According to the Ghana Federation of the Disabled, it has waited for far too long for these institutions to abide by the disability Act which calls for such restructuring.

Existing structures before 2006 were supposed to be restructured while those constructed after 2006 should automatically be accessible.

In an interview with Citi News, the president of the Federation Yaw Ofori Debrah indicated that they would seek legal action.

“It means that society is not making life bearable for persons with disability” he said.

According to him, the accessibility clause had been neglected by some citizens and companies.

“Some of the buildings that were evaluated had complied with the disability act” he said.

We will therefore take legal action against both private and government institutions who have not complied with the law.

Gbeogo School for the deaf appeals to government to support the school for hearing assessment center

Authorities of the Gbeogo School for the deaf is appealing to government, civil society organizations and individual stakeholders to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of the school to support the school put up a hearing assessment center.

According to the Headmaster of the school, Felix Neetege, who made the call, the center will help the school detect early hearing impairment in children to help authorities determine an appropriate placement during admissions.

He was speaking at a fund raising ceremony organized by Gbeogo School for the Deaf in collaboration with other stakeholders at Gboego in the Talensi district.

The headmaster said school authorities have observed that most of the children are not properly assessed and therefore most of them wrongly find themselves in the school. Aside this, he added, an accurate hearing could determine whether a child can benefit from a hearing aid and still be admitted in the regular school without having to be withdrawn to a special need school.

Mr. Neetege revealed that the school is also set to put up a sick bay to monitor and control suspected skin or communicable diseases in the children to prevent the spread of diseases to others. He added that the sick bay will also enable authorities give proper administration of medication to sick children and also manage other diseases like epilepsy which most of the children contract when they come to the school.

He said it is against this back drop and other related cases that authorities of the school are calling for a proactive measure to support the school establish a hearing assessment centre and the sick bay to cater for the needs of the children.

Mr. Neetege used the occasion to commend all those who have supported the school in diverse ways and said the school is however challenged in many ways such as inadequate means of transport as its major problem.

Disabled people begging for money and other freebies is a common sight in the streets of all Kenya’s towns. When most of the disabled persons think or rather made to believe that begging is the only way they can earn a living, a disabled group in Nakuru’s Freearea estate has overcomed the temptation of spreading mats in the busy streets of the town to beg for money as most of their fellows do.

The Wachache disabled group with 60 members with different physical challenges, converge at the Freearea trading centre every Friday where despite contributing ideas every now and then on how they can get new ways to earn a living, they take part in their already deliberated projects.

One such project and also among the projects they kicked off the journey to better their lives with back in the year 2000 is that of making detergents from cheap chemicals and selling them to people around.

The project was started after some months of contributions aimed to buy the equipments for making the detergents.

“We made it a habit to surrender 50 bob every time we met and later we used the money to buy requirements for making of detergents.” Said George Otieno, the group’s coordinator.

When Newstime Africa attended the group’s meeting on 5th of this month, the group was now celebrating their savings and hardwork that has seen it buy 50 plastics chairs, a carwash machine and a tent capable of sheltering 100 seats.

They say that they have already applied for a place for car washing services in Freearea trading centre from the Nakuru municipality, and look forward for a permit anytime soon.

The tent, they say that will be using it to hold meetings and also will be hiring it to events like weddings the same as the chairs.

“We look forward to more booming business plus increased activities as we will be forced to make more detergent to cater for the customers and also for car washing services because we intend to be using everything that we make rather than increasing expenses by buying stuffs from outside.” Says Samwel Mwangi, the group’s chairman.

The spirit of table banking still burns among them and they have maintained the 50 shillings contribution which despite them using it as capital for purchasing of raw materials and the equipments they have already acquired, some amount is set aside for emergency. Mwangi says that the emergency to them includes giving their members an interest free loan to start personal small businesses when a need arises.

“A good number of our members run grocers among other small business, we are so proud that none of our member spreads a mat along town lanes and streets to beg for money.” Mwangi says.

Mary Wanjiku is the trustee of the group’s cash and says that the biggest challenge the group faces is poor market for the detergents.

“Though we are happy that unlike other disabled persons we independently earn a living through the group’s commitment, perseverance and hardwork, we are faced by a big challenge of a minimal market for the detergent we make.” Wanjiku says.

In a month, the group makes up to 140 liters of the detergent of which can be used in both washing and cleaning for both domestic and premises. Wanjiku says that the poor market leads to the group internally selling the detergents to the members hence a reduced profit for the members do not get it at the same price as that of outsiders.

The group is now calling on all the disabled persons to read from the Wachache group’s script and refrain from the vice of begging for money and instead get ways that they can independently earn a living.

“All disabled persons should learn to live without depending on freebies, it is only a matter of making a decision of dropping the habit of begging and get ways to earn a living through doing what they are capable of.” Said the group’s coordinator Mr George Otieno.

This group is among very few groups of disabled persons who have formed groups to enable the lot to make ways of making people living with disability earn a living without depending on begging from the people perceived to be physically enabled.

They have decided to make their common problems a common wealth and they say that, making and selling detergents, purchasing and hiring a tent and plastic seats and offering the car washing services is not the end of their plans. Though they refused to disclose their future plans they assured that they look forward to a very bright future where by even the physically able persons will be forced to copy the way of doing things from them.

“Our creativity, courage to step out of the cocoon of disability and confidence to try new things will turn to be the talk of the country in a very near future.” The chairman Mr. Mwangi assures when we depart.

c 2013, John Kamau. All rights reserved. Newstime Africa content cannot be reproduced in any form ? electronic or print ? without prior consent of the Publishers. Copyright infringement will be pursued and perpetrators prosecuted.

Administrator of the Centre of Hope of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM,) Rev. Sr. Mary Kpiebare, has called on Ghanaians to support persons who are physically-challenged to make life bearable for them.

She said physically-challenged persons have talents which if developed can enable them use their brains, hands, and legs to engage in economic activities to earn a living.

Rev. Sr. Kpiebare made these remarks when she received food items, soaps, assorted drinks, pens, rulers, tooth brushes, detergents among others on Easter Monday from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Akweteyman in Accra.

The church presented the items to the Centre in support of less- privileged persons who go there on a daily basis for help.

According to her, her outfit supports the aged who are weak and do not get any help from anywhere. “…We also get support from benevolent organisations.”

Rev. Sr. Kpiebare expressed appreciation to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church-Akweteyman, for the gesture and urged others to also remember the needy by making generous donations.

Against this background, she pledged that the items would be used for the purpose for which they were donated.

She was supported by her Assistant Administrators, Rev. Sr. Pualine Bodi and Sr. Justina Ali.

For his part, the Secretary and Chancellor of the Accra Archdiocese and Priest in charge of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Akweteyman- Accra, Rev. Sr. John Patrick Tindana, who presented the items, said it is the practice of the church to support the less-privileged in society.

He added that apart from praying for the needy it is also prudent to support them physically.

The Gambia Association of Physically Disabled (GAPD) Brikama branch recently received a vehicle from a donation made by the Heart for Gambia Foundation at a ceremony held at the GAPD head office in Brikama, West Coast Region.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Abdoulie Jawneh, the president of GAPD, spoke at length on his organisations' contribution towards national development, saying that his members have been engaged in meaningful development in the country. According to him, a good number of disabled persons with skills are working in many sectors of the society especially in public offices.

GADP, he informed, has a membership of one hundred and seventy-six including both male and female. He therefore called on other disabled persons especially those in the West Coast Region to join the organisation so as to enjoy some benefits like trainings, exchange visits among others.

With the help of partners like Heart for Gambia Foundation, he revealed GADP has built a skill training centre in Brikama, which he said, has trained many disabled persons in the region including tailoring, tie and dye, computer, soap making and batik. Jawneh said the foundation has also given scholarships to some students in the area who are pursuing education at the University of The Gambia, GTTI, MDI among other higher institutions of learning.

He thus commended the foundation for the gesture and thanked the government of The Gambia for creating the enabling environment for the private sector to operate smoothly in the country; and Governor Lamin Sanneh of West Coast Region for allocating a piece of land to GADP to build its office and skill centre.

GAPD president called on others to support organisations for the disabled in the country to enable them play their part in national development.

The donation of the vehicle, Jawneh said, would ease their transportation problems, while assuring the donors that the vehicle will be used and handled with care. Author: by Samba Jawo

Disabled International Foundation Sierra Leone, on Monday, fed less privilege children in the east end of Freetown.

According to the Founder and Executive Director, Madam Imambay Kadie Kamara said she always has a passion to help young people especially the less-fortunate and disabled people, even when she is not in the country and that she thought it wise to provide some things for the lees-privileged in order for them to celebrate Easter.

She said she provided funds for different children right across the country, as part of her work in creating a platform for the children to be together and have some fun, as they are the future of the nation, even if she is not around, but she still has the less-privileged children and disabled at heart and always try to come to their aid.

She explained that Disabled International Foundation Sierra Leone (DIFSIL) which was officially launched some few weeks ago in the United Kingdom, over the years played a vital role in helping to develop the mind of the disabled in the country and that the foundation is also working alongside the less-privileged children which always give joy in restoring the pride of the golden future of the nation.

She said the foundation will soon start a project that will see the disabled and the less privileged fully engage themselves and learn something, so that at the end of the day, they would be able to secure a living.

According to 9 year-old Salamia Deen Karimu, the initiative of bringing them together is very good, because as children, they really appreciate the founder for thinking of them and providing food for them during such a big holiday, is something they as children are really proud of.

Young Salamia said it’s an unexpected party and they enjoy each and every segment of the program and would like to appeal to the founder to continue with it, for them and also to continue the good work of bringing the children together and that the Executive Director who presently resides in London, demonstrated to them that distance is nothing, when it comes to love and passion for the children.

The Coker-Njie Family Foundation Sunday presented food items and clothing to seven disabled children in the Greater Banjul Area.

The Foundation, which is run by a Gambian couple based in Sweden, Ebou Njie and Saffie Coker, supports disabled children in The Gambia. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer at Tallinding, the chief executive officer of the Foundation, Ebou Njie, explained that what actually inspired them to come up with such an initiative is that they have a 14-year-old child who is also suffering from disability.

He noted that sometimes parents of disabled children find it very difficult to manage them. He further noted that sometimes people associate disability with evil forces.

He disclosed that they have already bought a land in the Kombos where a day care centre will be built for people with disability. He added that plans are also underway to buy vehicles that would transport the children to the day care centre upon its completion.

Dembo Badjie, the father of one of the beneficiaries, thanked the Foundation for the good gesture. He said children with disability should always be supported, and urged parents to always make them proud all the time and take good care of them.

Ya Mam Jobe, mother to one of the beneficiaries, said that members of the Foundation have always been encouraging her and her child. She thanked them and also urged them to continue the good work they are doing in the country.

For his part, Assan Njie, a father of the CEO of the Foundation, said that children with physical disability should not be discriminated against in society because they are equally important in the development of the society.

Among the places visited during the presentation were Kanifing, Abuko and Tallinding, among others.

Sixty Mathematics teachers from both the Junior and Senior Secondary Schools from across the Greater Banjul Area are currently undergoing a mathematics teachers' enrichment programme, at the St. John's School for the Deaf in Kanifing.

The theme of the programme, which was centred on "Problem-solving Approaches and Techniques III", is expected to end today.

The programme which is an enhancement and development programme for mathematics teachers was meant to increase performances and lesson delivery skills and pedagogies in classrooms.

Speaking to The Point on Monday, the Executive Director of the programme, Kolapo Abdul, said the course involves modulo arithmetics, calculus, vectors and mechanics/ linear transformation, statistics, among others.

He said the effort of the programme is to deal with silent and seemingly difficult topics in the GABEGE, WASSCE and partly IGCSE syllabus.

He said the development of human resources is a core factor in the learning and teaching of mathematics education in schools.

Mr. Abdul thanked the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mathematics Teachers' Association The Gambia (MATAG), Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing, Canada, principals of schools, for their support and cooperation.

Before he died, visually impaired Donald Botshelo(Don B) sang the song 'There is ability in Disability' in Mac Dee's Face to Face.

To some, such a song might have only sounded like an expression of a personal experience by the talented vocalist.

True to the Banyana Ba Serowe singer's words, another visually impaired graduate of the music school is poised to make it to the top of the music ladder.

Kenny Sekgwa is the latest music rodigy to emerge from the institution that also taught musician Anna Fiki-Ditau. Sekgwa's life story is touching. He was not born blind, but lost his sight after a vicious attack by a group of gangsters in his home village of Gumare when he was 16 years old.

His life has changed completely since that day and he has had to deal with rejection from even people he considered close friends.

The incident left him completely blind after he was attacked with wooden planks, knives and stones. Although at first the experience left the 26- year-old hopeless, he later made a decision to find meaning in life. Today he is proud to have conquered his demons.

His album Bontlenyane- an Afro-pop composition with eight tracks- is all about love.

You can have everything, but if there is no love, it all counts for nothing but you can have love and very little of everything and life will be good," he said.

In all the songs the singer used descriptive words to explain the beauty of love, especially in intimate relations. With his soft voice, Sekgwa sounded a lot composed in studio despite that it was his first attempt.

The title track Bontlenyane is enough to get any listener's attention and give a synopsis of what might be contained in the record.

By the time he died, Botshelo had grown into a respected musician whose artistry transcended beyond just disco music. He was featured by several musicians including Afro-pop outfit Tu-Unik and it is this kind inspiration that should propel Sekwa to dizzy heights.

ROTARY Club of Dar es Salaam has joined the Starkey Foundation of the United States in conducting a free Medical Hearing Aid Camp in Dar-es-Salaam.The service shall be offered at Buguruni School for the Deaf, where over 1,500 persons will be examined and free ear moulds will be provided to the needy.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, the organizer of the Starkey Foundation and a member of Clinton Global Initiative (CGI),Mr Derek Johnson, said that the camp will be run from April 16 - 19 this year, where a number of specialist doctors will conduct careful examinations and then recommend the needy persons with hearing aid equipment.

"We will provide these equipments for free to all the needy. The Foundation's team of audiologists and staff will fit each of the more than 1,500 selected recipients with their own customized, digital hearing device," he noted.

Mr Johnson said that the camp is part of their global mission to provide one million hearing aides to the needy in this decade, and is locally supported by Rotary Club of Dar-es-Salaam, Sound Seekers and Lions International.

Commenting on the project, the president of the Rotary club, Mr Vinary Choudary, said that Rotary Club has decided to join hands with Starkey Foundation in this project because they believe it will bring a big change in the community especially for those with hearing problems.

"We are delighted to work together for the betterment of our community", said the Rotary president.Mr Vinay further appealed to the general public to take note of the medical camp, and utilize the free service provided to this community through Starkey Foundation.

He also insisted that, the members of Rotary, Rotaract and Interact will provide the voluntary services at this medical camp and all services provided through this mission are completely free.

Rotarians, Lions and professional volunteers commonly assist at the Foundation's missions where they witness the life changing impact of this cause and support recipients as they are fitted with their new hearing aids.

He said that as part of the mission, recipients also receive audio testing, counselling and instruction on how to care for their new devices, all courtesy of Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Starkey Hearing Foundation is bringing understanding among individuals and communities through hearing care by focusing on awareness, education, protection and treatment, so the world may hear.

And it gives more than 100,000 hearing aids annually, and as a member of President Clinton's Global Initiative, it has pledged to fit one million hearing aids this decade.

Rotary International is a voluntary service organization and its main objective is to provide services in the community, in the workplace, and around the globe.The 1.2 million Rotarians who make up more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in nearly every country in the world share a dedication to the ideal of services.

Vibe Ghana April 13, 2013 | Filed under: Latest news,Politics | Posted by: VibeGhana

A project initiated in the Volta Region in 2012 to draw people with disabilities into political events is likely to shake-off apathy of the disabled towards politics in Ghana in the coming years.

The project, executed in Agortime-Ziope, Adaklu and South-Dayi, constituencies, sought to raise the confidence levels of people with disabilities to participate in politics, tackle issues of physical access of the disabled to political events, including political party rallies and polling stations.

The project also lobbied the Electoral Commission of Ghana, EC, to engage the physically challenged for the various jobs in the electoral process.

VOICE-Ghana, which is a disability interest advocacy group, headquartered in Ho, undertook the project, supported by Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana, (STAR-Ghana), with funds from the DFID, EU, DANIDA and USAID.

Presenting an overview of the project in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Francis Asong Director of VOICE-Ghana, said the project was based on a “baseline survey in the Agortime-Ziofe and Adaklu constituencies to ascertain the level of participation of persons with disabilities in the previous elections particularly the 2008 general elections”.

He said the survey indicated that people with disabilities were sidelined in the political process, hardly visible in the campaign processes and virtually had no opportunities to work as Polling Assistants.

Mr Asong said as part of the advocacy, VOICE-Ghana, organized the disabled in the project areas, engaged the EC and the media in a series of education, awareness creation, outreach and publicity events.

He said concerns raised during such forums include inaccessibility to political party rally venues and offices, the shunning of issue of disability as policy issues and election related jobs for the disabled.

Mr Asong said the advocacy also targeted persons with disabilities at the grassroots level, particularly women to raise their involvement in national assignments.

He said 18 people with disabilities were engaged as Polling Assistants during the last elections as a result of the project.

Mr Asong said one of them, Ms Patricia Deku, 36, a Dressmaker with National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) qualification who was a Polling Assistant at the Salvation Army Primary School Polling Station at Adaklu-Abuadi was cited by her supervisors as “very efficient”.

Togbe Gabi II, a Tutor at Adaklu-Waya Senior High School and Presiding Officer, said Ms Deku ensured that the structural arrangements at the polling centre were disability friendly.

The VOICE-Ghana overview report referred to Ms Deku as saying the job of a Polling Assistant in the past elections raised her social standing and probably encouraged many other disabled people to exercise their franchise.

Mr Jonathan Okaine, Agortime-Ziope District Director of the EC, told the GNA that some of the disabled engaged in the last elections by the EC performed well and could be good candidates for selection the next time if “they made themselves available”. GNA

The National Council for Persons with Disabilities has asked President Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto to consider appointing a person with disability as a cabinet secretary.

Speaking in Narok town yesterday during an advocacy workshop fpeople with disabilities, the Council's finance and administration chairman David ole Sankok said the two leaders should respect the constitution and ensure an all-inclusive government that will meet the aspirations of Kenyans.

"The new constitution has given all equal opportunity and chapter 54 is clear that four percent of the total government appointments should be marginalised groups including persons with disabilities," Sankok said.

He said he will take legal action if the government fails to honour the constitution in appointing civil servants. "It is high time the government appoints people with disabilities who are robust, educated and focused. The disability is not inability and we are ready to save this nation diligently," he said.

Sankok called upon the two principals to emulate former president Mwai Kibaki who ensured the welfare of disabled persons are catered for.

He said Sh6 billion which was meant for run-off should be used to benefit special interest groups. The Council's Director Phoebe Nyagudi appealed to county governments to employ people with disabilities. She asked leaders not to use their positions to reward their supporters but to ensure marginalised people hold key posts.

Payments by the state to widows, divorcees and the disabled are to be doubled following a vote today by the GNC.

Congress, acting on a recommendation from its Social Affairs committee, agreed to raise the monthly sum paid out to these three groups from LD225 to LD450. In addition, the payment to which every Libyan family is entitled, is being doubled to LD150 a month. It is understood that the money will come from the Solidarity Fund.

Congress has yet to implement child benefit payments of LD100 a month, on which it has agreed. The money will be paid until children reach the age of 18.

We’re One Body: Lauren Booth’s Message in Cairo For Humanity and Peace We Strive

Booth, a broadcaster, journalist and a human rights activist, showed deep interest in bringing "Allah's Plan for people" to Egypt... Lanterns of light dawned on the black-robed Muslim Lauren Booth in Cairo Citadel, Egypt, on Friday, April 12.

Spiritual tranquility of Friday and An-Nasir Ibn Qalawuun mosque were combined with the passionate and vibrant spirit of Da'wah shown by Ahlan team, who hosted the event. Midad and Sufraa Al-Hidayah societies, Egypt -based national organizations, also sponsored the event.

At Egypt's most critical times, Booth, a broadcaster, journalist and a human rights activist, showed deep interest in bringing what she referred to as "Allah's Plan for people" to Egypt, after Palestine and Iraq.

"I believe that there are so many poor people in Egypt who need help", Booth said.

Ahlan is a group of Muslim youth aiming at spreading Da`wah through what Lauren defines as "Da'wah Toursim."

The event reflected the real Lauren, a humble dignified human activist whose main mission is to "make others in need feel happy."

Smiles and joy reflected on Lauren’s face as she said, "In Islam, happiness means that if you are OK, I am OK", and that is how Islam changed her outlook on life. For Lauren, happiness is more about helping and sustaining the needy and that is the spirit she lives by after conversion. A Fighter for Humanity

In the hypostyle scheme, amid the standard pattern of a rectangular courtyard, few meters away from the sanctuary and the arcades of the mosque, Lauren was more than happy to share her journey to Islam.

She was crowned by her pink downed headscarf, similar to the facades of the mosque that were crowned by the arched crenellations.

The facades resemble the battlements of a fortress, and similarly did Lauren, a fighter for peace legacy of Islam and humanity.

Islam in the Western media is least favorite religion, yet, she said, "Islam makes us happy."

Smiles and joy reflected on Lauren’s face as she said, "In Islam, happiness means that if you are OK, I am OK", and that is how Islam changed her outlook on life. For her, happiness is more about helping and sustaining the needy and that is the spirit she lives by after conversion.

Tremendous shifting of careers from being a fashion editor to a human rights activist, Lauren demonstrates the real example of a Muslim female ambassador of Islam.

She raised money to charity Interpal in 2006, followed by delivering aids and balloons to a deaf school in Gaza. Despite all the attempts to block her work, she was adamant to pursue her fight for the incapable ones. She believes Gaza is "the largest concentration camp in the world today", even though she was not Muslim at that time.

The Palestinian spirit of satisfaction and gratitude to Allah triggered Booth’s first thoughts of converting to Islam. Even before Islam, she was a pro-Palestinian resistance against the Zionist-Jewish occupation.

“Lauren came to Egypt with a Palestinian family who taught her about Islam. They never left Gaza; so she felt she should bring them with her to enjoy a vacation in Cairo.” Lamia Ibrahim, head of media section of Ahlan Team, told Onislam.net.

Indeed, Lauren has lived up to Islamic principles which caused her to establish more humanitarian projects.

This week, Lauren Booth escorted with her husband, Sohale Ahmed, will head to Gaza to bring computers, solar chargers and children's toys to Gaza.

In March 2012, Lauren headed towards Palestine escorted by a group of Irish activists. The "Freedom & Friendship Delegation 2012" delegation filmed a documentary which was played in the event. "Derry friends of Palestine", a group from the city of Derry in Ireland, organized the event.

On recent Cairo visit, Lauren said, 'I cannot forget Gaza." She added passionately, "Do not forget Palestine." Her true feelings of sympathy and deep care for the Palestinians reached its climax when she burst in tears that were followed by a two-second moment of silence, as she asked Allah to answer her prayers for the Palestinian case.

The delegation of March 2012 aimed at building educational links with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and University students. It successfully bore outstanding fruits.

In a response obtained by OnIslam.net Lauren said, “There are so many Muslims who are oppressed worldwide. We should remember Bangladesh and Moscow too.”

Ahlan is a group of Muslim youth aiming at spreading Da`wah through what Lauren defines as "Da'wah Toursim."

Resuming her superb efforts for humanity, Lauren established "Peace 2012",
a Da’wah charity organization located in the UK.

The Organization assists Muslim converts especially families in need. She hopes it will sustain poor children who will feel happy upon "playing with toys" and who will be able to learn when they get "school supplies."

According to the organization's website, the first year of Peace 2012 yielded the following benefits: assisted UK Muslim revert sisters financially and socially, re-housed Muslims in financial hardship both in the UK and Gaza, paid the university fees of Palestinian students in Gaza; distributed `Eid gifts to orphans and financially assisted widows, and assisted patients in Pakistan and Palestine medically.

This week, Lauren Booth, escorted with her husband, Sohale Ahmed, will head to Gaza to bring computers, solar chargers and children's toys to Gaza.

Yossr Yasser, a passionate about Islam, attended the event, said, "Today's event was so inspirational, Lauren Booth made tears come out of the eyes of many who were there while she was telling her story of conversion to Islam; I loved being there in this blessed atmosphere."

SCORES of disabled people who used to survive on begging have joined the vending business in Bulawayo.

Among these are the mute, deaf and others with various disabilities.
The illegal vendors sell a variety of stuff ranging from sweets, airtime, cellphone accessories and cigarettes, just to mention but a few.

One of the people with disabilities, Elliot Ncube of Tshabalala suburb, told The Standard that he used to beg in the streets but decided to venture into the more lucrative vending business.

“Since 2000 I have been begging in the street, but I could spend the whole day without getting a dollar, so last year I decided to start vending. I sell airtime cards, cigarettes and sweets,” he said.

“Selling is better than begging because due to the economic crisis in the city, no one can just give anyone anything for nothing,” added Ncube.

Another vendor, Elizabeth Ngwe-nya said she used to work for a clothing company in the Belmont industrial area in Bulawayo but got retrenched in 2009.

“I did a course in cutting and designing and used to work for a clothing company but unfortunately I was retrenched.

“After losing my job I wanted to start my own small sewing company at home, but I did not have the machines and capital and that’s why I am here on the streets selling anything for survival,” said the 24-year-old woman.

The Bulawayo City Council and the police appear to be lenient when it comes to arresting the disabled vendors selling their wares on the streets.

“The city fathers have been generous with us, as they have never arrested us and we would have loved them to give us proper vending bays where we can operate from,” said Ngwenya.

She said operating on the streets exposed them to various problems such as contracting diseases.

Bulawayo’s King George VI Centre school head, Perseverance Hadebe, said most of their students were facing challenges in securing employment upon completing their studies due to economic challenges and the negative attitude of some employers.

King George VI is a centre for the disabled and teaches a wide range of academics, arts and vocational skills.

“Our students are struggling to get employment. The very few that are getting employment get it through the relationship that we have with the companies, for example Femina Garments, that usually takes some of our former students,” said Hadebe.

“Soon after graduating, some of the students come back and work at the centre, but we still have a big challenge of where to take our students for employment,” she said.

Hadebe said the situation was being exacerbated by the failure of some of the students to proceed to tertiary education that demands mathematics, a subject that the students found difficult to pass.

“Even after completing their studies here, continuing to tertiary education and going to university is still a challenge. Our students are struggling with maths and we would want a scenario where our students probably could be allowed to do a different type of maths like core maths so that they will be able to pass and can be enrolled in various colleges and universities or polytechnics,” said Hadebe.

The school head challenged companies and relevant stakeholders to come to the school and see the excellent work that their students were doing.

“We call upon employers to partner with us and we also want them to visit and see how we operate. This would help them realise that our students are capable of excelling in whatever assignments they are given, ” said the school head.

According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, Welshman Ncube, the total number of companies that have closed in Bulawayo has reached 100 since the establishment of the inclusive government.

Big clothing and textile companies such as Archer, Security Mills, Belmor, to mention but a few, have downsized production citing viability challenges while others have completely shut down resulting in over 25 000 workers losing jobs.

The adjective valuable is often used to refer to something that is worth a great deal of money or generally a thing of great worth. Although it is commonly used in association with things it has over the years been used to refer to people.

Common examples in today's parlance are, "The Most Valuable Player", which is typically an honour bestowed upon the best performing players in sports teams; and "The Most Valuable Customer", often used to allude to clients that bring in the most money in terms of purchases. There is one commonality among all things that are described as "most valuable". They all receive preferential treatment and are accorded a distinct status. Being valuable cannot be separated from being successful, and the most valuable people, or items for that matter, will always be sought after. What does it take to achieve the "most valuable" status? In this issue we explore a few ideas.

Henry Van Dyke once observed that, "There is a loftier ambition than to merely stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher." Most people are obsessed with being successful, and with reaching the highest peak there is to reach in life. That is commendable. However, if you succeed for the sake of succeeding and stand tall for the sake of standing tall, you will be of limited value.

The question we all need to ask ourselves is of what use am I and to who. You are of little use to a baker if you can bake bread just as he can bake bread. You will be of little use to me, if you can do things that I can do for myself. The most valuable person is the one who learns to do for others what they cannot do for themselves.

A blind man who has no eyes appreciates somebody who can show him where the way is. A deaf man who cannot hear appreciates someone who can communicate to him messages that he would not otherwise understand.

Everyone, both great and small, has a need. Your boss has needs. Your customers have needs. Your friends and colleagues have needs. Society around you has needs. It is impossible for you to fulfill people's needs and remain of little value to them. Your value increases in proportion to your ability to fulfill people's needs. Our greatest need is for someone who can do for us the things that we cannot do for ourselves. We are all looking for someone who can stoop down and lift us a little higher.

If you are going to be valuable you must begin from the premise that you have something to offer. Often we tend to look down upon ourselves and underestimate what we have to offer. Rowan Atkinson may not be a rocket scientist, but he has something to offer. In his case it is simple humour and comedy. You too have something unique to offer. What you must always bear in mind is that what you have becomes more valuable when you share it.

Your talent is of little value if it is of no good to somebody. The gifts that we have invariably increase in value when we learn to share them with others. What makes sports people valuable is not that they out compete others, but that in the process of doing this they provide entertainment to the vast majority of us who are otherwise incapable of entertaining ourselves in that manner.

Most octogenarians remember very well who their first teacher was. This is also true for most of us. We may not remember what we were doing or who we were with on the most recent Christmas eve, but invariably we remember vividly our first teachers in primary schools. It is difficult to forget people that change our lives. In a very simple way, our first teachers introduced us to the world of reading and writing. Since then our lives have never been the same. People that teach us to do what we could not hitherto do for ourselves always change our destinies, and in the process become very valuable. Therefore you must always seek to teach people to do for themselves what they think they cannot do. That is true empowerment.

Develop the talent that you have not the one that you want There is a story that is often told about an illiterate old farmer who was selling his cow. A potential buyer asked him what the pedigree of his cow was; its butterfat production and its monthly milk yield. The bewildered farmer said, "I really don't know its pedigree. Neither do I know its butterfat production nor its monthly milk yield.

However, one thing I know is that it will give you all the milk that it has." The value of the milk cow was linked to the milk that it could give. This is also true of your value. If you have very little to give; and when you have given your all, you will have added very little value. For you to be of great value to others and to yourself you need first of all to develop the talent that you already have.

The greatest mistake we make is to try and develop the talents that we do not have. If your ability as an athlete ranks as a two out of 10, and you improve it by two points you become a four out of 10 athletes. With this remarkable improvement, you will still be of little use to anyone as an athlete. However, if you rank seven out of 10 as a motivational speaker and you improve by two points you will become world class. In both cases you improved by two points but the improvement in your area of strength and talent makes you much more valuable.Seek always to improve in your area of talent if you are to be valuable.

Following the current debate on the Marriage and Divorce Bill, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (Nudipu) says some sections in the bill have not catered for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in any way. Board Chairman Francis Kinubi told journalists at his offices in Bukoto on Friday, that the bill used derogatory language.

He questioned the use of 'unsound' mind in section 27, as one of the grounds for objecting to marriage. He said such a section presupposes that the mentally-challenged are unfit to contract a relationship. He further challenged section 19, which provides for a notice in civil marriage, which does not take care of persons with visual impairments. Nudipu Programme Manager Esther Kyozira said the notice board policy should be provided for in accessible format.

"Braille should be in place at every notice to guide the visually-impaired or government to hire people to read for them what is on the notice," Kyozira said.

However, Nudipu supports Section 117, which provides for property agreements as these would protect PWDs from unscrupulous individuals.

Ten civil society organisations have been awarded grants by the European Union for short-term projects across the country to help women, young people and the disadvantaged.

Out of 105 initial applicants, 18 were preselected and were given training to develop a successful application. Out of these, 10 were selected, and are being given a grant ranging from ?7,000 (LD 12,000) to ?10,000 LD 17,000) for projects over an eight-month period in Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Sebha, Murzuk and Sirte.

Establishing a training centre for women;
providing classes for literacy of housewives;
setting up a social and medical centre for child support;
setting a computer training centre and an activity centre to enhance the skills of youth;
opening a sewing factory for youth with special needs;
creation of several school gardens;
a charity clinic for children ;
strengthening the capacity of Almal Association for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The organisations were selected under the Small Grants Scheme conducted by the EU-funded project Civil Initiatives Libya. It aims to help the emergence of Libyan civil society through various forms of support - such as providing necessary workspace and training.

The EU mission in Libya called the number of applications a “very encouraging” sign for launching similar schemes in the future, and for future cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Civil Society.

At the award ceremony in Tripoli last week, Suzanne Kodsi, Head of Operations at the EU Delegation, stressed that direct support to Libyan organisations is a priority for the EU.

The minister of Youth and Sports Honourable Alieu K. Jammeh, Saturday acknowledged the good work done by the Gambia Basketball Association (GBA) under the presidency of Muhammed Papa Njie. He was speaking to reporters in a brief interview at the end of an All-Star Game organised for the first time by the country's governing body.

Speaking at the Basketball Lawn of the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Minister Jammeh said basketball was dying in The Gambia and "something like this was not happening. So I want to thank them for taking the bull by the horn to revitalise the game". "We want to see a variety of sports picking up and basketball is one of them and if you are doing that, you are opening doors for those not good in football to play basketball," he stated, while acknowledging the support of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) and all those who supported the GBA. "There is a bright future for this game, as you know everything starts small and the momentum is building and there is no doubt that they go down to the regions. As you know during the NAYCONF, we saw all the regions taking part in basketball and that goes to show you that there are talents down there who can do well in basketball," he a remarked.

Minister Jammeh also revealed that they are getting funds to improve the standard of sporting facilities in the regions. "Government is coming again with partners to improve the standards and it is all part of the decentralisation process. We are not going to focus only one or two sporting disciplines," he added.

Also speaking to journalists, the United States ambassador to The Gambia, Edward M Alford, who revealed that he is a basketball fan, said he was happy to be present at such a historic occasion in the annals of Gambia's basketball history.

"The [US] Embassy sponsored the 3-on-3 tournament [recently in The Gambia] which was successful and I think this country needs more facilities, good basketball courts, good coaches because there are good talents," he stated further, while assuring of the US Embassy's continued support. He also hailed the GBA for trying to revitalise basketball in the country. The All-Star Game brought together 24 of the best players from all the registered teams currently playing in the domestic league. The players were split into two teams and the game was meant amongst other things to show the GBA's appreciation to those institutions and individuals that have contributed immensely to the successful organisation of the league for the first time in over eight years.

The event began with an exhibition game between the female teams of The Gambia Armed Forces and Saint Augustine's with the former securing a narrow 9 points to 8 win. Fanta Sallah was voted the most valuable player for the game and was awarded a trophy. The Old Hands team in the likes of Mama Jeng, Binneh Marong, Yassin Joof Jow, Awa Foon, Mbaheh Camara and others took on the younger players for a 10-minute game. The game was exciting and was one of the main highlights of the day. Old Hands defeated the younger players.

The final game of the night was the much-anticipated All-Star Game. It was contested between Yellow and Green Teams. The game went down to the wire with players showing their slam dunk and three point shooting skills. Yellow Team 60-57.

The game was also witnessed by the First Vice President and sub-Saharan Africa's first female IOC Member, Beatrice Allen; the executive members of the GNOC, Director of Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Executive Secretary of The Gambia Competition Commission, General Manager Home Finance Company, Director of Business Development, Gambia Ports Authority, and the entire executive of the Association amongst others. During the games, the association presented certificates of appreciation to the GNOC for the financial and moral support it gave during the year. According to the GBA, the GNOC provided the association with funds to normalise their affiliation with FIBA (the International Basketball Federation) and as a result, 300 basketballs were given to the Association to help promote the sport in the country. The GNOC also provided 100 balls making a total of 400. In all tournaments, the GNOC the GBA added provided financial and material resources to ensure the success of the games. "It also went further provide to four giant trophies: two for male and female league champions and two for the runners up" the GBA added.

Ambassador Alford was also awarded a certificate of appreciation for his support to the sport. The Embassy sponsored a 3-on-3 basketball tournament which saw players from different ages display their talent. The tournament was also meant to empower the youths through basketball and sensitise them on the realities of HIV AIDS. Africell as co-sponsor were also presented with a certificate. Trust Bank Gambia Limited who donated $1,000 (one thousand dollars) for the airlifting of the 300 basketballs from the FIBA Africa Office in Ivory Coast to Banjul was also awarded a certificate of appreciation for its support to sports development, particularly basketball. Certificates were also awarded to the referees for their dedication to the game; and some sports journalists for covering the games. Distribution of basketballs

The All-Star Game also witnessed the distribution of basketballs by the GBA to basketball teams, Primary School Sports, Secondary School Sports, Regional Sport Coordinators, University of The Gambia, Gambia Paralympics, Gambia Deaf Association, and Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia amongst others.

THE Ministry of Education at the weekend warned parents and teachers against discriminating children with disabilities. Busia County Director Mary Atalitsa said no child is indispensable than the other, thus the need to give them preferential treatment.

Speaking at the closure of Nzoia regional special games in Busia, Atalitsa said a parent will be considered special if he or she takes care of disabled persons.

"Be interested in your child being closer with the teacher and teachers too should ensure disabled children under their custody are well catered for.

The Ministry of Education will do everything possible to ensure that all disabled pupils or students in learning institutions receive equal education opportunities.

Ms Atalitsa warned parents who have tendencies of hiding their children from the public owing to their deformities that their days are numbered.

"God had reasons for bringing such children into the world to warrant such kind of treatment from their parents or guardians," Atalitsa said.

Regional chairman Christopher Wandera appealed to the government to help fund the association to enable people with disabilities feature in extra curriculum activities.

The Liberian disabled community is pressing the Government of Liberia to pay them reparation following years of rebellions which left thousands of them dead and disabled.

The erstwhile Truth and Reconciliation Commission or TRC's final report on reparation states that: "The civil war left all Liberians with scares for life but there are thousands others who continue to carry physical disabilities including war-related particles in their bodies."

It further says: "While individual reparation programs may be economically difficult, the state is obliged to address the continued physical wounds and provide for those disabled and made completely destitute by the war, in addition to community based direct and/or symbolic reparation. This component will seek to address both aims."

The lead campaigner, Association of Disabled Females International (ADFI), in league with the war-survivors, is seeking reparation from the Liberian Government for all key war victims.

Madam Maima Hoff, ADFI's Executive Director, also visually impaired (blind) for almost 21 years now due to the war civil, expressed the belief that being disabled did not mean the end of their lives.

She said they were bearing the scars of the conflict and not the children of those who brought the war to the country, stressing that they, therefore, needed reparation for sustenance.

"The war importers' children are abroad schooling at the best institutions, while we are here suffering from what they brought upon us," Maima tearfully stated.

She spoke when the community launched its campaign for reparation payment at the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions (CEIO) Tuesday in Monrovia. The ceremony brought together both local and international observers.

Maima, who does not know the physical appearance (look) of her own children since becoming blind, appealed for public partnership in their demand for reparation.

"It is not easy to be a disabled having been blind for almost 21 years now. The children I gave birth to, I do not know how they look like, including you sitting before me as I speak," she dejectedly stated.

The Liberian civil war was characterized by massacres with at least 155 sites identified. Consultations in many communities show that many more sites were yet to be identified and recognized.

The aim of memoralization component is to create an enabling space to humanize and honor victims of the war and document national regrets and apology for the violation they suffered.

The community-based memoralization process will help communities develop and own a share, as well as reconcile narratives as the basis for community healings and recovery.

Myjoyonline.com
From: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
Published On: April 17, 2013, 00:00 GMT

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled is livid because a section of its members have been kept in the dark in the ongoing election petition hearing at the Supreme Court.

According to the president of the federation, Mr Yaw Ofori-Debrah, members have been left out on a number of national events that they ought to be a part. The hearing of the election petition filed by three leading members of the New Patriotic Party, is being broadcast live on the national television ? GTV - as well as radio, but no provisions were made for persons with hearing impairment, Mr Ofori-Debrah told Joy News on Wednesday.

He is therefore making a strong case for sign interpreters of the hearing, at least on TV.

He was of the view that persons with disability have a right to information, and for that matter, issues of national interest.

He argued that those without the ability to hear the processes in court also voted in the December 2012 elections, which means their votes, with respect to the court case would either be “counted or not counted” depending on the final ruling.

The president of the federation is therefore suggesting that persons with disability should have “equal right” like any other citizen in order to follow the processes.

The Chief Commissioner of the newly-established Disability Commission, Frederick J.M Kamara, is angry with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs with regards the spate of alleged negligence exercised by its personnel.

Commissioner Frederick’s frustration was expressed at a workshop organized on Monday by the Initiative for Changing the Lives for Ultimate Disability Empowerment (INCLUDE), geared towards training police as well as court personnel, in sign language, for the benefit of the hearing- impaired in society, during which the Ministry had no representation, even when an invitation was sent to the office.

The visually-impaired Commissioner, noted with disdain, “I am totally disappointed with the lack of representation of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs in this auspicious occasion. This is the first ever training organized to train police and court personnel in sign language to aid the hearing-impaired, when they are found in conflict with the law or when their rights are being violated. It is therefore very sad to note that the Ministry did not make it a point of duty to attend; despite invitations sent to them” he lamented.

Mr. Kamara went on, “I will take up the matter with the Minister himself. Besides, this is not the first meeting they have made their absence felt. It has, of recent, been habitual, and we as a commission are not happy with this negative development” he stated.

However, despite the conspicuous absence of the Social Welfare Ministry, the representative of UNIPSIL Abdul Sidique made positive remarks on the essence of the training, considering the fact that sign language is a vital tool in communicating with the deaf and dumb.

He asserted that with UNIPSIL’s willingness to support issues relating to the empowerment of people with disability, they will give whatever support they deem necessary to foster the programme.

He stressed that promoting a training of this kind will help bridge the communication gap between the hearing impaired and the rest of the population, therefore, giving them a sense of belonging to the wider population.

He noted that it will also consolidate the basic fundamentals human rights; give the hearing-impaired the ability to defend their rights in a court of law and ultimately reduce psychological problems among the disabled.

The President of Sierra Leone Union of persons with Disability (SLUDI) Kabba F. Bangura re-echoed the essence of the training, especially when it is geared towards empowering the hearing impaired He observed that the country has not had a hearing-impaired graduate simply because there has never been training for public personnel to effectively communicate with this group of disabled people.

Executive Director for INCLUDE, Melrose Cotay, said that the five days training is just the beginning of more in-depth training in sign language communication for police and court personnel. And that they are working in collaborating with the judiciary and the police training school to effect the teaching of sign language.

She defined sign language as, unlike oral language, it is expressed without voice; manual communication and body language are used instead to convey meaning; and that it can be done with the combining of hand shapes, movement of hands, arms, body and facial expression.

Cotay noted that a survey was done in February to determine the number of court and police personnel that have knowledge in sign language, and the number of hearing-impaired persons that have access to the court system and their experiences towards justice. Some of the results obtained, she said, showed that personnel in the justice system have a desire for better communication with hearing- impaired persons and are eager to have knowledge in language communication.

As the training comes to a close on Friday, plans are underway to replicate the same training in institutions of relevance, in a bid to capture the target needed, to effectively actualize the knowledge on sign language among court and police personnel.

The secretary general of The Gambia Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH), has said that GADHOH will act as the main body demonstrating and advocating for the rights of the deaf. He expressed their resolve to collaborate with the media in creating awareness for the rights of the deaf. Abdoulie Sarr made these remarks on Saturday during GADHOH congress held at The Gambia College campus in Brikama. Members across the country attended the congress. "We will organise an extensive peaceful human rights demonstration to show solidarity with the deaf," he said.

Sarr explained that the long-term objective of the Association is to empower the Gambian deaf community so that they could have a strong positive identity and can act on equal basis with other people in the society. Their short-term objective, he added, is to have a stronger functioning Gambian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, so that, the board, and members of staff will become more conversant of their various roles and responsibilities. Sarr noted that deaf volunteers in different regions are mobilised in promoting deaf awareness, deaf culture, the importance of sign language, deaf advocacy and organisational development. For his part, Ousman Yarboe, the executive director of TANGO, described the meeting as important, saying it will enable the membership to know their lapses and make necessary adjustments. He expressed satisfaction for the fact that the leadership is doing their work as expected, whilst urging them to continue to work for the development of the Association. Yarboe assured TANGO's continuous support to GADHOH, promising that they will not be left behind. Muhammed Jaiteh, the chairperson of Brikama branch of the Association, revealed that they have a management committee which is responsible for decision-making. He said the branch has been operating a nursery school for the deaf and hard of hearing in Brikama since 2006. "The school has an enrollment of about 21 children and every year we send some children to the deaf school in Kanifing. We are also running a skills centre for deaf girls and women who dropped out of school or have no access to education," he revealed further. Jaiteh thanked The Gambia Government for their all time support.

The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) recently donated N$41,000 to the Gobabis Combined Project School and another N$41,000 to the School for the Hearing Impaired. The handover ceremony took place at the Gobabis Epako Community Hall.

The School for the Hearing Impaired in Windhoek was established in 1995 and has 165 the learners with special needs and caters for grades 1 to 10. Due to their special needs the learners require particular equipment and teaching aids to experience education without any further challenges.

The Gobabis Combined Project School was established in February 2012 and is home to 1083 learners in grades 1, 2, 8 and 9.

NAMCOR Managing Director, Mr. Obeth Kandjoze on behalf of the Board of Directors and employees handed over N$82,000 in total to the two schools to acquire the needed teaching aids.

Kandjoze at the handover ceremony said "NAMCOR will continuously grow our fuels, lubricants and exploration business in a manner that is sustainable and beneficial to Namibians and make sound contributions to needing and deserving children in our communities".

The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers has asked President Kenyataa to set aside Sh2 billion out of the Sh6 billion intended for run-off elections to person with disabilities.

Secretary General James Torome said the cash should go towards the improvement of special institutions and empower disabled traders.

Speaking in Narok town, she said: "One billion should be allocated to special colleges in Karen, Machakos and the other one billion to assist street vendors, shoe makers and others who need to uplift their living standards."

Torome asked MPs to enact a bill on learners with disability bill that was tabled in parliament by the former education minister at the AG's office.

Tamiru Zegeye who is trying to set the Guinness Record for longest distance travelled while balancing on crutches on one's hands. Photo: Special Arrangement

Tamiru Zegeye stiffens his torso and swings his legs into the air with balletic grace. He is upside down now, his body balanced on a pair of spindly medical crutches, and then he runs. Legs in the air, hands placed firmly on the crutch supports, breathing steady, Tamiru runs; not with careless abandon, but with the precision, focus, and joy of a man who crawled for the first 15 years of his life.

Last weekend, a small crowd at the national stadium in Addis Ababa watched Tamiru run 76 metres in one minute in an attempt to set the Guinness world record for the longest distance travelled whilst balanced upside down, on a pair of crutches. The record is yet to be confirmed, but for Tamiru the attempt is a milestone in an extraordinary journey.

Tamiru Zegeye was born in 1983 in a village in Welo in northern Ethiopia, not far from the famous rock-cut churches of Lalibela. His mother worked as a maid and his father, who came from a wealthy family, was married to another woman when Tamiru was born. The scandal of Tamiru’s birth soon turned to tragedy when his mother realised that his legs were deformed. Both families rejected him.

“They said ‘he is disabled, he is the devil’,” said Tamiru, adding that his maternal grandmother tried to kill him, “Only my [paternal] grandfather said, ‘he is just a human, he is created by god’.” So the child was named Fekadu, or “the will of God”. Young Fekadu was abandoned by his mother almost immediately but his grandfather took him in and sent him to an orthodox Christian school, where he was baptised as “Tamiru” or “Miracle”.

As a child, Tamiru loved to play but was often teased and discriminated against because he couldn’t walk. “I moved just like a snake,” he said. Then one day his grandfather got him a horse. “The children would say you are disabled and abuse me. I would insult them back and ride off on my horse,” he said, “I felt like I had four legs, it was very nice.
” Eventually, the town people convinced his grandfather that it wasn’t correct for a disabled child to ride a horse, so the animal was taken away and Tamiru sent back to religious school.

For the next several years, he moved from place to place - sometimes crawling, sometimes hitching a ride from passersby. His misshapen feet meant that he couldn’t balance on crutches, so he pulled himself along with his hands, dragging his lower body behind him. At one point, his left leg was struck by an infection so severe that doctors advised him to have it amputated.

“I cried to god, I asked him why he was doing all this to me”, Tamiru recalled. “I just took all kinds of leaves and plants, ground them and applied them to my leg. I don’t know which plants worked” but the infection abated.

In the late 1990s, Tamiru found himself working as a shoeshine boy in the tourist town of Lalibela. He polished shoes and sometimes, to amuse a crowd, flipped himself up on his hands and walked short distances - a trick that earned him some money. He was only 15, but he was living by himself and sleeping rough.

“Disabled people never have a positive attitude because normal people discriminate against them. I was a very bad guy when I was 15-16 years old, because people insulted me,” Timaru said.

One day he was spotted on the street by a visiting American surgeon who offered to have him treated at a hospital in Addis Ababa. The town folk cobbled together some money and put him on the next flight to the national capital.

Fourteen years and nine operations later, Timaru can now walk unassisted over short distances, and is completely at home on crutches. He put himself through school and earned diplomas in tourism and information technology, but now works for an Ethiopian circus where he does a number of tricks including a handstand on a tightrope. His incredible upper-body and core strength allows him to balance his body in seemingly untenable positions for long periods.

Parents are increasingly abandoning children born with disabilities citing a lack of funds to maintain such children.
This is according to Katalemwe Cheshire home a non-government organization involved in rehabilitation of children with disabilities and ensuring fulfillment of their rights.
The chairman board of trustees Katalemwe Cheshire home Eng. Aloziyious Bakidde Kaganda said many parents across the country had resorted to dropping children born with disabilities upon birth thinking that such children are useless.

“Parents are increasing dropping disabled children and some have even ran away from their marriages because of this, the issue of disability depends one’s heart , we should have a good heart for the disabled children as parents,” said Bakidde.

Bakidde urged all parents, to ensure equal treatment of children born with disabilities like they do to those that are born without defects.

He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing members of the board Katalemwa Cheshire home during their first ever annual general meeting at Metro pole Hotel Kampala.
The advocacy and networking manager Katalemwe Cheshire home, Patriciah Akullo said the habit of abandoning disabled children was common among local families who find disabled children as a sign of curse.
“We have got many reports of parents especially men who run away from their homes because they have fathered children with disabilities, they think it’s a curse,” said Akullo.
Akullo also attributed the increasing cases of children with disability neglection, to financial challenges where families with financial constraints find it hard to raise children with disabilities.
The executive director Katalemwe Cheshire home James Kibanga, said they were working with government to ensure that children with disabilities are given special attention while in school so that they are not left behind.

“We want to sensitize teachers in schools on children with disabilities inclusion education while in class, some teachers tend to ignore such children saying they are slow learners which affects their academic performance,” said Kibanga.
According to Katalemwe Cheshire home there are over 53,000 children with disabilities in the country.

The Chairman of Mercury International Charity Foundation, Mr. Samir Hassanyeh, on Thursday 18th April presented two cheques totalling forty million Leones (Le40m) to the Milton Margai School for the Blind and the National School for the Deaf and Dumb at their Wilkinson Road campus.

Presenting the twenty million Leones cheque to the Vice Principal of the Milton Margai School for the Blind, Mr. Hassanyeh said the donation was part of meeting his company’s corporate social responsibility and fulfilling Mercury International’s commitment to give continuous support to the Blind School.

“I am here today to do a presentation to the Milton Margai School for the Blind as our annual commitment in the previous year and we shall continue to do so,” he said.

“Therefore, on behalf of the Board of Directors, Management, Staff, Retailers and Customers of Mercury International (SL) Limited, it gives me the greatest pleasure to present twenty million Leones to the Milton Margai School for the Blind”.

Receiving the cheque, the Vice Principal’s Milton Margai School for the Blind, expressed thanks and appreciation to the Chairman and the entire management and staff of Mercury International for he described as “such a wonderful gesture” and promised to make good use of the money given to them.

“This is not a surprise to us because we know what Mercury has done for us in the past years and hope they will continue to assist the Blind.”
Also on that day, Mr. Samir Hassanyeh presented another cheque for twenty million Leones (Le 20m) to the National School for the Deaf and Dumb as part of his company’s annual support to the school and also pledged Mercury’s continuous support to the school.

Imagine that you could hear speech and sound last night but woke up this morning only to find the whole world has gone silent. Not that people are not talking, but you suddenly lost your ability to hear. That experience came like a dream to Juventus Duorinaah, a man with hearing difficulty who by dint of hard work and determination, graduated recently with a First Class Honours degree (majoring in Sociology and minoring in Political Science) from the University of Ghana, Legon. This might sound like fiction but it is a true story - an extraordinary life story of an exemplary individual.

Mr. Robert Duorinaah and Madam Monica Duorinaah, parents of Juventus, were illiterate peasant farmers at Chiria village in the Upper West Region. They enrolled him at an early age in the Chiria Catholic Primary School even though they found it challenging to cater for the familya??s upkeep in addition to coping with the education of their son.

When Juventus reached Primary Five he suffered a Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) attack which nearly paralyzed him. He was in a coma for more than one week at the Wa Regional hospital. He eventually woke up from the hospital bed only to realize that the noisy world around him had suddenly turned silent. Sounds which could be considered too noisy at a close distance, were hardly audible to Juventus - he had lost his hearing ability. His parents saw the predicament of their 11th child as the end of their dreams of making him a better person in life. They began to see him as a liability rather than an asset, and never counted him as an able person like the other 10 children they had.

For Juventus, he could not understand what was happening but soon had to accept his new condition. Besides, he had difficulty walking due to the severity of the CSM but the walking soon improved. He had hoped that he would one day regain his hearing ability too but that had never been the case.

He could not afford to be in the same classroom with "normal" pupils and had to spend the next three years at home helping his parents on the farm. Fortunately, in 1996 he was enrolled into a special School for the Deaf at Wa, from where he went straight into Primary Four. That was another restart, because instead of using voices as a means of communication, movement of the hands became the means of communication here. He had no idea what sign-language was and had never used it before, but he had to learn it and that was a struggle.

The Deaf and Dumb School in Wa was one of the most deprived schools in an urban centre. Learning to pass competitive exams in such schools required more than hard work and the barriers were sometimes too severe to bear. But by dint of hard work and against all odds, Juventus managed to complete the programme successfully in 2003 with an aggregate 12 at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which was considered exceptional because the authorities reported the best grade ever produced by a student with that kind of challenge was a 19.

Completing the Junior High School, the next difficult decision to take was where he could go next. There was only one 'good' Senior School for the Deaf, situated in Mampong Akwapim in the Eastern Region. Few students from the Wa School for the Deaf ever made it to Mampong. Everything else aside, there was also the entrenched perception that deaf pupils could not progress beyond Senior High School.
Teachers suggested that he be given technical training to be self-employed but Juventus's family would not settle for this. Although the family was not well endowed, they encouraged him to take up the challenge of commuting to and from Mampong each school term. He accepted the challenge.

Progressing through these neglected special schools was more than a struggle and required more than hard work. At Senior High School form two, Juventus decided to try his hands on the November/December Senior School Certificate Examination as a private candidate ahead of the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination.

Communication barriers made extra or remedial classes inaccessible. So he went through all the course preparations on his own as he was determined to succeed. Learning everything by himself and sitting in an examination hall not hearing invigilators and instructors was not easy.

However, he eventually made it by obtaining aggregate 13, thereby being the first deaf person in Ghana to try the SSSCE while still in school. Even as he was writing the Nov/Dec, he also registered for the WASSCE in Mampong and wrote that too in June 2007 and passed with aggregate 11, thus qualifying him for university. Juventus applied to both the University of Ghana (Legon) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, and was offered admission by both institutions.
He opted to go to the University of Ghana, but even there the problem of classroom accommodation and support services became a nightmare but at the same time, it was an opportunity to begin to understand diversity.

The frequent absence of the interpreter provided by the University in the lecture hall was a barrier to effective participation, whiles late access to information often placed him off track and far behind his colleagues who had no disabilities. Sometimes, he had to leave the lecture hall after waiting in vain for an interpreter who would not show up.

It was not only embarrassing but also psychologically traumatising having to leave while his colleagues continued to learn. For the better part of his academic life in Legon, he was compelled by circumstance to miss lectures. Sometimes, Juventus was lucky to receive notes from the note-taker and at other times he had to depend on notes from friends who were willing to release their books to him to photocopy.

While social life adds values to university education and therefore shaping onea??s future, social life for a deaf student was almost non-existent. Most out-of-classroom activities on campus were not tailored for the disabled.

In spite of all these challenges he was lucky to have a supporting and understanding family who always encouraged him to put the challenges behind him and move ahead. At the same time, he was determined to make it no matter the odd so as to become a role model for other persons with disability.

"At the same time, I was determined not to let them down - I mean my family and other challenged persons like myself. So by dint of hard work, and by the grace of God I successfully graduated with a First Class Honours, majoring in Sociology and minor in Political Science, thus being the first hearing impaired person in Ghana to get a first class degree", said Juventus during an interaction with this writer.

A living example of resilience and determination, Juventus is currently doing his national service with the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), an NGO supporting to implement an inclusive education project in northern Ghana. He is of the conviction that disability does not mean that a person is incapable of doing anything. "Given the opportunity, they can perform jobs assigned them", he emphasised.

Juventus is of the view that the barrier created by deafness as a social problem has been allowed to cause massive unemployment and under-employment in the country, despite the fact that people with hearing difficulties can undertake tasks just as their hearing counterparts.

"Ghanaians have placed spoken language above all forms of communication, a situation that has degraded the hearing-impaired and placed them at the peripheral ends of society.

"For me and many other deaf people elsewhere hard work, determination, prayer and willingness to learn make a whole lot of difference. But this is possible only if policy makers give us a chance by making provision for us, including employing people with disability".

Persons with disabilities from Bungoma have asked governor Ken Lusaka to include one of them in the county executive committees. Speaking to the press in a Bungoma hotel on Saturday, the director of Albinism Empowerment Network Trust Kenya, Martin Wanyonyi, said persons with disabilities who form at least 15 per cent of the population should be included in public appointments.

“Disabled people can determine the leadership of this county if they will be given an opportunity not only as a constitutional obligation but as well as a fulfillment of the basic human right,” said Wanyonyi.

The group asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to set aside a special allocation for people with disabilities in the Sh6 billion initially allocated to conduct the presidential run-off.

A family in Tetu is mourning the death of one of their own who was among the 10 people who died in Garissa during the shooting incident at a local hotel.

Joseph Ndung’u, a carpenter, was a casual labourer and was with friends at Kwa Chege Hotel in the town when gunmen stormed the hotel on Thursday evening.

He had visited home during the electioneering period and only returned to Garissa which is over 400 kilometres away to look for casual jobs since he is the sole bread winner of the family.

Ndung’u who was the bread winner of the family of four is now dead and the widower Agnes Wangui has been left with the burden to bring up the children.

Three of the four children are dump and deaf which is a big challenge to the family. Wangui who is a house wife was not at the home yesterday since she was away pursuing the matter but the father of deceased John Ndung’u Nduguiya said it was a big challenge to bring up the four children since the three of them need to be admitted in special schools.

“This is a very big burden left for me and since Wangui is a house wife and me I’m just a peasant farmer with less than an acre land. We wish the Government can help us,” said Nduguiya.

All the children who are aged between 5 and 15 years schools at Kaiguri Primary School. They include Class 8 Mary Wanjira, Class 6 John Ndung’u, Class five Elijah Kibuthu and Charles Nduguiya.

Tetu Sub county commissioner Herman Shambi yesterday consoled the family at the home and offered them relief food from the government.

“I also urged the well wishers, churches and villagers to help the family since cruel hand of death have robbed the family their bread winner,” said Shambi.

He also promised that the three children who have special cases will be admitted in special schools. The commissioner said the Government will not relent until all those involved are brought to book. The family yesterday started the burial preparations which are scheduled to take place later this week.

Malawi National Association of the Deaf (Manad) has launched a website and a Malawi's Sign Language and Rights project aimed at addressing communication challenges facing the deaf.

Briefing the media yesterday, Manad National Chairperson Charles Mtambo said the development of the website, www.manadmw.org, is expected to make information about Manad and the deaf community in general easily accessible and promote Malawi sign language.

He said Manad will also engage government planners to sensitise them on the need to incorporate sign language in their projects so that the deaf are not left out in development projects.

On her part, Coordinator for the Malawi Sign Language and Rights project Juliana Mwase said the project will see 20 teachers and 20 medical personnel trained in sign language for basic communication with deaf students and patients respectively.

"Many times the deaf do not proceed with their education because they fail to lip-read their teachers. In the health sector, too, there have been cases where the deaf were given wrong prescription just because of communication breakdown.

"This project will, therefore, train some of these crucial service providers and we are liaising with the Ministry of Education Science and Technology to support this cause as our budget is limited," Mwase said, adding the project will target teachers from schools which have resource centres.

The website has been developed with funding from the Finish Association of the Deaf while the training project is funded by Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (Osisa).

SIGNIFICANT changes in delivering services to people with disability are taking place in Zanzibar. Thanks to the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) for the ongoing training and awareness programs in the Islands.

But despite progress, there is more to do, particularly government's support in implementing the policies safeguarding the rights of people with disability. Disabled people are more likely to live in poverty, to have fewer educational qualifications, have poor services and be out of work and experience prejudice and abuse, if the policies are not put into practice.

Zanzibar Centre for Disability and Inclusive Development (ZACDID) recently organised series of training and awareness programmes in Zanzibar, aiming at improving the life of disabled people so that they are respected and included as equal members of society. Participants in the training included officials from the Disabled people associations, First vice-president office (department responsible for people with disability), lawyers, and Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF), and Police officers.

According to ZACDID programmes coordinators, Ms Talaa Said and Abdallah Suleiman, the trainings have been beneficial and the impact is already visible in the Islands. They also said that adverts portraying difficulties facing people with disability in transport sector and accessing services in public building have had positive impact in the society.

"We had two adverts on Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation Television (ZBC -tv), which shows that communication between deaf/dumb people and officers in offices remains a problem and yet it is difficult for people with disability to reach many public buildings," she said. She mentioned that another advert which increased awareness about the rights of people with disability in Zanzibar was "run by ZBC-radio and the private Zenji FM radio.

The adverts explained the need for our commuter buses to have facilities for disabled people." She said the adverts ended in December last year, and shortage of funds hampers running the adverts for longer. "All groups in the society have a big role to play in realizing transformation in disabled people's life is achieved," said Talaa arguing that Disabled people still face a wide range of challenges.

The types of challenges still faced by disabled people include: policy formation- policy design and delivery which do not take disabled people into account and unfriendly environment- buildings and transport systems. Mr Juma Abdurrahman, chairperson of the Zanzibar Association of Deaf people was the first to testify that he has benefited from the trainings organized by ZACDID in April last year in Zanzibar, but asking for more similar trainings.

"The training was important because it helped me and others to develop our knowledge about our own rights, lobbying and to make sure that our voices is heard. Fortunately, six youths with deaf disability have been employed at the Zanzibar airport. This may be mentioned as an example of the benefit from the training," Juma said.

He also said that the judiciary system is for reform mainly considering hiring sign language people to ease communication in Court during cases involving the deaf, "this, has been a milestone in achieving the rights of disabled people." He said that deaf are among the victims of sexual harassment and rape, but when it come to giving evidence at police stations and court, it is always difficult due to lack of sign language staffs in court.

However, Juma, said that the estimated 3,500 with listening impairment still face a number of challenges including securing few places in schools, shortage of facilities, stigmatisation by some members of the society and difficulties in communication such as in hospitals. He said lack of funds is also another challenge in meeting their goals such as running awareness programmes and identifying deaf people in rural areas, " we need at least 40m/- annually to implement our programmes, but we only depend on donors."

Ms Jabu Sharif Haji, coordinator - people with disability programmes, office of the First vice-president said, "the training was exceptional, we were reminded about our role in developing people with disability and avoid using inappropriate names on people with disability." She said that one of the benefits from the training has been inclusive participation, "we now emphasize on involving people with disability in planning programs, and even in planning government budget."

Jabu said that knowledge about inclusive education and participation has helped her and other beneficiaries to abandon the perception that people with disability such as mental disorder are helpless. "It has been proved that even people with mental problems are useful in the society. She said the training has also energised them to push for construction of rest houses for people with disabilities so that officers who are in buildings which are not accessible for people with disability can meet in the rest house near the main entrance."

Mr Jasadi Akhamad Bungala, lawyer and planning officer from the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZSLC) said that the training has been important, because it is a move to promote the rights of people with disability, particularly in making sure that people with disability are involved in development planning. Mr Haroub Soud Mzee, a handicapped employee of the Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF), said that there have been noticeable changes in his office driven by him after the ZACDID training.

"Fortunately a desk to attend people with disability has been established, at least a toilet for disabled people has been setup, and the tiles in almost all rooms are friendly to people with disability," said Haroub, a student at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) adding, "I have also managed to drum for the improvement of my university environment so that the doors, tiles, and toilets are also friendly to the disabled."

A police officer who requested for anonymity said the ZACDID training was "extremely helpful. It is a fact that most of the law enforcers lack basic knowledge of dealing with people disability particularly the deaf and blind. It is worse when the disabled have been sexually abused." According to the ZACDID officers, at least 20 participants from different groups including Police, lawyer, magistrates, officer from the government institutions including the department responsible for people with disabilities and from disability associations, attended the training.

ZACDID and the beneficiaries have been thankful to the FCS, but suggest that Government should implement plans for improving the life of disabled people.

Tanzania Child Marriage Blamed for Gender Inequality THE national website on gender issues clearly states that the government of Tanzania recognises that women's advancement … see more ≫

Awa Jarju: My name is Awa Jarju, I'm staying at Kotu Quarry. I am a disable and a beggar staying with my family. Every blessed day I use to go out and beg inorder to survive and feed my family.

Mustapha: There are some people that you know who are begging in the street but do not have any physical or visible disability.

Awa Jarju: It is true that there are many people in the Gambia who are engage in begging in the streets. Some of these people are able bodied men/women standing on the street begging and after getting something, they go and drink alcohol or to even follow prostitutes. People do all kinds of things to support their families etc. Since that is the case then the government should not discriminate us from what everybody is doing especially that we are disable persons. "If you see we are going out and begging we are disable that's why we go out and beg. If we have the ability to work we will go out and seek for a job but if you see we cannot do that is because we are disable. There are rumours going on that we the disable are the one's who go out and stand on the streets and disturb people passing by, they are just tarnishing our image. We the disable sit at one side or place and anyone who has pity on us can give out something, and when he/she passed we don't go out disturbing people on the street. We sit and wait for our luck," Said Awa, a physically handicapped woman.

Mustapha: So you have heard that the government has plans to pass a new bill in order to stop all those who pretend to be disable and beg in the streets?

Awa Jarju: No, I have not heard about it but if it is to stop those who pretend to be disable then it will be a good thing to do, because our names have been tarnished all over the country, even people who want to give us alms are beginning to doubt us because of people who make themselves disable and they are not disable. If the government implements that it will help us a lot, to differentiate us from those engage in criminal acts. We the disabled have suffered a lot from these disguised beggars. It will really be helpful.

Mustapha: What steps do you want the government to take regarding those disguising as beggars?

Awa Jarju: Now you have talked about a very important topic. The government should really try by all means to stop this act, the government should help us and build institutions and open business for us, so that we can work and earn our living rather than sitting outside and begging. If the government helps us with these things we will never go and stand in the street and beg. If that is done any person they meet on the street begging they can arrest the person. I am hundred percent sure that disable persons will not do these type of act. We have families to feed, we have people who are depending on us, if we don't go out and beg what will we do to survive? We have to pay our children's school fee's, breakfast and lunch and now these criminals have come to disguise themselves as beggars and tarnishing our image, doing all sorts of things that a disabled person will never do. The government should really help us. We want a place where there will be enough peace and work and earn our living. The government should once again help us differentiate ourselves from the socalled alcoholics, drug addicts who stand on the street begging, we really need the governemt to assist us we the disabled.

Mustapha: Have you been assaited by the government such as providing you with say an empty land for you to do something?

Awa Jarju: No we have never got any land from the government but we will love to have it. You see if we have we will have some people who will help us grow vegetables in the land. You can see that when it is ready we can take them to the market and sell them and earn our living. We will not be disturbing people on the streets begging them on the road junctions and work places. We the disable some of us are illiterate and others are educated, we the illiterates can work on the garden and training skills works and the educated one's some have their certificates, they can work in the offices or even do open buisness inorder to help reduce the poverty rate in the country and also develop the country also. And you can see that our children too will be educated and nobody knows what tomorrow may bring, it can be our son's or daughters may become ministers and even president no nobody knows what the future may hold. The government should really help us and I myself know that they can do it even more than that, especially the garden, you can have many things in the garden. We can help ourselves and our families and even give our neighbours and other people that are also in need of support. There can be a lot more things in the garden than what we see when the vegetables are ready to go to the market .We can consume them at home and sell the remaining, we can use that to feed our children and buy other crops and grow it back to the land in the space of three to four years. We will not be begging on the street anymore by that time. We will be able to support ourselves and our families also with the relatives and lead a healthy life with our families.

Mustapha: What advice do you have for your fellow disable persons regarding the new bill about to be tabled by the government meant to remove all beggars from the streets and public places?

Awa Jarju: The only thing is that when they are going to beg, let them take their time and check with the people they are going along with. Some are able bodied but pretend to be disabled before they fall foul of the law and be arrested. So my advice for them is, let them beware of those crooks, rogues begging on the street, before they are mistaken for the criminals. We the disable are poor that's why we are going out and begging, we don't have anything to do that's why we are begging. If we have the ability to work we would not have been sitting here and begging, we would have been doing many types of job like carpentry, tailoring, leather works etc. If we have been able we would do all this jobs but we are not, that's why we are begging that's what I have for my fellow disable persons.

Awa jarju: I never heard about that but if that is available we will be thankful. You will see that the begging will subside in the country and we the disable we will have employment and the government will not be harassing us on the street about begging and they will know the kind of people they will find on the streets begging will not be the disable. And if there are disables, it will not be many and you will see we two will develop ourselves in that area of life, it will help us really in our life to support our families. If we have this type of services then there would be no more begging on the streets. In order for us to live happily, the government must stand for our right and give the freedom disable people need in the country to live free like anyone else in the country.

Gambia: VP Launches Human Development Report 2013 The Global Human Development Report 2013 was Wednesday officially launched by the vice president and minister of Women's … see more…

PEOPLE living with disabilities in Kwale have protested alleged discrimination in the nomination process to the county assembly. Led by Kwale Persons Living With Disability network coordinator Athman Kibada, the group have accused the IEBC of colluding with politicians to tamper with nominees for the assembly.

Speaking to the Star yesterday, Kibada said the list of nominees to the county assembly is unconstitutional since the marginalised group has been sidelined.

He said the four positions meant to be given to the group which includes youth and the disabled have been given to able allies of politicians. “ We had hopes in the new constitution but we have continued to be marginalised. We want the process overhauled,” said Kibada

THE National Fund for the Disabled Kenya has donated Sh11.4 million to persons with disability in Rift Valley.

Speaking at the provincial commissioner's office NFDK chairperson Christine Kenyatta-Pratt said Sh4.1 million of the sum will be given to schools and Sh7.3 million will buy products and equipment including wheel chairs, and sewing machines.

She said the donation will benefit 21 special schools in Rift Valley. “We are on the verge of empowering our disabled children and that is why we are giving grants which will cater for dormitories, kitchens, laboratories among other projects to the school hence we call upon the management of schools to apply,” Pratt said.

She urged the disabled to take the opportunities given by the constitution and apply for jobs in the counties. “We have disability act that protect the rights of people with disabilities and it is your mandate and us to safeguard it and propel for the inclusion and active participation in the running affairs of the government,” she added.

The Chairperson was accompanied by Julia Ojiambo, Chairperson of Donation Committee where he called upon the residents not to hide the persons with disability instead expose them because there are a lot of chances and opportunities for them.

She thanked the retired president Kibaki for his support on the disabled and it was through his leadership as the chair of board trustee it took bigger and great stride.

“It is my wish and optimism that our new president Kenyatta who supported us when he was minister for finance will continue to fully support and fight for the disabled rights,” said Ojiambo.

Table Tennis players from Lagos and Delta state proved the stuff they were made of at the finals of the three days’ Deaf National Table Tennis trials held at the National stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

At the initial stage, Lagos players were leading the pack but, their efforts were not enough to clip the wings of the Deltans who dusted them to fourth, sixth and eight position leaving Ondo and Rivers to share fifth and seventh position in the men’s category.

In the women’s category, Tokosi Munirat led the pack of Lagos players claiming the first, third, fourth, sixth and eight while the two players from Rivers settled for fifth and seveth position
Speaking to the media men after the event, the Technical Director/Coach of the association, Mukaila Olaoye hinted that he was particularly delighted with the outcome of the trials having succeeded in selecting the best hands as planned.

“To be candid, I’m really delighted with the way the trials were conducted and the outcome generally and strongly believe the players selected will prove their worth”. he posited Although, eight men and eight women were picked at the camping will resume camping in the next few days in Ibadan where the number will be pruned to four men and four women for the championship billed for July 24 to August 4, in Bulgaria.

AllAfrica.com
BY OMAR WALLY, 25 APRIL 2013
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The newly instituted Disability Employment Services (DES) is poised to empower and promote the welfare of persons with disability in the country through the facilitation of employment opportunities.

Among the project's objectives are to create a mechanism for people with disability to link to employers and to help create employment opportunities. It also aims to raise awareness and to use policies to enhance the welfare of people with disability. Since inception, DES, an initiative under The Gambia Federation of Disabled (GFD) has registered over 1, 800 persons with disability, according to its project officer, Theresa Colley, who was speaking to the Daily Observer on Tuesday afternoon during an interview at her office in Kanifing.

Colley disclosed that these registered people are part of three organisations namely: The Gambia Association of Physically Disabled (GAPD), The Gambia Association of Visually Impaired (GOVI) and The Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH).

She spoke of DES's commitment to the protection of persons with disability against all forms of exploitation and discrimination, underscoring that her institution will leave no stone unturned in ensuring their rights to employment.

"We believe they have rights to be employed; that is why we are creating the link between them and potential employers," she indicated.

She went on: "In most situations, employers look at the impairments and most of them are worried on how to deal with them.

Therefore, Colley explained, "based on a particular impairment, we can engage the employer and give advice on how to handle such a person, as well as lend a hand if there are supportive materials required to enable the person work".

Theresa Colley concluded by reiterating that persons with disability have rights to employment and those rights ought to be protected like normal persons, stressing that the right to employment of persons with disability is enshrined in the constitution.

For the coordinator of Disability Employment Service, Edrisa Korita, persons with disability have a role to play in the national development process, "for disability doesn't in anyway mean inability."

He indicated that persons with disability have means that they can be used to contribute to national development; like managing projects, support staff and security," he underscored.

Korita lamented the disability employment gap, indicating that out of every 100 people, only one or two are employed. In bridging this gap, he revealed, they will be embarking on a series of programmes to enlighten people that persons with disability can in fact play a key role in the development process of the country.

"We should open our doors to them and we must see them as people and give them the chance," he stressed.

The Disability Employment coordinator explained that some of these people were not born with disability, citing former US Vice President Dick Cheney as an example.

"For instance, Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius is a South African blade athlete. But despite his impairment, he has been very successful in sports. If he can make it why not others," he queried.

Babucarr Ceesay, a disabled, who has been working for the past 10 years, also spoke about the need to accommodate his colleagues in the job market and called for empowerment so as to enable them play their role in national development.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection yesterday, said it is collaborating with the Ghana Health Services to provide sign language interpreters at the various public hospitals across the country.

Nana Oye Lithur, the sector Minister said the measures would ensure that health professionals understand and treat the deaf and dumb, and other persons with disability. The Gender Minister stated this during an interaction with officials from the House of Grace School for the Deaf at the Ministry.

She said the collaboration is also to introduce sign language in the Medical and Health institutions curriculum in the country and that this would start in Accra as a pilot programme and later extended to all institutions across the country.

Nana Oye Lithur said the Ministry has met with the Ghana Federation for Disabled and agreed that, health professionals need some basic communication skills to understand the language of the deaf for their treatment.

She pledged to work with all agencies and institutions under the Ministry to ensure gender balance, rights of children and socially protect the disabled and the physically challenged in the country as they have the right to participate in every activity irrespective of their status.

Nana Oye Lithur acknowledged an appeal by the House of Grace School and pledged the Ministry‘s support to help the school acquire some facilities and also reduce the challenges they were facing, adding, “We will try our best to support the school.”
Mrs Hanna Boateng, Head Mistress of the School said the school was established with the vision of providing quality education to the deaf children of Ghana through the use of sign language.

She said Government seeks to create a better future for deaf children and to build their capacity for employment as equal members of the society in the country.

She said the school is non-profit and non-residential and that from October 2008, the population of the school had increased from two to 48 pupils at various levels in the basic education system.

Mrs Boateng said the school follows the Ghana Education Service recommended curriculum for primary and basic education and uses sign language in teaching the pupils, adding that, “All the teachers in the school are also deaf, which inspires the children.”
She said the school mainly depends on contributions from individuals and organisations and also works in co-operation with several training institutions in Finland who send students over for internship and practice.

Mrs Boateng appealed to the Minister to assist the school to build more classrooms and acquire a bus, and also appealed to corporate bodies to adopt the children in the school.

AllAfrica.com
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU, 28 APRIL 2013
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Bulawayo - The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has condemned Bulawayo City Council (BCC) run schools and youth centres that were used during the just ended referendum as not user friendly to people living with disabilities.

ZEC said a fact-finding mission by its personnel to Bulawayo recently revealed that some BCC-run schools, youth centres and housing offices were not suitable for use by people living with disabilities during elections.

The electoral board recommended that ramps and rails should be constructed at the BCC facilities, even at the toilets, to make them user-friendly to the disabled, according to the latest city council minutes.

Bulawayo council was instructed to construct ramps at Ingubo, Tategulu, Mawaba, Mahlathini, Mtshane, Mgombane and Ntshamathe -- all primary schools as well as at Nkulumane Library and Home Craft Centre in Mzilikazi.

At Mawaba Primary School, ZEC said: "Recommendations were that the following doorsteps must be ramped to be accessible to disabled persons using either wheelchairs or crutches.

At Nkulumane Library, ZEC recommended "doors to be fitted to toilets designated for people living with disabilities. Rails to be fitted in the respective toilets as well".

"A designated parking area for people living with disabilities to be erected. The ground should be levelled at the access ramp on the entire library's entry and exit points."

Isaiah Magagula, the director of Housing and Community Services said constructing ramps and rails at its council run facilities to make them accessible to the disabled would cost the local authority about US$17 000.

"The total so far is US$16 815 and judging from the above and the fact that council had not budgeted for this eventuality, it would be hard to meet these requirements," Magagula said.

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for deaf persons, EMPLODEAF has condemned the writing of Oral English by deaf people during approved November-December (popularly referred to as Nov-Dec) leg of the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WAEC).

Reports indicate that though the West African Examination Council (WAEC) rules exempt deaf people from writing oral English exam, they are not exempted during Nov-Dec examinations.

In an interview with Citi News, the Executive Director of EMPLODEAF, Seth Dankwa, revealed that though deaf people declared their disability status during the registration process for the Nov-Dec examination, it has enough proof that they are still not exempted.

“When deaf people register and indicate that they are deaf, they are still invited to come to the examination centers to come and write Oral English” he stated.

"It is inhumane for deaf people to write Oral English... This is a mess in the system.”

Seth Dankwa thus called on authorities of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) to carry out intense education on how deaf persons can avoid writing oral English exams during Nov-Dec examination.

AllAfrica.com
BY SHINOVENE IMMANUEL, 30 APRIL 2013
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THE Minister of Health and Social Services, Richard Kamwi has blamed the lack of finance, tribalism and cliques in the council for the lack of a National Disability Council board whose appointment has been delayed for the past two years.

Member of Parliament Alexia Ncube recently grilled Kamwi in the National Assembly on why a board has not been appointed since 2011.

She said the absence of leadership at the council means that payment of creditors, salaries to staff, and rental of office space cannot be done on time.

Ncube said during the debate on the health budget that the lack of a board had paralysed the disability movement and National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN) at large.

“I am aware that you may consult the AG's office, but how can such consultations take two years and, in so doing, contribute to the detriment of (people living with) disabilities in Namibia,” she said. “What can be done to avoid such detrimental delays in future, because this may be seen as a clear violation of the National Disability Act and abuse of power, in the eyes of disability movement,” she told Kamwi.

The Swapo MP lashed out at the minister saying she was reliably informed that the directorate that deals with disability issues and advises Kamwi manipulated the process and tried to replace some of the names seconded by relevant disability constituencies to be council members.

“This caused and contributed to the delays and mayhem in the disability fora. My question is: How was this dealt with? If staff and directorates can do such things in your ministry, what then can be done to avoid such abuse of power and privileges in future?” she said.

The MP also brought up the issue of the 2011/2012 report on the National Disability Council of Namibia which was released a year ago.

“Government resources were spent to compile the report. The Act clearly states that the Minister must lay the report to the National Assembly within 28 days after receipt thereof,” she said.

Minister Kamwi told The Namibian yesterday about the lack of finance in the past years saying: “There is no way that we could have gone on with the appointments without the resources,” he said, adding that they however have the finances this year to afford a board.

Kamwi said the decision to appoint the board has been long time coming and he has delegated his personal assistant to put the final touches to the appointments.

He said the issue was “technical one and thus referred the matter to the Attorney General to advise us,” Kamwi said.

According to the minister, there was also another stumbling block. He said he has been receiving complaints from people in the regions that the board only consisted of people from one region which is Khomas region.

Another complaint was that they also felt the board was dominated by one tribe, a claim that did not go down well with people in the regions.

Kamwi also said that the people tasked with nominating potential board members were nominating among themselves.

“It (the board) should be well representative. At least in my view, I would have one person from one region to represent on the board,” Kamwi said.

He says the AG had advised him to re-appoint the board whose term ended in 2012.

On the outstanding report, Kamwi said he will table the report on disability in the next National Assembly session.

Without a board, strategic decisions and council resolutions cannot be implemented and as such, the interests of people with disabilities are compromised.

SPHIWE MASILELA The University of South Africa (Unisa) and the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities South Africa have joined hands to ensure a fair deal for people with disabilities in higher learning institutions. “The initiative seeks to lead the way in embedding a culture of inclusiveness for persons with disabilities in the education sector.” Unisa said in statement. The idea, championed by vice-chancellor of Unisa Prof Narend Baijnath, formalised the idea by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday in Pretoria. “Unisa accepts the responsibility to create a culture of inclusiveness, specifically for students, staff and visitors with disabilities who access their services, and visit any of the Unisa facilities,” read the statement. Unisa had a disability unit that strives to improve all aspects of accessibility, including representation by persons with disabilities on the Unisa Council and other management structures. “This partnership takes Unisa’s commitment to the next level of working towards removing all barriers to ensure full integration of persons with disabilities in their learning community,” Unisa said. The Council serves as a proactive forum for the advancement of persons with physical disabilities to enable them to attain their maximum level of independence.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the main witness of the petitioners in the ongoing Supreme Court petition challenging the declaration of John Mahama as winner of the December 7, elections, informed Counsel for the 3rd respondent, Tsatsu Tsikata and the court that the biometric verification device actually verified disabled voters who had no fingers.

Dr. Bawumia, who was in the witness box for the 8th day running, informed the court that page 14 of the biometric verification device manual of the Electoral Commission indicates that voters whose fingerprints could not be captured during the biometric registration as a result of disability or trauma or other causes, were to be verified by face only by the biometric verification device.

According to the Electoral Commission, as stated in Page 14 of its biometric verification device manual authored for the purposes of detailing the operations of the biometric verification device states, “ In some instances the device will verify the voter by face only. This happens when none of the voter's fingers was captured during the registration”.

On the basis of this, Dr Bawumia noted that the verification by the biometric verification device, using facial only (FO), meant that it was impossible for any of the respondents to argue that those who voted without being verified by the biometric device were the disabled and those without fingers.

Counsel for the Electoral Commission, James Quashie-Idun and Counsel for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Tsatsu Tsikata had all sought to argue that the numbers who voted without being biometrically verified were those who had no fingers or those whose fingerprints could not be captured during the biometric registration.

Indeed, Counsel Tsatsu Tsikata had argued on Monday that because those without fingers voted without being biometrically verified by the device, it was impossible to tell on the face of the pink sheets if those who voted without being verified as is stated in section C3 of the form were legally mandated to do so or not and suggested that the petitioners could therefore not conclude that all such incidents of voting without biometric verification was illegal.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had stated in his evidence in chief that the number of people whose fingerprints could not be captured as a result of disability or trauma totaled 3,196 voters; and that even assuming that all those indeed voted without going through biometric verification, it could not justify the 535,723 persons who on the face of the pink sheets are recorded as having voted without being verified by the biometric device.

Nonetheless the operation of the biometric device as quoted in the manual denotes that all such persons were indeed also verified by the device by face only once the barcodes by their names on the voters’ register were scanned and that they were actually recorded by the device as having being verified.

This, to all intents and purposes, is the reason why the Electoral Commission before the elections made it clear that everyone was supposed to be verified by the device and made no exceptions to this rule.

Goods worth over Sh8.5m have been lost after fire broke out at Kuja Special School for the Deaf in Rongo, before spreading to nearby IEBC offices in mysterious circumstances.

Speaking to the press yesterday, the school's principal Julius Awuori said the Thursday night fire was caused by an electric fault made worse by a power surge caused by a heavy downpour.

"The fire has completed destroyed the library, two buildings and the nearby IEBC offices," he said.

Rongo IEBC coordinator Noah Bowen said the fire burnt two computers, a photocopier, kitchen wear and office furniture before it was put off.

Residents however said the fire was not caused by an electric fault but might have been started by arsonists targeting the IEBC's offices.

They said the fire could have been used to get rid of key documents which contain evidence in the ongoing petition cases filed at the Kisii High Court where petitioners claim that the number of those who voted in all elective positions is different from the area's registered voters.

Area MP and immediate former Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno's win is being challenged in court together with the women's representative and governor.

"Such rumours are misplaced since all materials being used in the trial like documents, ballot boxes and papers have already been taken to the regional office in Kisii," Bowen said.

Area police boss, James Mwangi said they have started investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire saying they will unearth the main cause of fire.

We have successfully in the past week writing articles about education and memorization of the Quran by mobile phone for the visually impaired and blind people In the International Conference for the development of Quranic studies King Saud University in Riyadh city. The paper concluded several findings and recommendations of which there is an urgent need for Muslims, especially with visual disabilities to study and learn the Holy Quran as well as a sense of Muslim families in dire need to teach their children Quran and linking them to his teachings and language in all Arab and Muslim communities. As well as that mobile phones can be used and employed in the education and memorization of Quran for people with visual disabilities in general, adding to uses other in reception and call on others, through what they contain techniques and can offer many benefits to the educational process in general, and give new opportunities for learning for the blind and in the pattern of lifelong learning outside the classroom or specialized centers for this segment. Gives the privacy of Muslim women and education as the application of education via mobile phone and apply it correctly, does not require the provision of parameters the Holy Quran as part of the parties to the educational process (as in the traditional education).

The recommendations of the paper for the families and the center specialized education of people with disabilities and special needs enter the method of education via mobile phone lesson note and conservation, etc., and the officials and families taking ways and means of modern attractive that will serve the teaching and learning processes deaf and dumb and blind people. also That the ease of dealing with mobile phone for people with visual disabilities can help them in the development of innovative technical methods has, which in turn is assisted and encouraged him to show his talents and not isolation from others and integrate into society and make it self-confidence. In addition to urging associations and education centers and memorization of the Koran on the direction to methods of use of technology in teaching and memorization and to seek educational cadres trained and qualified to use the modern techniques and establishment of a number of specialized websites and other technical means the task of making communication between people with disabilities and specialized centers with expertise to solve the problems faced by the technical users of technology to the special needs we recall here the words of the Allah willing. Says in Quran "Lo! this Qur'an guided unto that which is straightest, and give tidings unto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward" surat Isra.

Durban - The mentally and physically handicapped in KwaZulu-Natal are the newest victims in government budget cuts as homes and hospitals caring for the poorest and most vulnerable are closed for lack of money.

The provincial health head of department, Sibongile Zungu, said the department had no budget to support homes and hospitals which were not part of its core mandate.

Altogether, the department had been supporting 40 such homes to the tune of R300 million every year, she said.

“These patients’ conditions are permanent and cannot be corrected with medical treatment. We had to stop funding them to cut costs,” she said.

She said the department had supported the homes after international donors had pulled out their funding due to the economic recession.

One of the homes that is being shut is the Montebello Chronic Sick Home near Wartburg where, this week, the management will make arrangements for patients to return to their families.

However, Ethel Mthembu, the manager of the 51-year-old facility that caters for 100 seriously mentally and physically disabled people, said most had nowhere to go, as they had been left there at birth. She said the institution had exhausted the health department’s last allocation of R5m.

The Catholic Church started the home for the elderly in 1962, but it was soon flooded with disabled children.

On Friday, some families were at the institution to take their loved ones home, but many were nervous, as they did not have the experience to provide the special care the patients needed.

Sister Gloria Hlongwa said food supplies would run out before the end of the week. “Last month we had to use patients’ pensions to pay salaries, but this was not enough, as not everyone gets the grant.”

The institution spends R131 000 a month on nappies, groceries and lights and water. This excludes the cost of medical waste collection and maintaining washing machines.

Ntombikayise Ngubane, 51, has lived at Montebello since 1978. She cannot use her arms and legs and is bedridden.

“I wish they could find another home for me if this one is closing. I have never been outside this place since I arrived as a child. I know that my family is in Melmoth, but I don’t know if anyone is still alive because they stopped visiting me years ago,” said Ngubane.

When asked if his department could help, department of social welfare head of department, Bheki Nkosi, who has visited Montebello, said the health department was dealing with the situation. “For now, we request that we not be drawn into the matter.”

THURSDAY, 09 MAY 2013 22:53 WRITTEN BY RACHEAL NINSIIMA 0 COMMENTS Despite the uproar against the now shelved Marriage and Divorce Bill, at least one group; people with disabilities, stood to benefit from it, if it were passed in its present form, a family law lecturer at Makerere University says.

Patricia Atim P’Odong said the country’s marriage laws do not recognize cohabiting persons as husband and wife, a matter that greatly affects persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“All women with disabilities living in duly recognized cohabitation will have some level of protection because it recognizes all women in cohabitation as husband and wife and gives them the right to inherit property and use their spouse’s name,” she said.

Odong’s assertion came during the launch of a two-year project to increase access to legal redress for PWDs in Dokolo, Lira, Iganga, Namutumba, Gomba and Kampala districts recently. P’Odong believes women with disabilities face a deeper blow when their relationships collapse as there is no legal redress to inherit property.

The project, implemented by the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (Nudipu), aims to increase the awareness of PWDs about their rights and avenues of redress for violations, influence legal reform through public interest litigation in favour of PWDs and strengthening Nudipu’s monitoring and evaluation system on legal aid needs of PWDs. Nudipu has received a grant from the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) to implement the project.

A baseline survey by Nudipu, early this year found that the main obstacles to raising legal awareness in the selected districts include high levels of illiteracy among PWDs, ignorance among local leaders and policies that do not guarantee justice for PWDs.

“We are going to carry out disability quality training of lawyers in the six districts and we are writing a policy paper to highlight the gaps in access to justice to ensure that PWDs enjoy their fundamental rights,” said Edson Ngirabakunzi, the Executive Director of Nudipu.

Among the laws that Nudipu wants amended is the Evidence Act that limits visually impaired persons to identify someone who has committed an offence in the instance of rape. They argue that evidence must be collaborated (supported with other evidence) such as DNA and fingerprints to enable PWDs access justice.

MANZINI - Visiting Ugandan Pastor Robert Kayanja’s crusade once again had over 100 people claiming to have been healed of various ailments including paralysis.

This was on Tuesday night on the second instalment of the six-day crusade.
Over 1 500 people attended the service, most with the expectation of being healed while others came to see the popular pastor in action and to receive the Word of God.

Some attendants claimed to have been blind since birth, while others said they were paralysed after being involved in accidents or as a result of sickness. Of note is that most of those who claimed to have been healed on the night said they had been deaf before the service.
Most of the people who needed assistance moving around before being prayed for, left the venue without assistance. Of those who claimed to have been healed, none produced medical reports certifying they had indeed been suffering from those illnesses they testified to have been healed of.

There was, however, the case of Themba Hlophe who was known by all the Worship Centre members present at the service as being deaf because he is a full-time member of the church and had always used an interpreter.
“People of Swaziland open up your hearts to receive miracles, the pastor will not lay hands on you but you shall receive your miracle right where you are,” Pastor David, also from Uganda, said before Pastor Kayanja arrived.

Apostle Justice Dlamini of the Worship Centre, who is the organiser of the services, addressed the congregation, where he first acknowledged the attendance of Prince Masitsela, the Manzini Regional Administrator, pastors from different churches and the church at large.
He emphasised that the people would get their healing through faith.

“Faith determines the level of your healing, not the man of God or anyone else,” the apostle said.
In his brief presentation, he told them that they should be angry at their sicknesses and situations because God dealt with such over 2 000 years ago.
At about 10:55pm, the man of God, Pastor Kayanja took to the stage and his first comment was asking Prince Masitsela to share the secret to a long life after learning that he was 83 years old and still going strong.
His sermon, which lasted for about 25 minutes before praying for the sick, was entitled ‘Behold the lamb of God’. He made an example of John the Baptist who was Jesus’ cousin but never referred to Him as so but rather as ‘the Lamb of God.’

When praying for the sick, he said, “To those who are sick, place your hands on the affected part, if it’s the ear, place it there, if it’s the eyes, place it there and all of you, place your hands even where I haven’t mentioned but you feel sick. As I pray do what you could not do before,” he said.
Others fell to the ground in response while others tried walking to the pulpit where they had been ordered to go after feeling a change in their bodies. The pastor ordered those who had not received healing in full to continue coming for the entirety of the services until they were completely healed. Prominent people who attended the services on Tuesday included Nhlambeni MP, Frans Dlamini, gospel artists Nduduzo Matse, Mduduzi ‘Magawugawu’ Simelane, Kenneth Maziya, who is the former president of the Volleyball Association in Swaziland and many pastors from around Manzini.

SELEBI-PHIKWE: A councillor has called on Selebi-Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) to stop removing people with disabilities from its welfare programme once they reach 18 years.

Evelyn Kgodungwe of Thakadiawa Ward has taken a dim view of the fact that just like other disadvantaged groups, people living with disabilities are removed from benefiting from the council welfare programme when they reach 18 years. She said the disabled should not be removed from the programme because unlike say poverty, disability does not end with age.

"Being poor comes in many ways and one thing that you must understand is that most people are not born poor.It is a stage that happens later in life unlike being disabled. In most instances, disabled people are born that way. We should not be taking them out of the programme because their circumstances will not change later in life.

When they are removed from the programme, they are condemned to poverty," said Kgodungwe, who chairs the Education, Social and Health Committee of Selebi-Phikwe Town Council (SPTC). She explained that the destitute can graduate from the programme because of the poverty alleviation initiative introduced by the government.

She said that some laws in Botswana like the Building Act are hostile to the disabled. She said that entering many public buildings is a challenge to those living with disabilities because of there are no provisions for them. She said the Building Act should be changed to make buildings easily accessible to the disabled, especially those on wheelchairs. She said despite the formation of the Office of People with Disability, a lot still needs to be done. The office is mandated to develop and coordinate the implementation of policies aimed at empowering people with disabilities.

She lamented that disabled people in Selebi-Phikwe do not have an office that deals directly with their issues. She asserted that this means they are neglected most of the time and the office should be set up. She said that at the moment, the disabled are provided with training in different skills by the Re Ka Kgona Centre for the Disabled but regrettably, the institution admits only a small number.

But nominated councillor, Mmapula Mmidi-Phuduhudu felt that the special education unit is doing enough in terms of providing disabled children with education. She said that the construction of a resource centre for the disabled at Joseph Anderson Primary School is a sign that the disabled are not forgotten. She stated that the government under different programmes assists the elderly who are disabled.

Kenya: Linturi in Trouble With Coast Disability Group Over House 'Cowboy' Remark

AllAfrica.com-2013/05/11
BY BRIAN OTIENO, 10 MAY 2013
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Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi's 'cowboy' remark has landed him in problems with the persons with disabilities in Mombasa.

They are demanding an apology from the controversial MP for calling ODM nominated MP and National coordinator for the Albinism Society of Kenya, Isaac Mwaura, a cowboy.

Led by radio presenter Esther Ingolo, the PWDs said by the remark, Linturi demeaned people living with disabilities. Linturi made the remark on Tuesday as Mwaura entered Parliament chambers wearing a hat. Mwaura protested the remarks.

Ingolo, who is the patron of the Coast Association for People Living with Disabilities, said Linturi should have called Mwaura by name. "Under the Bill of Rights, the constitution states that a person with a disability is entitled to be treated with dignity, respect and to be addressed and referred to in a manner that is not demeaning," said Ingolo on her official Facebook page.

Speaking to the Star on phone yesterday, she said Linturi was out of order to refer to him as a "cowboy"."We as people living with disabilities demand that you apologise to Isaac Mwaura for calling him a cowboy," she said.

This comes in the wake of another backlash from the public and civil societies for tabling a motion in Parliament that seeks to disband the Salaries and Remuneration Commission over their pay.

The Lagos State Deaf Sports Association on Saturday renewed its call on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to include deaf sports in the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF), Calabar 2014.

The Assistant Coach of the association, Rasak Hamsat, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos that deaf athletes also had the capability to perform better in various sports.

Mr. Hamsat said the inclusion of deaf sports in Calabar 2014, would further spur deaf athletes into action and bring out the best in them. He said deaf athletes only featured at the 18th edition of the festival last year in Lagos on demonstration.

"Deaf football, table tennis and athletics were featured as part of the optional sports in Eko 2012.

"Eko 2012 gave deaf athletes the opportunity to show their skills and this made us to discover lots of them who can rub shoulders with their able-bodied counterparts in other competitions.

"So, the deaf athletes' sterling performance at Eko 2012 had convinced us that they would perform better in major competitions.

"I hereby appeal to the NSC to give the athletes the same opportunity in Calabar 2014 for more talents to be discovered and properly harnessed," Hamzat said.

According to the coach, deaf athletes are easy to train, especially for coaches who are proficient in sign languages, adding that deaf athletes easily understand what they are thought within a short while.

He canvassed regular competitions for the athletes across the country, saying that lots of talents who can be nurtured to stardom abound in the schools.

Bryan Motsa (R) who said he was unable to walk for five years after falling sick is seen telling the pastor that he received healing after being prayed for at the service

MANZINI - Desperate for their ‘miracles’ as Robert Kayanja’s crusade drew to an end, people ignored the heavy rain that fell in Manzini and surrounding areas on Friday evening.

The young and old were at the Mavuso Sports Centre for four hours, which was the duration of the service.
At the end some claimed to have received them while others limped out of the stadium, claiming that their miracle would happen the next day (Saturday).

Pastor Kayanja who was wearing brown central African clothing was in a jovial mood.
He handed out money to some of the over 400 people who attended the service. This excited the recipients.
Kayanja could have been elated at the fact that his services started on a mild note last Monday but throngs eventually showed up on Friday night.

Many of those who had been prayed for claimed to have been healed.
A declaration by Pastor Justice Dlamini that his cow, a gift from Prince Masitsela, had been delivered may also have contributed to his good mood.

Some of the people who benefitted from his financial generosity included a single orphaned teenager who claimed to have brought a total of 28 deaf and dump people to the services.
Kayanja rewarded her with E11 000 for the act and her faith that the people she brought to the services were to be healed.

An elated Kayanja gave Minenhle Thwala, a 17-year-old from Fairview, Manzini US$1 000, which is the equivalent of E9 000.
He also gave her E2 000 which he said was from a Zimbabwean national who was part of his entourage.

He said she would use the money to pay her school fees and take care of some of her needs.
Minenhle supposedly impressed Pastor Kayanja with her dedication to the prayer services in that, from Monday, the day the services began, she had been bringing in people with varying ailments so that they could be prayed for.

Of the 28 deaf and mute citizens, nine claimed to have been healed miraculously.
Minenhle identified these as Siciniseko Dlamini, Bongekile Vilakati, Sibhacaca Dlamini, Phetsile Zwane, Nolwazi Thwala, Sabelo Cindzi and Amelia Dlamini.
Kayanja noticed Minenhle when she brought two of the ‘healed’ people to the stage where they testified about their healing.

This was not the first time she came up to the stage as in previous days, she brought at least seven other people. One of these was a teenager identified as Sibhacaca.
Dlamini went to the stage with the assistance of Minenhle and after testifying about his ‘healing,’ Kayanja turned to Minenhle and asked her about her background.
Minenhle said she was a pupil of the sign language.

“I work with these challenged people at Matsetsa, where there is a school and some of them are from Mzimpofu (St Joseph’s Mission school). I arranged that they come here because I believed they would be healed through miracles.”
She then told the pastor that she had brought a total of 28 people to the services since they began.

She said healing for some started on Monday and more got healed as the crusades continued.
“I have noted your work since the services started. You have been coming here to the stage with different people,” said Kayanja. “You are an incredible character. She is focused on helping people no one could help. She should handle millions of dollars with her hands from this age.”
Kayanja then gave her a new name (Good-day), saying her faith was amazing and God was using her in a very special way.

He then said God would bless her more and encouraged the church to use her.
An elderly who identified himself as Magonso Dlamini was also given E300 after he claimed to have been healed of his blindness and deafness.
About 30 people claimed to have been miraculously healed of their ailments.
They claimed to have suffered from various infirmities like blindness, arthritis and deafness, among others. Some of these dangled their walking sticks in the air, as a sign that they could now walk without the assistance of the walking aids.

The success of their healing could not be independently verified.
Friday’s service started at around 7pm when Pastor Justice Dlamini of the Worship Centre preached before Kayanja. At about 8.30pm, Kayanja took to the stage and immediately declared to the multitudes that all the sick would be healed.

I need to start off by stating that I believe in the miracles ministry like I believe that I am alive and not dead. I believe in the healing of the sick as a manifestation of God’s miracle working power because I have witnessed healings through prayer. I believe that the lame can walk, the blind can see, the deaf can hear again and I believe in the raising of the dead.

I do believe that God has used mortal persons very much here on earth to raise the dead before because it is in the Word of God. The Lord Jesus has taught the Church that those who have faith and do not doubt will perform even greater miracles than he did in his name and I mean if Jesus has confirmed this through this pronouncements, how can we doubt that the dead can and will be raised even through the servants of the Lord of our age?

After the Lord had been raised from the dead and was taken out of the earth, we learn from the book of Acts that the apostles performed great miracles, even raising the dead and, through faith, absolutely nothing can stop that from happening even today. Having said this, I know that there are many readers of this letter who will disagree with me as pertaining to the possibility of such miracles being performed in our time and I understand where the doubt comes from.

I understand and even sympathise with those pessimists because their doubt emanates from the mushrooming of an army of fake miracle ministers, some of whom even go to the extent of using witchcraft to fake miracles when the real miracles, through God’s power, suddenly cease to happen.

As the Church of Jesus Christ, we will choose to be in denial and pretend like all is well only at the expense of the truth and the preaching of the gospel of salvation, which every minister of the Word of God has been called to preach as their primary calling, and not to serve as healers although they call us ‘Miracle Pastors’.

Yes, the fake miracle pastors, even those using the power of the snake, are out there and the numbers are swelling pretty rapidly as the return of the Lord draws closer and closer.
To cut a long story short, we need to put things into the correct Bible perspective pertaining to miracles. The original, primary, purpose for preaching is very clear; it is for winning souls, it is for announcing the salvation that comes through God’s saving grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, period.

Miracles were added to compliment this primary gospel in terms of convincing a non-believer that God really does exist. It is for this reason that Mark 16:17, teaches that the ‘signs will follow them that believe’.
Just like the Lord Jesus did, leaving us a blueprint to follow, which was emulated by the early apostles to the dot; miracles, signs and wonders will follow the work which entails the preaching of the gospel of salvation and not the other way round.

Mark 16:20 reads: “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs.
” But in today’s charismatic preaching, the signs and miracles go ahead of the work and that has effectively put paid to the manifestation of true miracles, which do not seem to exist anymore.
The thing is that God has standards which he will not compromise.

Ask any hopeful minister of the Word of God to look in the mirror and swear that, as they prepare to enter the fray, they do not have role models that they look up to. Many pastors want to be like Benni Hinn, TB Joshua and the like. None seem to want to emulate Jesus Christ; and that is where the problem is. Many take up the preaching aspiration with the wrong motive, to become famous and wealthy, and the performing of miracles seems to be the ticket to reaching that destiny. Well, I can tell you here and now that God frowns at that evil motive.

The other thing we need to clarify is that all true miracles are performed by God and not man and, by his very nature, God will not allow himself to be made vulnerable by letting anyone become able to predict his moves. God will not perform a miracle that was already expected, because if an act of God is already awaited in anticipation by a mortal person before it comes to pass, it ceases to be a miracle.

Where an act of God is concerned, no one should be able to say: “You see, I told you this would happen. I knew God would do this”. This would be more like saying; ‘I am like God’.
In conclusion, please allow me to state this truth; firstly, no one can advertise on God’s behalf and tell people to ‘come and receive their miracle’.

How does that advertiser know what God will do today? How do they know if he will perform a miracle? The only thing that needs to be announced is forthcoming services, the venue, dates and times and nothing more. I was never a fan of the TV miracle healing shows where the cameras would capture empty wheelchairs and thrown away crutches, because I know that the Lord Jesus would not make such a show of performed miracles if he was around today.
When Jesus would heal a person and say to the healed person that he must now go and tell no one about what had happened, he did this to show today’s Church the blueprint to be followed.

The TV miracle shows are purportedly done as a testimony to demonstrate God’s healing power, but the Bible truth is that when a great miracle has happened, the performer of that miracle must not announce their great work because, when they capture it on camera to prepare a show, the glory will unwittingly be accorded the performer and not God.

Jesus never would advertise, because droves of people would follow him while he went about preaching the good news as the miracles would follow him. But in today’s preaching of the same gospel we advertise, as opposed to announcing forthcoming services. We employ up-market corporate branding styles for our ministries, using corporate logos and corporate colours in order to be distinguished from competitive ministries.

We make use of the preacher’s picture on the adverts; not for identity purposes but the pictures are used to promote a man’s image while Jesus Christ takes the back seat in the process. Secondly, all those who have been called to preach the gospel have been called just for that and miracles, signs and wonders must follow the preaching work.

No one has been called purely as a miracle pastor or a healer of ailments. According to the Bible, we have been called as apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors. It is for that reason I will state that, biblically speaking, there is no such thing as a ‘Miracle Crusade’.

AllAfrica.com
BY WALDO, 13 MAY 2013
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NaMedia last month handed an amount of N$5000 to Autism Namibia. NaMedia says its support will assist students with a disability who cannot afford to make any contribution for the training they receive from the organisation.

At the handover, media analyst at NaMedia Gesche Pinsenchaum said NaMedia is a proud supporter of the multi -urpose centre for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Namibia. "All employees at NaMedia care about the health, safety and needs of impoverished Namibian citizens, and we firmly believe that every bit of assistance makes a difference."

"In addition to big spenders from the corporate sector, if all small or medium enterprises could contribute towards so many other projects that target the needs of those that cannot provide for themselves, we would truly be making a difference both short and longer term. Skills are something that last forever,they pay it forward, and for this reason we need to be paying those that teach and help with a view to a better future. Learning in order to better the position that you are in, is a right to be afforded to every Namibian, irrespective of their ability or disability" said Managing Director of NaMedia, Natasja Beyleveld.

AllAfrica.com-
13 MAY 2013
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Photo: Ericsson

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to bring a high quality education to students everywhere (file photo). Featured Grantee: Digital Divide Data

Created in 2011, Digital Divide Data (DDD) Kenya is based on the belief that the world's poorest citizens can produce their own solutions to poverty with access to the knowledge, skills and opportunities that power economic growth. A pioneer of Impact Sourcing, DDD Kenya creates digital employment for talented, economically challenged youth by delivering high-quality business process outsourcing services to clients locally and globally. Information Computer Technology-enabled (ICT) employment opportunities provide training, work experience and tertiary education, allowing youth to benefit from higher incomes and improved employment options.

Services offered by DDD include digitization and content conversion for print newspaper archives and libraries, data entry and records management as well as specialized work that are increasingly important to local clients such as field research, handwriting transcription and digital marketing. International and local clients include: Ancestry.com, Fold3 (the web’s premiere collection of historical US military records), the Paris School of Economics, the World Bank, Financial Sector Deepening Trust in Kenya, and Kenya’s National Library Service.

Presently, DDD employs more than 800 youth in Kenya, Cambodia and Laos and last year generated more than $3.5 million in earned revenue. In Kenya, its operating staff includes nearly 200 youth ?including 17 hearing-impaired?recruited from urban low-income communities such as Kariobangi, Kibera and Mathare.

Samasource is an innovative social business that connects women and youth living in poverty to dignified work via the Internet. Their proprietary technology platform, the SamaHub, breaks down complex data projects from large companies into small tasks that can be completed by women and youth with basic English skills and a few weeks of training at their partner centers. This is what they refer to as their Microwork model.

Their clients include large technology and data companies, including Google, LinkedIn and Microsoft. This work enables people living in poverty to earn a living wage in the formal sector, build confidence, gain skills in the new economy and inject much-needed capital into their communities. Samasource believes that expanding access to formal work is the only way to incorporate billions of marginalized people into the global economy and alleviate poverty at scale. Since 2008, they have provided life-changing work to thousands of people.

The Botswana Association for the Deaf (BOAD) has called on members of the public to learn sign language in order to facilitate communication between those with hearing and those without.

The association is therefore offering six-months long classes in Kanye and Gaborone on Botswana Sign Language (BOSL).Speaking to The Monitor on Friday, the association's executive director Shirley Keoagile encouraged people to learn sign language in order to improve relationships between the hearing and those without hearing, as well as to communicate with family members and friends who are without hearing.

In Kanye, the classes will take place at Maranyane Primary School, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4.30pm to 6pm. While those in Gaborone can sign up for classes which will take place at Ithuteng Primary School every Saturday and Sunday at 10 am to 12 noon.

Classes cost P300 for six months, while participants will be expected to pay P500 for graduation and certificates upon completion of all modules.

Members of the association who are Botswana sign language users coordinate the course.The BOAD sign language committee designs and manages the course. Those interested can text the executive director at 74799483.

User Rating: / 0 PoorBest Monday, 13 May 2013 18:32
Hargeisa school for the deafBy: Mo Ali/Medeshi

Somalilandsun - Coca-Cola Foundation and Cultures of Resistance have sponsored S.A.F.E. to build a new school for Hargeisa School of the Deaf.
It is the only school of its kind and it will provide quality education for hundreds of deaf children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend school in Somalia.
The final phase of construction for the new school is about to begin.

Living Word of Faith World Wide a.k.a Winners Chapel International Freetown, on Sunday May 12, extended a hand of love to pupils of the Milton Margai School for the Blind and National School for the Deaf at their Wilkinson Road School Grounds by donating food items and toiletries .

Presenting the items to the Milton Margai School for the Blind, Elder Pallo Bangura, Chairman Local Church Council, said the items are given to the school to show fellowship with them and that Winners Chapel is very close to the school. He said it was a big honour for him to present the food items on behalf of the senior Pastor Dapo Olumuyiwa and the entire Winners Chapel. At the National School for the Deaf, Elder Pallo Bangura also presented other food items and toiletries to the Head teacher Mrs.Winifred Williams, on behalf of the Church, and said Winners Chapel is not just about winning souls but winning the flesh as well because a full stomach is a healthy mind.

Receiving the items at the Milton Margai School for the Blind, the head Teacher, Didymus T. Kargbo thanked the Pastors, Elders and entire congregation of Winners Chapel International for their kind gesture that the church has been showing to the School, he also said that these food items had brought smiles to the faces of the pupils of the school. He also said that food is one of the push for a sound mind.

Head teacher at the National School for the Deaf, Winifred Williams who received the food items on behalf of the pupils, thanked the entire membership of Winners Chapel International for their continued support, as the church had always been there when the School is in need . She also said the church had previously repaired the School Bus for them, which makes the movement of pupils easier.

AllAfrica.com
BY SHINOVENE IMMANUEL, 14 MAY 2013
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MINISTER of Health and Social Services Richard Kamwi yesterday lashed out at the National Disability Council of Namibia for “serious” mismanagment of money allocated to them for the 2012/2013 financial year.

“I note with serious concern that some of the services rendered to the council were delivered without proper financial supporting documents from the suppliers, and in various cases suppliers were paid a 50% at the onset for work not completed.

This is unfortunate,” he said at the inauguration of the second board of the council.

“I must inform you that my ministry, in the absence of the council, allocated an amount of N$5 million to the council (secretariat) for the financial year (2012/2013),” he said.

Kamwi said that he was disappointed that the audited books of the National Disability Council by the Ministry of Health and Social Services showed serious financial mismanagement by the secretariat of the council.

According to the minister, this resulted in the ministry bailing out the council with N$510 000 to meet salaries and other obligations such as utilities.

This year, Kamwi said the ministry has allocated N$8,4 million and up to date N$2,8 million has been transferred to the National Disability Council account already.

Kamwi, who in recent months called for accountability from managers, urged the new council to spend resources wisely in order to avoid unnecessary expenditure.

“In this regard, there is a need for the council to develop a financial management and procurement policy as a matter of urgency to avoid the pitfalls of the past”.

The council has been without a board since the term of the previous one ended in 2011.

Member of Parliament Alexia Ncube recently grilled Kamwi in the National Assembly on why a board has not been appointed since 2011.

Ncube said during the debate on the health budget that the lack of a board paralysed the disability movement and National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN) at large.

The NFPDN in return rejected claims by Kamwi that lack of finances and tribalism were the reasons for the lack of a council board.

A total of 127 people including pupils of the Cape Coast school for the deaf were on Tuesday screened at the Cape Coast hearing assessment centre.

The two-day free ear screening exercise was organized by Ghana Lions club, in collaboration with the Audiology department of the University of Utah, USA and the Audiology department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The hearing assessment centre, which is located at the Cape Coast school for the deaf was jointly established in January this year by the Ghana Lions Association and Mr Ebo Barton Oduro Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North constituency.

Dr. John Ribera, a professional Audiologist at the Utah State University, in an interview with the GNA said the exercise was a voluntary service from both students of Utah State and the University of Ghana to assist those with hearing impairments.

He noted with concern that Ghana, with a total population of about 25 million has only eight audiologists and described the situation as discouraging.

Dr Ribera however said currently, six audiologists were pursuing their Masters Degrees and would be graduating this November whilst four people were pursuing degrees courses.

He said with the small number of audiologists it would be very difficult to address the needs of people with hearing impairment and stressed that it was imperative to put up a curriculum to train more audiologists.

Mr. Ribera commended the pupils and people for patronizing the exercise and said out of the number only one girl, who had stones in her ear was referred to the Central Regional Hospital for further treatment. He said those with serious problems would be sent to the United states for hearing aids to be made for them.

Dr Peter Appiah-Thompson of the Ear and Throat Department of the Central Regional hospital expressed his gratitude for the exercise and the provision of hearing aids by Starkey hearing Foundation because the aids were very expensive and only a few could afford.

“It costs about GH shil.350.00 to acquire a used hearing aid whilst a new one cost around GH shil.700.00
He also commended the Lions Club for the Centre, noting that, apart from the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital, the Cape Coast centre was the second hearing assessment centre in the Country.

AllAfrica.com-
BY LUCAS N. WINDA, 15 MAY 2013
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The growing relationship between HIV/AIDS and disability is an emerging issue and cause for concern as persons with disabilities are at higher risk of exposure to HIV. There is a growing understanding that persons living with HIV or AIDS are also at risk of becoming disabled on a permanent or episodic basis as a result of their condition.

Like any other person, persons with disabilities require information on HIV/AIDS and access to programmers, services, and resources. In most countries, the situation of persons with disabilities is further compounded by societal barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society, including access to education. Despite the growing relationship between HIV/AIDS and disability, persons with disabilities have not received sufficient attention within national responses to HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, existing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programmers generally fail to meet their specific needs. Persons with disabilities are often excluded from HIV education, prevention and support services because of assumptions that they are not sexually active or do not engage in other risk behaviors such as drug use.

Sexual and reproductive health service providers may lack knowledge about disability issues, or have misinformed or stigmatizing attitudes towards person with disabilities. Services offered at clinics, hospitals and in other locations may be physically inaccessible, lack sign language facilities or fail to provide information in alternative formats such as Braille, audio or plain language. In places where there is limited access to medication, persons with disabilities may be considered a low priority for treatment.

Women and girls with disabilities are especially vulnerable to sexual assault or abuse. Persons with intellectual impairments and those in specialized institutions are also at particularly high risk. Around the world, children with disabilities are a large proportion of the children and persons with disabilities not enrolled in school, which results in their exclusion from vital sexual and reproductive health education that is often provided in school settings.

Low literacy levels and a lack of HIV prevention information in accessible formats, such as Braille make it all the more difficult for persons with disabilities to acquire the knowledge they need to protect themselves from being infected.

Persons with disabilities are seldom recognized as a group to be included in the national response to HIV/AIDS. Integrating their specific needs is a crucial component to mitigate the worsening condition of persons with disabilities. The failure to understand and provide essential information to persons with disabilities concerning HIV/AIDS, results in their increasing marginalization.

Work on HIV/AIDS issues at all levels, local, national, regional and global levels, should consider the rights and needs of persons with disabilities through the design of legislation, funding structures, policies, and programmers. HIV/AIDS professionals and advocates can help create a dialogue with and within the disability community to foster more open discussion of HIV/AIDS issues.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides a global policy framework to promote the equal rights to health for persons with disabilities, including sexual and reproductive health, on par with those without disabilities and enable policies to implement AIDS programming for persons with disabilities and programmers to fight against stigma, discrimination and other barriers faced by persons living with HIV/AIDS, Some countries have adopted anti discrimination laws and other measures that explicitly cover discrimination on the basis of HIV/AIDS, so Kenya should adapt the same.

On Monday Cape Town bus drivers ended their strike after 25 days. They had asked for a wage increase of 18% but settled for a preliminary increase of 9.5% which will increase to 10% from October. What does the strike reveal about how poor people get around in Cape Town, particularly for disabled people?

The drivers' strike has affected many customers of the Golden Arrow bus service. Poor people from the townships, who struggle to get other means of transport that they can afford, were particularly affected. But most affected were disabled people.

GroundUp spoke to Noroyi Lusu, who is disabled and walks on crutches. She said she struggled to use public transport during the bus strike. Usually she uses Golden Arrow to go to work every day. She said that she prefers travelling by bus because it is easier for her to use with her crutches, although there are still many ways their services for disabled people could be improved.

While the strike was on, she had no choice but to go to work by minibus taxi, which for her is very expensive. Travelling to and from town from Khayelitsha or surrounding areas by bus costs more than R400 a month, while the train costs R155 a month. By contrast, travelling by minibus taxi costs more than R800 a month.

She says that disabled people complain about how difficult it is to use taxis, because the taxi drivers don't have patience with disabled people and they are rude and they don't try to assist them. Many taxis are not in a state for disabled people to use, especially for people in wheelchairs. Most taxis don't have the space to put the wheelchair aside, she said. Usually, people in wheelchairs have to wait for a suitable taxi that has space to put the wheelchair inside.

During the strike, most of the disabled people she knew used trains to get to work because the taxis are very expensive, but although the trains are affordable they are also dangerous. They are always full and people are pushing each other to get inside the train and disabled people mostly struggle when they have to use the steps to get to the train, she said. She also said that most disabled people have to wait till afternoon or when the trains are not full.

"We did try and approach the government as disabled people and went to the Department of Transport. We asked the government to find ways of changing public transport to accommodate disabled people. We also told government that we don't want a different transport for disabled people; we just want a transport system where everyone is accommodated," she said.

Ms James, from the community organisation Disabled People of South Africa (DPSA), agreed that disabled people struggle with public transport. She thinks the government is not doing anything about fixing this issue. She also said that sometimes, when the government organises events for the community, the transport they provide does not accommodate disabled people.

On its website, the City of Cape Town acknowledges that there are many problems with the accessibility of public transport, particularly with trains. One of the benefits of the MyCity BRT system for poor communities is that the buses and the bus stops are designed to be fully accessible. This is one more reason that poor people should be paying close attention to events affecting public transport.

Authorities of all the 34 special schools in the country have decided not to reopen the schools for the last term of the 2012/2013 academic year until they receive their subventions from the government.

The Headmistress of the Garden City Special School for the Intellectually Disabled in Kumasi, Dr Rosalind Frimpomaa-Adjepong, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the decision was taken at the mid-year conference of the schools held in Kumasi last week.

Consequently, students who were expected to report in their various schools on Tuesday after vacation had been asked to stay at home until the situation was normalised.

“We have conveyed the decision to the parents and wards of our students and they have complied accordingly,” Dr Frimpomaa-Adjepong said.

In Ghana, students of special schools are exempted from paying any form of fees, with the government bearing all the cost covering their education.

Dr Frimpomaa-Adjepong said the special schools, which include schools for the visually impaired, the hearing impaired and the intellectually disabled, had run out of funds for their day-to-day operations.

They were also heavily indebted to their creditors because of the delay in releasing grants.

Dr Frimpomaa-Adjepong stated that since May 2012 goods and services grants had not been paid.

Besides, feeding grants covering only four months were released for the last two terms, which even delayed.

While in the first term of the current academic year the feeding grant was released in the 11th week of the 15-week term, the second term grant arrived in the eighth week.

While the feeding grant was pegged at GH shil.2.20 per student for three meals a day, the goods and services grant was calculated depending on the number of students in a school and the location of the school.

“If you consider the fact that we use the goods and services grant to cover utilities bills, fuel, maintenance, stationery, administrative cost, among others, you can imagine the problems we have been going through,” she said.

The GH shil.2.20 feeding grant per student is the same as what senior high schools (SHSs) receive from the government.

However, the advantage the SHSs have over the special schools is that the former charge their students school fees.

“If we are not asking for increase in the grants, it is surprising that the little we are to receive is not coming,” Dr Frimpomaa-Adjepong said.

She said the schools were operating in an inflationary environment which had led to increases in the cost of goods and services, “yet we remain where we are”.

US Peace Corp volunteer Dhuha Tawil donating a box of books to one of the beneficiaries.

MBABANE - US Peace Corps volunteers have assisted with the establishment of 30 libraries in the country’s rural areas.

Libraries have been set up in Lucaceni (Mambane), TB National Hospital, Good Shepherd Hospital, Cabrini Missio, Sigcaweni, School for the Deaf, Sithobela, Mpolonjeni, Nkwene, Magubheleni and Mpaka.

Beneficiaries on Wedn-esday received a donation of books which were donated by America.

Dhuha Tawil, a Volunteer said the wonderful project is called Books for Africa and is led by the US Peace Corps. She said she, together with Ryan Fouss and Kelly Root were leading the project.

She said every library would receive 1 000 books and must go through an application process that would determine whether they need and are able to sustain the library. Further, she said a librarian was trained during a librarian workshop led by Peace Corps Volunteers to guarantee that they understood their role.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) says it is making frantic efforts to get the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to release subventions for special schools.

It said steps and efforts to get the money had reached advanced stages, adding that the service was very much aware of the situation the schools were in.

“I know the Ministry of Finance is working on it and it that it has reached an advanced stage. We are, indeed, in touch with the ministry,” a Deputy Director-General of the GES, Mr Stephen Adu, told the Daily Graphic yesterday.

He said the situation did not pertain only to the special schools but also some institutions under the GES and that the necessary steps had been taken to address the problems of schools not receiving their subventions and other funds due them.

“The schools should be patient as we work to get the money released to them,” he said.

The authorities of the 34 special schools in the country on Tuesday announced that they would not reopen their schools for the last term of the 2012/2013 academic year until they received their subventions from the government.

Consequently, students who were expected to report in their various schools on Tuesday after vacation had been asked to stay at home until the situation was normalised.

The Headmistress of the Garden City Special School for the Intellectually Disabled in Kumasi, Dr Rosalind Frimpomaa-Adjepong, told the Daily Graphic that the decision was taken at the mid-year conference of the schools held in Kumasi last week.

“We have conveyed the decision to the parents and wards of our students and they have complied accordingly,” she said.

In Ghana, students of special schools are exempted from paying any form of fees, with the government bearing all the cost covering their education.

They were also heavily indebted to their creditors because of the delay in releasing grants.

Dr Frimpomaa-Adjepong stated that since May 2012 goods and services grants had not been paid.

Besides, feeding grants covering only four months were released for the last two terms, which even delayed.

While in the first term of the current academic year the feeding grant was released in the 11th week of the 15-week term, the second term grant arrived in the eighth week.

“If you consider the fact that we use the goods and services grant to cover utility bills, fuel, maintenance, stationery, administrative cost, among others, you can imagine the problems we have been going through,” she said.

The GH shil.2.20 feeding grant per student is the same as the grant senior high schools (SHSs) receive from the government.

However, the advantage the SHSs have over the special schools is that the former charge their students school fees.

“If we are not asking for increase in the grants, it is surprising that the little we are to receive is not coming,” Dr Frimpomaa-Adjepong said.

She said the schools were operating in an inflationary environment which had led to increases in the cost of goods and services, “yet we remain where we are”.

AllAfrica.com
BY MARIA KAITESI, 19 MAY 2013
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Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who are street beggars may soon be integrated into various cooperatives to engage them in income generating activities as opposed to begging.

During the 3rd General Assembly of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) yesterday, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Emmanuel Ndayisaba, said that one of their key priorities this year is to increase the number of cooperatives and members, especially those begging from streets, to engage in income generating activities.

Ndayisaba said that the council currently has more than 30 cooperatives across the country with all the necessary facilities for use by PWDs.

"We are also planning to hold an anti-begging campaign throughout the country because we know they have the potential to do something and fend for themselves. We plan to increase the number of cooperatives to provide PWDs with skills," he added.

Meanwhile, the government has reduced funds allocated to persons living with disabilities to Rwf 450,727,228 in the next fiscal year 2013-2014, down from Rwf 514,777,526 in the current fiscal year.

Ndayisaba noted that the council has a lot of strategies it needs to implement in order to improve the livelihoods of PWDs, plans that he fears may be hindered by the budget reduction even if they plan to put the available money to good use.

The State Minister for Local Government, Dr Alivera Mukabaramba, stated that the government will continue to support PWDs through educating them among other strategies.

"We shall work hand in hand with NCPD to help PWDs join cooperatives so they can have skills and be able to generate income for themselves and sustain their families," she said.

Other challenges that currently face PWDs include the lack of the exact number of all the PWDs in the country, the lack of lawyers to handle their cases when their rights are abused, and lack of facilities to allow them access to public buildings.

Ndayisaba said the council was working with the National Housing Authority to ensure that public buildings are built in a way that allows easy access for PWDs.

地域生活に関するインクルージョンインターナショナル報告の翻訳

The United Congregation Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), Broadhurst Choir, is scheduled to build a house for a 23-year old disabled woman in Sefhophe village.

This initiative follows a successful dinner dance held at the Gaborone International Conventional Centre (GICC) last Friday.

Vice President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe and Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Margaret Nasha graced the event. "This is good work as the house which is going to be built will benefit the receiver in many ways and so UCCSA deserve commendation," Kedikilwe said.

The spoksperson for the Broadhurst choir, Barbara Ramolefhe, said they decided to build Keoagile Tshwanelo a house because she is disabled and has a child.

"This outreach project entails building a house which will have two bedrooms with a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet with running water inside and Tshwanelo was specifically chosen because she also does not have parents so she is an under privileged person who is also disabled," she said. She explained that they have a number of sponsors on board so that the house, which costs P160,000, can be built and completed by December.

"We want Tshwanelo to have a good Christmas; so this will be our Christmas gift to her," she said.

The UCCSA has previously recorded a music album for the Zebras, raising close to P100,000. They later handed over the master copy of the CD to the Botswana Football Association (BFA) to continue benefiting from the music.

Gambia: GFD Holds Press Briefing in Preparation of Disability and National Epilepsy Week

The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) on Monday,20 May, held a press briefing at the GOVI Head office in Kanifing, ahead of the Disability Open Week and National Epilepsy Week commencing on Wednesday, 22nd May, at the Buffer Zone in Tallinding. In his welcoming and introduction remarks, Mr. Anton Venus, the Executive Director of GFD, said the week from 20th to 26th of May has been set aside to be celebrated by the Federation annually in order to highlight some of the achievements made by the disability community in the Gambia, exhibit their talents and break the stigma and discrimination against them by society. He said the National Epilepsy Week is also agreed to coincide and be observed on the same dates which, he said, makes it extra-ordinary as it is the first of its kind In the history of the Gambia. He said the GFD would like to have a march pass to observe these two important in a series of activities such as a press briefing, radio and TV programs, meeting with mayors/governors, sensitization programs in schools with a high relevance of epilepsy among others.

Mr. Edrisa Korita, the Project Coordinator, spoke on the employment opportunities for the peoples with disabilities (PWDs). He said in the Gambia for a person with disability to find a job is a problem and he urged the employers to desist from such a mentality. "There is no problem to work with a disability in the real sense because there is the same stuff in them compared to able persons. So why should we discriminate them since some of them can even do more than those we called an able person," he said. Mr. Lamin Dibba, the chairperson for the Association for Mentally Disabled-The Gambia, for his part, dwelled on the Epilepsy disease. He dispelled on the myth surrounding the disease as it is mistakenly held by some that it can be transmitted through saliva.

Dibba urged the people to stop the discrimination of epileptics. He said epilepsy is not satanic as some people wrong belief, adding that it is just a disease like the others and further advised people to show respect and care for the person with epilepsy and regard them as fellow brothers and sisters.

GFD chairperson, Madam Isatou Sanyang, spoke about the policies and social inclusion for PWDs. She stressed the point home that "disability is not inability". She called for an environment of equal opportunities for both the able bodied and disabled persons as they both deserve respect as members of humanity. She said the Gambia is lagging in many respects when you come to the issues of disability. "Gambia is one of the fourteen countries in Africa which doesn't adopt or ratify the United Nations Convention out of 53 or so countries. And we are still following the government to ratify this, but the dream is yet to be realized. We have some of our members in the National Assembly waiting for this bill but it has not yet reached there," said the GFD President. In responding to questions relating to the proposed legislation by the government to stop street begging which may affect some of GFD members, Madam Sanyang expressed her dissatisfaction towards the proposed bill, saying that it is not anyone's wish to beg but that it is the situation which can compel one to be begging for survival, especially the disabled persons.

The government should provide jobs for the disabled in other to stop such, some of the disabled are responsible men and women who need money every day to survive. She concluded by calling on government to ratify the Convention and also provide jobs for the disabled. The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Amadou Touray, a member of the Advocacy Group for the GFD.

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) has said some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were failing to release the two per cent Common Fund meant for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

The Federation has also expressed worry over the late release of the Fund to facilitate members’ activities.

Persons With Disabilities enjoy two per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund to support members and their activities to enable them contribute to national development.

Mr Yaw Ofori-Debrah, President of the GFD, told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday that quotas for the second and third quarters of 2012 were released just about three months ago and some MMDAs had still not made the funds available to members.

He said failure to make the funds available to members on time to enable them serve their needs was frustrating.

“We need to pay our school fees, buy assistive devices, support expansion of businesses and empower needy disabled persons, yet the funds are released late,” he said.

The Federation has, therefore, called on those assemblies holding onto the funds to as a matter of urgency release them to enable its members better serve their needs.

The GFD has also called on government to ensure timely release of the funds to the various assemblies to facilitate quick disbursement.

Bo City Council Mayor, Harold ‘Logic’ Tucker on Friday donated 50 walking Aides to the Disabled in Bo.

The Sir Milton Cheshire Home, Disabled Rights Movement-DRIM, Disability Child Foundation, the Bo Government Hospital and Jaiama Bongor were the beneficiaries.

Delivering the walking aides to Moriba Bellay of the Disabled Rights Movement Bo, the Mayor, Harold Tucker, stated that the “issues of the disabled, rests on my heart.” He went further to relate that in his campaign during the elections of the past year, he promised that he would be “a mayor for everybody and even the disabled.”
The donation, he explained, was just the first of the developmental programmes he has in mind for the disabled in Bo.

Moriba Bella, one of the recipient, on the part of DRIM, exclaimed that the move on the part of the Mayor was just a demonstration of “the Mayor’s love towards disability business. The donation, he went further, exhibits Mayor Harold Tucker’s “concern for all the disabled.”
James Charles Gombey, Executive Director Disability Child Foundation registered his delight at the donation.

He stated that the giving “demonstrates the happy thinking of the disability issues in this part of the country.” The donation he continued was “one of the things in the bullet points of the mayor.”
The donation, he concluded, demonstrates how the “council has worked very hard to exclude marginalization of people with disability in this part of the region and beyond.”

AllAfrica.com
BY MATHIAS HAUFIKU, 22 MAY 2013
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Rundu - The Centre for the Visually Impaired at Sauyemwa in Rundu are requesting the government for assistance in setting up proper accommodation facilities for members, as well as food and educational materials.

The centre is one of those places few people would visit of their own volition in order to lend a helping hand to its blind residents, but its members say their perseverance and protection from God has brought them far already despite the odds stacked against them. With only six of the 19 members living at the centre, they wake up each morning and carry out household chores such as cooking and cleaning, in an attempt to lead normal lives as much as it is possible with the meager resources at their disposal.

The centre's spokesman, John Ndara (35) told New Era yesterday that one of the main preoccupations of the centre's residents is attending literacy classes, since the Ministry of Education has provided them with educational materials for the blind. "We established this centre so that we as visually impaired individuals can live together and help each other. We are in need of materials such as music instruments and computers so that we can keep ourselves busy once we have finished our chores and classes," said Ndara.

"Winter is a very dangerous time for us, because we do not have a proper shelter and snakes are moving around looking for warm places," he said. Ndara pleaded with government to provide the centre with a security guard. Ndara says they have to make use of taxis and get assistance from security guards at hospitals when they need to see a doctor. He said some of the residents of the centre are musically gifted and are good at playing instruments such as the keyboard and guitar, but do not have any instruments at the centre.

Six of the nine people residing at the centre receive a monthly disability grant of N$550, which they put together to take care of their basic needs such as food, firewood, toiletries, transportation and other necessities.

"It is very difficult for us because there is no one to assist us - our relatives are mostly seen towards month-end when we are about to receive our money, but during the month they are nowhere to be seen. Sometimes we have to go to 'cash loans' just to survive until the end of the month," he said. According to Ndara, the Rundu Town Council offered them the plot on which they reside temporarily for a fee of N$125 per annum. "We are really urging the town council to give us the land on a permanent basis. Right now our account is in arrears, because we did not settle last year's bill, and our water bill. We are really urging the government to also support us in any way, " he said.

Ndara also appealed to the Rundu community to assist the centre in any way it can.

MBABANE - Frustrated Miss Deaf Pageant Director Nokuthula Mbatha has called it quits.

Mbatha submitted her resignation letter to the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture (SNCAC) CEO, Stanley Dlamini, yesterday morning.
She cited unnecessary interference and frustrations in the hands of the Arts and Culture office after being told that she had no authority in the form of a licence to host the upcoming Miss Deaf Queen of Africa competition to be held on September 28 at the Royal Swazi Sun Convention Centre. What also irked the pageant director were alleged utterances that she was running the Miss Deaf beauty pageant as a charity at the expense of business.

The SNCAC CEO on the other hand said some pageant directors just could not cope with the current restructuring exercise of all beauty pageants in the country as directed by Parliament.
Speaking about her frustration, Mbatha, after making all the necessary arrangements and securing sponsors, was told that she had no licence to host the international pageant, Miss Deaf Queen of Africa, and that Arts and Culture was taking over. She accused the council of hijacking and stealing from all her hard work. “Arts and Culture knew everything.

“Why were they silent all along when I was making all arraignments, logistics and negotiations with sponsors for them to say in the last minute that I did not have a licence?” wondered Mbatha.
“I was used to being frustrated but this has come to a boiling point. I just could not take it anymore.
At times people mistake a person’s softness for foolishness,” she said.

However, Mbatha declared that she would continue hosting the Disability Festival to be held on July 27 since it was her project not affiliated under Arts and Culture. “I have communicated with most sponsors for both the Miss Deaf Queen of Africa and Miss Deaf Swaziland contest that I have since stepped down and they would no longer be working with me. However, I communicated to the Miss Deaf Queen of Africa organisers that they are still welcome for the competition,” said Mbatha.

MBABANE - The SNCAC CEO, Stanley Dlamini, says only the State not an individual can host Miss Deaf Queen of Africa.

Dlamini, who confirmed having received Nokuthula Mbatha’s resignation, said the contest to be held is an international one where the organisers have requested for escorts, transport and accommodation which only government could make such a commitment.

“It is a policy issue more than anything. In her resignation letter she also cited frustration and interference which is something that emanates from the current standardisation of all beauty pageants to improve them as directed by Parliament,” explained Dlamini.
On another note, the Arts and Culture Council will now give back the Miss Deaf beauty pageant to the deaf community.

This was said by Dlamini as he said changes in all beauty pageants in the country were imminent. “The deaf community has to run the pageant as Mbatha also had a challenge with having the deaf community participating in the pageant,” said Dlamini. “Even though the Miss Deaf Queen of Africa now hangs in the balance we are grateful to Mbatha for communicating her resignation to us while there is still time. We are still open to engage her for further talks after she has cooled down,” said Dlamini.

Nairobi - Grace's dad, like many other fathers out there, is trying to break the thumb sucking habit his four year old daughter.

Unlike the majority of fathers however, when he receives Grace's report form at the end of the school term, he doesn't learn how well she did in Kiswahili or English or Math.

He gets appraised on her vision, hearing, communication skills, self-help skills, physical skills, cognitive skills and her, 'gross' motor development.

You see, Grace is unlike most children who at the age of four can use the potty and walk. "The house help carries Grace to school on her back and she has to make sure Grace has a pamper on or she'll pee on her back," Grace's dad, Geoffrey Mwangi, tells Capital FM News during an interview at his Kayole home.

The walls at the home are lined with cushions to keep the deaf and blind Grace from hurting herself, "My miracle like every other four year old is quite playful but unlike every other four year old she can't see or hear danger," Geoffrey explains.

He calls Grace his miracle because he and his wife Jane have seen her come back from near death, "We have been fighting for Grace even before she was born. That's why we named her Grace," he says.

Grace was what you'd call a 'preemie' her mother having gone into pre-term labour at seven months. "I left work one evening and my water just broke. I didn't know what the problem was because I had never even caught a cold when I was pregnant with Grace."

Grace came out of Jane's womb with many of her organs, including her eyes and ears, not fully developed, "her digestive tract wasn't developed either," Jane recalls, "she was so sickly that they had to give her blood through a vein in her head."

Despite spending a month and a half in an incubator, Geoffrey remembers as he wipes a tear from his eyes, Grace's condition did not seem to be improving, "the doctors said there was not much more they could do for us and that it was only a matter time."

"That's when the doctors at Kenyatta decided to try the Kangaroo as a last resort," Jane continues, "it was the first time they'd tried it and it worked because two weeks later Grace's digestive tract began to work and I took her home. I never lost faith."

It's the same faith that Jane and Geoffrey hold on to now that Grace's last report form reads, "she seems to follow light," under vision and, "she seems to respond to sounds," under hearing.

"The doctors say her eyes will continue to develop until she's eight years old," Jane explains, "so there's light at the end of the tunnel on that front but she'll need surgery to improve her hearing."

And although the surgery Grace requires that runs into millions is out of her parents' financial reach at the moment, Geoffrey is optimistic things will turn out for the best.

"The best a lot of disabled people in this country can hope for is vocational training but even if my Grace doesn't grow to see or hear I believe there is a purpose to all that she's endured in her short life. I believe Helen Keller's deaf blindness is what gave her a story to write and great faith. Because all you can do when you can't see or hear is believe."

Olive Burrows has been writing features for the last five years having studied communication at Daystar University. She hopes to make a difference through human interest features and is passionate about the environment. She hopes to grow her experience doing radio and video features at Capital FM and to contribute to the brand's tradition of trend setting.

スーダンの視覚障害者の姿がかいま見える新刊『わが盲想』

2007年に東京大学先端科学技術研究センターで座談会をやって以来のつき合いのモハマド・オマル・アブディン君が書いた『わが盲想』が、ポプラ社から出版されました。

本に収録された内容の三分の二は、ポプラ社のウェブサイト・ポプラビーチで連載されたものです。
　http://www.poplarbeech.com/wagamoso

第０回　はじめに
　ぼくはいま、３３歳だ。考えてみると、日本に来てから、もう今年で２度目のぞろめの年齢を迎えてしまったことになる。

はじめに
　ぼくは今、三十五歳だ。考えてみると、ぼくが日本に来た年に生まれた子どもたちは、そろそろ高校入学を迎える。月日が経つのはなかなか早いものだ。

また、本だからできることですが、表紙を開くと、点字でタイトル・著者名・出版社名が印刷されています。触ると凸凹がわかります。

9　裸足から二足のわらじへ
10　スピード違反婚
11　寿司が証明した赤い糸
12　見えない敵との闘い。そして・・・
おわりに

には、スーダン障害者教育支援の会設立の経緯、結婚、そして第一子出産直前に東日本大震災が発生し東電福島原発事故がおきたことから急きょ北九州へ移動し出産を迎えた経緯が記されています。

東日本大震災が世界に報じられた直後、スーダンから「帰ってこい」と電話がかかってきたという話、2011年6月・7月に開催した在日アフリカ人の被災体験とその後についてのシンポジウム、座談会でのやりとりを思い出しました。

アブディン君の結婚が決まった時、お祝いの電話をかけてきた親戚や友人たちがみんな涙声だったというあたりに、スーダンの人々が結婚にかける思いを感じました（結婚が決まるまでの過程も興味深いです）。

今、本を読んで気になったところをウェブで探したところ、加筆された部分だということがわかりました。「はじめに」だけでなく、手が入っているのですね。

---
1　トライ（渡来）
038ｐ
　子どものころ、ぼくら兄弟が勉強もせず遊びほうけていると、よく「あのね、あなたたちはよその子たちと違って、身体をつかった仕事ができないのよ？大学に進んで、弁護士だとか、視覚を使わなくてもできる食に就かないと飢え死にするわよ」と、言い聞かせてくれたのも母だった。
---

これを読んで、2007年8月に開いた座談会「視覚障害者が高等教育機関で学ぶ　スーダンと日本の経験を語る」でアブディン君が、

僕が思うには、高等教育を必要としない、例えば重労働といった就職先もあるのですけれども、そういった面では障害者は競争できないので、どちらかといえばやっぱり高い教育を受けて、そこで差別化を図る必要性があるんじゃないかなと思うのです。
（座談会記録全文は、http://www.arsvi.com/2000/070809.htm　で公開）

と語っていたのは、お母さん譲りのことばだったのかと知りました。

母親がどういった姿勢で障害児にあたるのかって、ほんとに大きい、と改めて感じます。

【付記】
　『わが盲想は、発売日と同時にテキストデイジー版が、視覚障害者用インターネット・ライブラリー「サピエ」にアップされています。本に添付された引き換え券を出版社に郵送して、それからテキスト版をもらって、パソコンの合成音声で読むのに比べると、はるかに本のスタイルに近い読み物になっていますし、パソコンにダウンロードすればいいだけなので、視覚障害者にとってはより便利な方法です。ポプラ社からテキストの提供があり、日本点字図書館でテキストデイジーを製作し「サピエ」にアップロードしました。墨字本の発売と同時に視覚障害者も読んでいます。
　このように各出版社がテキストデータの提供を積極的にしてくれることが理想につながります。

WHEN parents welcome a child into the world, they look forward to a lot of things to happen as he or she grows up.

Many enjoy moments when a child starts to pronounce the words Mama and Papa (mother and father) and often share the news with friends on social networks that include Facebook, Twitter and Whatsup. Others take pictures and videos of the first steps a child takes as they attempt to walk.

It indeed is a special moment that any parent would want to experience and talk about. But, for others like Mrs Lorraine Mujaji of Chikanga in Mutare such happy tales are for others.

Her tales are not of joy, but of the pain she experiences when she watches her son go through a "hellish" life each day.

Her son, Tinashe (15), has severe cerebral palsy and has been confined to his wheelchair for years.

Cerebral palsy is a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development chiefly in the various areas of body movement.

It is caused by damage to the motor control centres of the developing brain and can occur during childbirth or after birth up to the age of three.

A 2007 six-country survey conducted in the US found an incidence of CP of 2,12 to 2,45 per 1 000 live births indicating a slight rise in recent years.

For Tinashe, the condition has left him with speech and language disorders, involuntary movements and weakness.

He cannot walk or run with other children his age, eat solid food, bath or go to the toilet on his own.

Despite Zimbabwe having policies and legislation in place guaranteeing universal primary education for disabled children like Tinashe, this is not happening as the schools to cater for such severe conditions are few and where available sometimes extremely expensive.

On the other hand, the Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the human rights of all children, including those with disabilities under Article 23 which states "State parties recognise that a mentally or physically disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child's active participation in the community."

Article 13 of the ACRWC also states: "Every child who is mentally or physically disabled shall have the right to special measures of protection in keeping with his physical and moral needs and under conditions which ensure his dignity, promote his self-reliance and active participation in the community."

Sadly, despite Government and international efforts to have children like Tinashe in school and enjoy basic human rights, he has never been to any sort of school as there are none to cater for his severe condition in Mutare.

Many other children with his condition in Chikanga also do not go to school and spend their life glued to wheelchairs and in the company of their mothers.

"We once visited the school of psychology and told them that my son is not in school to see if they could help. They told me to go to King George VI in Bulawayo where he could be enrolled.

"I could not go there because I stay too far from Bulawayo. In fact, it would be expensive for us to take him there as we are poor," says Tinashe's mother, Mrs Mujaji.

Tinashe, she says, needs round the clock attention and she has to be always there for him.

Her life now only revolves around him, she cannot go out to fend for the family.

"It becomes difficult each day because he has to eat special food since he cannot chew properly. I feed him with mashed potatoes and porridge. Sometimes I do not have money to buy potatoes and peanut butter making his life more difficult," she laments.

Since Tinashe cannot go to the toilet on his own, he requires diapers, which are sometimes not available.

Tinashe's mother belongs to a support group, Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZPHCA) Mutare branch.

Under this group many mothers of children with severe disabilities meet to offer psychological support to each other.

Another member of the group, Thandiwe Chirumiko, whose daughter Shylet also has cerebral palsy, says their children face serious stigma in the communities they hail from.

The stigma, she says, starts with family as Shylet's father abandoned them when he discovered she was disabled.

She says it is sad that many people often believe that children with disabilities only face food, sanitary and education challenges. Accommodation, she says is one of the major challenges faced by disabled children with parents who do not own homes.

"I remember when we found a room to rent at a certain house in Chikange. I never told the landlord that my daughter is disabled and moved in the same night.

"Upon noticing that Shylet has severe cerebral palsy, the landlord said she could not stay with us and gave us back our money the following morning.

"I have also come across people who will agree to rent out their homes but call me a few hours later to decline my offer. This usually happens when they hear that my daughter is disabled. I have learnt to live with such and am happy that we have somewhere to stay now," she bemoaned.

Jenny Deke, whose son also has severe cerebral palsy said, the families need a good source of income to sustain themselves and take care of their children's needs.

"The United Nations Children's Fund once sponsored a programmed that resulted in mothers with disabled children receiving sewing and knitting machines for our project a few years back. The machines broke down and we do not know what to do," said Deke.

She adds that the only way they have currently devised to raise money to buy diapers and other needs is through putting money as little as US$20 per month in a pool. Those in dire need of it that month can borrow and return it with a little interest. The borrowed money is, however, never enough to cater for their disabled children's needs as they are too complex.

For now, their situation is between a rock and a hard place. They just put everything in God's hands, hoping that one day, their children's situation will be better one day. It's not all gloom as other children like Tashinga whose cerebral palsy is not too serious have had an opportunity to attend school.

Tashinga and other children with disabilities, including mental illness, Down's syndrome and autism are in two Resource Unit classes, RU1 and RU2 at Zamba Primary School also in Mutare.

In these classes, the children between eight and 21 years are taught basic life skills, reading and writing, athletics among other activities. The children in RU1 have serious handicaps, but not as severe as Tinashe's, while those in RU2 have mild handicaps, says the RU2 teacher

Mirriam Gondo, who is a psychologist, said most of the children in her class are from poor families and do not have proper school uniforms.

"Some come to school wearing torn uniforms, others do not have jerseys and have to endure this cold weather," she said.

The classrooms do not have adequate learning materials like blocks, colouring books and chairs. The children learn while sitting on the carpet.

Acting school head Mrs Enery Dzumbira said the disabled children's fees are paid through the Basic Assisted Education Modul, though sadly they have not received any payment in the past three years.

Luckily for these children, the school has not turned them away for non- payment of the fees.

Teacher-in-charge Mrs Fenny Mudede said some disabled children's performance in the RU classes had improved resulting in the school moving them to the main Grade 1 classes.

Tinashe and many children with cerebral palsy in Zimbabwe and worldwide face similar challenges daily. While it is somewhat difficult to determine precise data on population of children living with a disability in Zimbabwe, the 2002 census says there are 349 000 people with disabilities living in Zimbabwe almost 25 percent of whom were under the age of 19 at the time of the census.

The World Health Organisation data suggests that up to 10 percent of the total population of each country may have some form of disability; by this estimate more than 600 000 children in Zimbabwe may have a disability, however, this includes minor disabilities which do not significantly impair functioning, as well as more profound disability.

Zimbabwe will on June 30 patiently awaits the launch of the State of the World Children's Report 2013 whose theme is "Children with Disabilities".

Too often, children with disabilities experience stigma from birth and are more prone to exclusion, concealment, abandonment, institutionalisation and abuse. Compared to their peers, they are routinely denied access to health, education and social services. They are often excluded from opportunities to participate in their communities, and are more vulnerable to violence and abuse.

HIV positive children with disabilities are less likely to receive treatment than non-disabled children (Akwara et al 2010) while children with disabilities are less likely to go to school than their non- disabled peers and disabled girls are likely to find their access to education even more limited (Lang and Charowa 2007; Eide et al 2003) Unicef says they promote the principle of inclusiveness in all its work.

"For children with disabilities this means systematically addressing and incorporating measures that challenge discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for children with disabilities into all programmatic, operational and organisational activities. Specialist assistance which ensures equity for all children in realising their rights will be offered."

With such global interest and awareness on disability issues, hopefully stories of children with disabilities being among the most marginalised and excluded groups of children will become fewer.

Atim spends her time knitting table cloth. She drooped out of school in P6 because her father could not afford fees for both daughters. Her sister Ationo is now in S3. PHOTO/Andrew Masinde newvision

Eunice Atim and Sarah Ationo live with their father, Alex Ekolu, in Orimai cell in Amolatar town. Ekolu’s joy of having healthy and ‘normal’children was short-lived after Atim suffered a dislocation, one year after her birth.

“It started like a joke and by the time I realised just how serious it had become, it was too late,” Ekolu says.

“I took her to Lira Hospital, where I was told the baby had weak bones. They put her limbs in a cast, which instead caused permanent problems,” he laments.

He went from hospital to hospital, but the money was never enough, so he opted to look after the girl at home.

Ekolu adds that initially, he thought it was witchcraft until he saw another child with the same condition.

Like Atim, his second daughter, Ationo, was also born with weak bones. He again went to hospitals and traditional healers, but none could do much to help the condition.

“I learnt to live with them the way they are, because it is God who gave me these children and he had a reason,” he says.

However, despite his commitment to raise his daughters, he could not afford wheelchairs for both of them.

Ekolu thought he could get help from the office for the disabled in Amolatar district, but nothing was done. “They sent people who took my daughters’details and promised to bring for them wheelchairs, but they never returned.

"For the love of seeing my daughters go to school, I decided to buy wheelbarrows to transport them. I hired people to push them, but when they stopped I decided to do it myself,” Ekolu says.

Ekolu pushing his daughter, Atim, in her wheelbarrow. Atim says like her sister, Ationo, she too wants a wheelchair. PHOTO/Andrew Masinde

Just when he was about to give up with the girls’ education, a Good Samaritan donated a wheelchair for Ationo and she was able to proceed with her education. She is now in S3.

Unfortunately, Atim has not had the same luck. At least not yet. She does not have a wheelchair and at some point, her father stopped pushing her to school in the wheelbarrow. This meant that her education would also come to a stop. She dropped out of school in P6.

Today, Atim stays at home. She spends most of her time knitting table cloths, a skill she learnt from her late mother. When she needs to move, there is always the wheelbarrow and someone must be there to push her to her destination.

Atim seems to have got tired of visitors, especially those who she believes use her condition for their own survival. It took hours to convince her that the interview was with a newspaper reporter, not an NGO.

“Let me hope that what you are going to write will help me get a wheelchair because I am tired of lying in this wheelbarrow like luggage,” she made it clear.

“When I get a wheelchair I want to go back to school and maybe, one day, become a leader for the disabled people in Amolatar, because the ones in place do not serve the purpose,” she added.

“In class, Atim was a brilliant girl. She was always among the best and I had hope that she would go far with her education. But poverty is a disease that has made me fail to help her continue with her education. She knows that I would never just abandon her education,” Ekolu says.

Though Ekolu has another wife in his life now, he still avails himself to push his daughter wherever she wants to go. He says he can never let anything bad happen to them.

He also calls on the Government to strengthen the office of the disabled because Amolatar has a big number of children and people who are disabled, but do not receive any support.

He would like those who are benefiting on behalf of those suffering, especially people who claim to be running NGOs, to be punished. He says NGO representatives have come to him, but none has ever helped.

Four protesters are in hospital in critical condition after clashes with security forces

A group of disabled persons who were protesting outside of the Sharqeya governorate building were attacked and physically assaulted by security forces on Sunday.

As a result, four of the protesters were admitted into hospital, two of whom are suffering from concussions.

The attacks came after protests outside of the Sharqeya governorate building, with those present demanding their right to work, proper housing, education and health care, according to Muhamed Abou Zikri, a lawyer at Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR).

Abou Zikri claimed that the attacks were sparked by an argument between the protesters and several microbus drivers in the area.

Security forces then attacked the protesters, while the drivers disappeared from the scene, according to Abou Zikri.

He said that the ECESR has sent lawyers to Sharqeya to investigate what happened.

Two organisations concerned with disabled persons rights, the Civil Council for People with Disabilities and the People with Disabilities Syndicate, are currently discussing their legal stance with the ECESR and planning a media outreach campaign.

El-Seba’y Bahei El-Din, a member of the Beheira Subcommittee of the National Council of Disability, said that a similar case occurred in October 2012, when a number of disabled persons were protesting outside the Presidential Palace.

“People with disabilities are suffering throughout the country, but they are suffering even more in Sharqeya,” Bahei El- Din said.

He said that the former governor of Sharqeya had hired a large number of disabled people, with salaries of EGP 80 per month.

Bahei El-Din added that there are between 12 and 15 million people with disabilities in Egypt, which is reason enough for the state to start addressing their rights and needs.

South Africa: Statement By Basic Eduaction Minister Angie Motshekga On the Results of the Supplementary Exams

I am pleased to announce the results of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Supplementary Examinations. The exams commenced on 11 February 2013 and concluded on Tuesday, 19 March 2013. The exams took place in 5 288 centres and there were 12 marking centres with 3 072 markers involved. The marking process across provinces commenced on 20 March 2013 and was successfully concluded on 7 April 2013.

The Department of Basic Education ensured that all processes that usually accompany a high-stakes exit-level examination were fully accomplished in this examination. The DBE is responsible for the setting of all question papers for the NSC examination to ensure adherence to national norms and standards, as defined in the National Education Policy Act of 1996.

A total of 86 113 candidates enrolled for the NSC Supplementary Examination in February/March 2013 and 62 682 candidates finally wrote the examination. Of the 62 682 candidates that wrote the supplementary examination, the larger number are candidates that wrote the 2012 November examination and are now retaking the examination to improve their results.

A small number are those who were absent for the November examination, based on medical reasons or other reasons that are regarded as valid reasons for missing an examination. A small number of candidates (33) registered to write all subjects and these are candidates that may have missed the entire examination due to ill health or other special circumstances.

The total number of candidates that enrolled for the 2013 NSC Supplementary Examination was less than the candidates who enrolled in 2012. The number of enrolments in 2012 was 91 250 and 68 116 candidates finally wrote the Supplementary Examination in 2012.

The decrease in enrolment in 2013 is understandable, given the improved pass rate in 2013, which will justify a lower number of candidates seeking to write the Supplementary Examination. However, it is of concern that a significant number of candidates that enrolled for the examination did not show up across all Provincial Education Departments (PEDs).

In 2013, a total of 23 431 candidates did not pitch to write the examination, with KwaZulu-Natal recording the highest number of "no-shows" (8 531) followed by the Eastern Cape (5 901). The 27% of candidates that registered but did not arrive to write the examination has serious implications in terms of costs incurred in the running of this examination.

The Supplementary 2013 question papers were set and moderated concurrently with the question papers for the November 2012 examination to ensure that these papers are of comparable standard, given that these two examinations are regarded as one sitting. External moderators from Umalusi verified, evaluated and approved all question papers.

The rigorous external moderation process ensured that the question papers were of high quality and of an appropriate standard. All question papers were set within the secure environment of the DBE offices.

A total of 262 question papers were set by the DBE for the November 2012 and Supplementary 2013 examinations, with 130 of these question papers set for the Supplementary Examination. In order to cater for learners with special needs, a total of 23 question papers were brailled for blind learners and 13 papers were adapted for deaf learners.

There was an overall reduction in the number of irregularities in all provinces. The examination was conducted with integrity and without any serious irregularity which could compromise the integrity of the examination, as a whole.

The reported irregularities prevalent during the writing of the 2013 Supplementary Examination across the PEDs included: copying; crib notes; late start of examination sessions due to technical problems, possession of unauthorised material by candidates, candidates with no or improper identification, candidates whose names/examination numbers did not appear on the mark sheet, and candidates who did not receive admission letters, despite having registered. All these challenges were dealt with appropriately and did not affect the integrity of the examinations.

The Supplementary Examination is part of the November 2012 NSC examination. Therefore, there is no separate standardisation process for the Supplementary Examination results. The standardisation decisions of the November 2012 examination are applied to the Supplementary Examination results.

The School-Based Assessment (SBA) marks submitted for the November examinations are also used for candidates who write this examination.

The results of the candidates are made available at the centre of registration. A statement of results reflecting the Supplementary results, as well as a statement with combined results, is presented.

A summary of the gains emanating from the 2013 Supplementary Examination is as follows:

the total number of candidates that achieved the NSC has increased from 377 829 to 392 178, an increase of 14 349 candidates;

the total number of candidates that obtained admission to Higher Certificate studies has increased from 88 604 to 98 256, an increase of 9 652 candidates;

the number of candidates that obtained an admission to Diploma studies has increased from 152 881 to 156 148, an increase of 3 267 candidates

the number of candidates that obtained admission to Bachelor studies has increased from 136 047 to 137 251, which is an increase of 1204 candidates.

The overall pass rate has increased from 73.9% to 75.6%, which confirms that the Department of Basic Education should be capable of attaining its targeted pass rate of 75% in the 2013 NSC examination.

A group of ‘children of the liberation struggle' demonstrated in Windhoek yesterday after the death of their peer in police cells on Saturday.

They alleged that police assaulted Titus Mweshininga Iita (31) twice - first on 05 March then on 14 March - while he was incarcerated at the Katutura Police Station.

According to Phil Ya Nangoloh of NamRights, the late Iita, who was deaf, was allegedly denied medical treatment.

Ya Nangoloh demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the ‘ struggle kids' detained in police custody.

Some struggle kids narrated their ordeals at the hands of police officers claiming that they were fed only two slices of bread with tea or coffee and that police inserted fingers in their backsides to search for hidden cellphones.

They condemned the arbitrary arrest and detention under the most cruel, inhuman or degrading conditions at Katutura police station, Wanaheda police station, Hosea Kutako police station, Seeis, Dordabis and Windhoek Central Prison.

Other complaints the struggle kids made against the police were that they were not informed of their rights, tried in a hostile court consisting of hostile magistrates and state witnesses. They claimed that they were subjected to physically and brutally assault by police, denied medical treatment for various conditions, held under most inhumane and degrading conditions and were also not allowed visits and at times tried behind closed doors and without legal representation.

“It's unconstitutional to try people behind closed doors,” Ya Nangoloh said.

Kalenga Josef (29) said Iita might have died because he was denied TB treatment by the police.

Inspector Ismael Basson, the officer in charge at the Katutura police station, referred all questions to their public relations department.

Namibian Exile Kids Association (Neka) general secretary Rauna Amutati said that Iita was part of the group which had a confrontation with the police but Neka was still waiting for the outcome of the post-mortem.

The group demonstrated outside the Katutura police station where they handed over a petition before proceeding to the house were the memorial service for Iita was to be held.

MBABANE - The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs has summoned the SNCAC to explain about the ongoing problems surrounding the upcoming Miss Deaf Queen Africa pageant.

SNCAC stands for Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture. The ministry wants SNCAC to explain the reasons why the SNCAC had challenges in dealing with the issues surrounding the Miss Deaf Beauty Pageant.

SNCAC has since been told to prepare a report where they are expected to explain the reasons why they seem to have challenges in hosting the Miss Deaf Queen Africa. The pageant is expected to be held in September and the country had been given the rights of hosting it this year. Among other things, SNCAC has to explain how the country got the rights of hosting the pageant.

Also part of the report would be on the resignation of Nokuthula Mbatha, who was the main organiser of the Miss Deaf Beauty Pageant. Mbatha resigned two weeks ago citing unworkable conditions within the organisation.Stanley Dlamini, SNCAC Chief Executive Officer, confirmed that they had been summoned by the ministry. Dlamini said they would soon be preparing a report that would then be handed over to the ministry’s Principal Secretary Sicelo Dlamini.

“We have been summoned by the ministry. This came after it was discovered that there were a lot of issues involving the organisation of the beauty pageant to be held in September. During our meeting with the PS, we were advised to prepare a report and send it to the ministry as soon as possible.”

Dlamini did not want to get into the details of the report saying they would only submit everything to the PS. “It would not be proper for me to mention the details on the matter because it is now being handled by the ministry. Ours is to submit our report and the ministry will then decide on the next move. The only thing I can confirm is that we have met the PS and he wants the report. The only time we will be in a position to mention some of the problems is when we have delivered the report.”
The PS could not be reached for comment as his phone rang unanswered. The PS was last called yesterday at 3pm.

MBABANE - Resigned Miss Deaf pageant director Nokuthula Mbatha says she is hurting because she loved the pageant.
Mbatha revealed that she had already secured 10 sponsors for this year’s pageant including those for the Miss Deaf Africa which is set for September.

“About four of the sponsors have informed me that they can no longer continue with the pageant because they do not want to associate themselves with controversy. This is sad for me because I had so much love for the pageant,” she said.

Mbatha said she was hoping that the next person who would take over the pageant would be one with passion for the deaf.
“I hope the new director will run it successfully and be concerned with the deaf people,” she said.

MBABANE - The ministry will decide if the country will continue to host the Miss Deaf Queen Africa Beauty Pageant.

The pageant is expected to be held in the country in September this year. September was chosen because it is the month for people living with disability. Stanley Dlamini, SNCAC Chief Executive Officer, said for now it was difficult to say if the pageant will continue or not following the fact that they have been summoned and told to prepare the report.

“We will be preparing the report and on the report, we will then put our recommendations. “The ministry will then make a call probably after we have submitted the report. It would not be easy to say if the pageant would be held or not up until everything has been finalised by the ministry,” he said.

DailyPost Nigeria
By Feyi Afisunlu on May 28, 2013
Pin It Sunday Ogunola: Deaf and dumb BRT bus driver

A 33-year-old deaf and dumb commercial driver, Sunday Ogunola was arrested by officials of the Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit with passengers in his bus who were unaware that he was deaf and dumb.

DailyPost gathered that Ogunola, who was driving a Volkswagen Faragon bus popularly called “danfo” painted in Lagos state’s colour with registration, XW 724 EKY, was apprehended for violating a restricting law that prevents both private and commercial vehicles from plying the reserved BRT lane.

The culprit, who is also married to a deaf and dumb expectant mother of two claimed he had been driving since 1999.

It was while questioning him, that it was discovered that he was handicapped and could only communicate through writing.

He said he normally plies the Ajah-Lekki-CMS-Eko Hotel route and that he had once been arrested on BRT lane in the past and was let off the hook after he pleaded.

Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman said he was shocked that the driver could not hear or speak when asked questions, saying that he constituted serious danger to life and the safety of passengers.

He lamented that despite his predicament, he drove on the BRT lane, which was why he was arrested initially, adding that he has been driving for a long time.

“When we asked him questions, he couldn’t reply us. He cannot even hear or speak, but he can write. We don’t expect him to be driving other people. He cannot even come up with a valid driver’s licence.

“He is liable for his action. He was arrested with passengers in his bus on BRT lane. We are going to look for the owner of the vehicle and charge him to court. We are holding him back here so that we can get the owner of the bus,” Sulaiman said.

In Botswana, solar-powered hearing aids uplift hearing impaired By Dave Mayers | May 28, 2013, 3:00 AM PDT

JOHANNESBURG - After the NGO he was working at folded, Tendekayi Katsiga landed himself a good job at Debswana, the huge diamond company formed as a partnership between Botswana and DeBeers. It seemed like fate ? working for the world’s largest diamond company in the world’s leading producer. But Katsiga’s job left him feeling empty. His years of work with the hearing impaired had put him in contact with people with hearing loss across Botswana, people that faced seemingly intractable problems that he felt he could ease. The electrical engineer left the diamond company and helped develop an affordable solar charger for hearing aid batteries.

Now, in partnership with American businessman Howard Weinstein, Katsiga ’s company is helping train a workforce of hearing-impaired people across three continents to assemble and distribute the award-winning Solar Ear, a hearing aid and solar-powered battery charger meant to improve the lives of those with hearing loss in the developing world.

Katsiga said that the hearing impaired “have the potential to empower [their communities]. If given a chance, they can realize their dreams.”

But all too often in places like Gaborone ? where the Solar Ear is assembled in Botswana ? the hearing impaired are left isolated from society. “Most of the deaf people in Africa are marginalized,” Katsiga said. “They don’t have a chance to live normal lives. Eighty percent of them live in poverty.”

A video from The Tech Museum of Innovation’s 2009 Tech Awards The Solar Ear was designed to drastically reduce the cost of buying and maintaining a hearing aid, making it available for large numbers of people. Conventional devices usually retail for between $1,000 and $6, 000, and they go through expensive batteries almost every week. A Solar Ear kit, on the other hand, consists of a hearing aid, solar charger and four rechargeable batteries for $300. The German-made batteries also last about a week, but they can be recharged from the sun for nearly three years.

Almost 10,000 of the units have been distributed across Botswana, Brazil and the West Bank. Katsiga’s employees have helped train workers with hearing loss in Solar Ear assembly plants around the world. “The job market is not really for hearing-impaired people,” Katsiga said, adding that Solar Ear’s primary mission is to empower those with hearing loss.

The World Health Organization estimates that 360 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss. Yet only 10 percent of the global need for hearing aids is met. The WHO adds that “in developing countries, children with hearing loss and deafness rarely receive any schooling. Adults with hearing loss also have a much higher unemployment rate.”

While Solar Ear can be used by anyone, the product is aimed at children. “If you give a child a hearing aid,” Katsiga said, “it will give them an opportunity to participate in school.”

Solar Ear chargers being soldered in Cape Town While significantly less than most hearing aids, $300 is still a huge amount for a poor household. Solar Ear has moved to offset that cost by partnering with local NGOs and government bodies. The goal is to get the devices into the hands of the people who need it free of charge.

The latest iteration of the Solar Ear can recharge 3 batteries at once, which takes between 2-3 hours in direct sunlight. The improved charger can also operate under household light or even with a Nokia cell phone charger (one of the most common makes in poorer communities).

In hopes of driving down the cost even further, Katsiga and Weinstein have not patented the device. It’s open source, available for people to make and distribute on their own.

The duo also plans to release the device in Ghana, Kenya, China and Singapore in coming years.

Informante
New hope for deaf children
WRITTEN BY RINELDA MOUTON WEDNESDAY, 29 MAY 2013 19:43

Seven-year-old, Mario Uakapita, who is the best student at the Children with Language, Speech and Hearing Impairments of Namibia (CLaSH) Preschool Unit in Windhoek feels blessed to be a learner at CLaSH.

He says that he feels at home and now has the opportunity to make his dreams come true. Sebedeus Kuveza, the father of one of the learners, said that he is happy about the school’s existence.

He told Informante that his child was unhappy, found it difficult to socialise, and did not have any friends before she joined CLaSH.

“A few days after she was enrolled I could already see a difference. She has made friends and learned how to communicate. My family also had the opportunity to learn sign language.

Now we all can communicate with her.” Kuveza said. The children from CLaSH’s Preschool Unit may not hear, but their dreams towards a brighter future became a reality when they received funding this week.

The child care unit, which was founded in 1989 and is based at the SOS Kindergarten in the capital, received an amount of N$3,9 million from the European Union (EU) for the launch of the Empowerment Through Education project.

The chairman of the CLaSH board, Wolfgang Keding, said that another milestone has been achieved. He said that CLaSH cannot achieve its mission alone.

“With this funding we are looking forward to assist more children and families and to provide them with the necessary tools to live a successful life.”

The Head of the EU Delegation to Namibia, Ambassador Raul Fuentes Milani said,“Through the funding we are confident that social exclusion and marginalisation in Namibia will be addressed by way of promoting public awareness about hearing loss in children and by advocating for early identification and empowerment of children.”

MBABANE - Hardly two weeks after resigning from being the head of the Miss Deaf Beauty Pageant, Nokuthula Mbatha has revealed why she resigned from the pageant.

Mbatha, who has been behind the pageant since 2010, said she resigned after being told that she had no licence to run the pageant.
She confirmed that she was never given a proper licence but only communicated with the relevant stakeholders verbally and through letters. The only thing she was given when she started was a letter of appointment.

She said she was surprised when she was told that she had to have a licence for hosting both the Miss Deaf Beauty Contest and the Miss Deaf Queen Africa. She said what confused her was that for the past three years, she had been hosting the pageant successfully and no one asked her about a licence.

“When I started the pageant in 2010, most people never thought it would be successful. Through the vision I had, I was able to take the pageant from high school level to national level. All along, I have not been receiving support from the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture (SNCAC),” he said.

Mbatha said from time to time, she would inform Stanley Dlamini, SNCAC Chief Executive Officer, about the pageant. “I informed them that this year’s pageant would be held together with the Miss Deaf Queen Africa. All was well up until a few weeks ago when I was told that I had no licence to host the pageant. To me it was as if SNCAC wanted to have full control over the pageant and that is why I then decided to call it a day,” said Mbatha.

She said she had done a lot to have the pageant recognised by a number of sponsors in the country and, therefore, she never understood the reason why she was suddenly asked about a licence.

“There is nothing else that made me to resign except the fact that I thought they wanted me out of the pageant. There were no reasons why I would have stayed in such a situation. Resigning and handing over everything back to SNCAC was the best thing I could have done. This frustrated me and I could not take it anymore,” she said.

Mbatha said she never regrets the precious time and money she wasted while still in charge of the pageant. She said she had already informed all the stakeholders she had been working with and they seem to understand her reasons for quitting. “I tried to nurse the situation but it all never worked. I know this decision has affected a lot of people especially those who were interested in sponsoring and taking part in the project,” she said.

MBABANE - Nokuthula Mbatha said she has been accused of having a relationship with Stanley Dlamini, SNCAC Chief Executive Officer.

Mbatha says she has been receiving calls from people, some of them who are close to her, accusing her of being in love with Dlamini.

She said the rumours were so serious such that most people thought that she resigned from the Miss Deaf Beauty Pageant because her relationship with the CEO had turned sour.

“No no no, I am prepared to die for that, I do not know even his hug. These rumours make me angry,” she said. Mbatha said she never understood why people associated her with the CEO because she had never been in love with him. “When I first got to know about these accusations, I felt very sad because I did not understand where they come from. There was no one to ask and I knew no one would have the proper answer. This has got me worried because I am being accused of something that is not true,” she said. Mbatha said while still in charge of the pageant she worked with a number of people and, therefore, she did not understand why people concentrated specifically on Dlamini.

“I am one person who talks to everyone I come across. I believe in making new friends and also believe in being professional. I have tried to stick to my principles and, therefore, I do not understand why I am being accused of something I do not know,” she said. Mbatha said she had tried to explain to some of the people who have asked her about the rumours that it was not true that she was in love with Dlamini.

AllAfrica.com
BY MAGRETH NUNUHE, 29 MAY 2013
RELATED TOPICS
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Windhoek - Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga has dismissed as malicious and wild allegations by NamRights against the police following the death of one of the 'children of the liberation struggle' while in police custody.

Titus Mweshininga Iita died in the Katutura State Hospital on Saturday after being admitted at the beginning of May.

NamRights alleges that Iita was brutally assaulted by the police when the 'struggle kids' were forcefully evicted on March 14 from an area they were occupying along Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street in Katutura, opposite the Swapo Party headquarters. He did not receive immediate medical attention and eventually succumbed to internal injuries, NamRights says.

NamRights executive director Phil Ya Nangoloh condemned the arrest of the 'struggle kids' and the human rights organization is calling for their immediate release.

In a statement, NamRights says Iita's death is an example of "police brutality" since the deceased, who was apparently deaf, had needed an urgent operation but was allegedly never operated on leading to his death.

Ya Nangoloh further alleges that "in the final analysis, the real and true reason for arresting and detaining these people is exclusively in order to intimidate them, silence them, isolate them and keep them out of public view, as well as for government to pretend the CLS (Children of the Liberation Struggle) problem, just like that, faded away."

But Ndeitunga dismissed what he described as malicious allegations made against the police and government and said the police are currently gathering evidence to inform the local and international community about the incident. "What we are saying is that in a democratic society, there are basic freedoms and human rights that need to be respected by all government and state institutions," said Ndeitunga. He said policing in a democracy means to protect and enforce those basic human rights and to ensure that those provisions in the constitution are respected.

He said police officers are prohibited from assaulting suspects in custody and suspects should in fact be even more free when under the care of law enforcement, because every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty. "Assault is part of torture and torture is totally prohibited under our laws," he pointed out, adding that the police are only allowed by law to use minimum force if circumstances dictate such a course of action.

Ndeitunga said police officers are trained to ensure that they do not use excessive force even when acting in self-defence and officers who go against that principle would make themselves guilty of misconduct and criminal liability. "Therefore, it should be well understood that the police are not mandated to assault anyone, nor are the public mandated to assault police officers," he said. Ndeitunga further said unfortunately they were dealing with human beings and some police officers' attitudes are contrary to the rules.

He said the police would provide more facts regarding the case in due course since a post-mortem and investigation of the incident is still underway.

Namibia
Bringing Learning to Life - Making Video Work for You eLearning Africa 2013 will be hosting a series of video-themed sessions in Windhoek this year. Increasingly video is … see more ≫

FRANCISTOWN: Disabled models from various schools left a Tati River Lodge (TRL) audience awe-struck as they invaded the fashion ramp showcasing an array of extravagant designs last Saturday.

The fashion show had participants from schools like Aerodrome and Phatlhogo Primary schools, Centre of Deaf and Lentswe la Ba na le Bogole Association.The first ever fashion show of its kind to be held in Francistown for people living with disability, it brought the most extravagant, chic and stylish fashion designs from the local fashion designing industry together.To say the show was eye-catching would be an understatement looking at the intermittent ululations from the audience that cheered its voice hoarse. In a nutshell, the models did what they knew best on the ramp, leaving an indelible mark in the memories of the audience in the process.

It was certainly a multi-faceted statement by the reigning Miss Independence, Goitseone Tshimologo, who came up with the show that she dubbed "I'm fashion abled"."This fashion show was a way of showing that disabled people have the right to everything as well and they do not need to shy away from the public because of their disabilities," she said.Tshimologo stated that with this fashion show they would be able to provide a platform for people living with disabilities to showcase their talents.

"This was also to encourage fashion designers to consider and cater for people living with disabilities and to encourage positive living amongst themselves (the disabled)," she said.More often, she said, disabled people are never given an opportunity to showcase themselves adding that they are also faced with many daunting challenges."These challenges include discrimination, unfavourable societal and countless barriers and they end up living in isolation," she said.

Local fashion designers Fashion Tips, Mosgape Jeans, Simba Designers, Kappeb Designers, Murch Designers, Opposite Designers and Francistown We Go Hard T-shirts dressed the models.Gwap Goons, Querap, Madala and the Mad Girls, Question Mark and DJ Slim had the audience in their feet with beautiful tunes.The event was sponsored by Senn Foods, Dikgang Publishing Company (Mmegi/Monitor), Golden Brands, Ngwana Enterprise, Adansonia Hotel, Tati River Lodge, and Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA).

AllAfrica.com
29 MAY 2013
RELATED TOPICS
Nigeria
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To celebrate this year's Children's Day, FirstBank of Nigeria prepared the children for a rock-solid financial future, writes Nume Horsfall

It was momentous. The children looked relaxed and expectant as they filed in. Some of them have been customers having opened accounts with the FirstBank, others were not. It was a mixture of physically challenged and able body children. In a moment the light inside the expansive cinema hall went off. Then it began with a sound of music.

At an exclusive cinema screenings in Lagos and Abuja the FirstBank of Nigeria thrilled children with films that the bank hope will help support their future just as it unveiled a comprehensive programme that included three new products, exciting content partnerships, a dynamic and interactive new website and Cooporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) activities.

Perhaps realising the imperative of building financial discipline amongst young people, the FirstBank said the new initiative was aimed at creating a platform that encourages savings culture amongst children while also engaging, entertaining and rewarding them.

Speaking during the cinema show in Lagos, Head of Marketing and Cooporate Communications of the bank, Mrs Folake Ani-Mumuney said the partnership with LEGO signposts the bank's quest to create a platform for Nigerian children to express their creative talents, deploy their innate abilities to something positive while also instilling in them the culture of financial discipline.

She said: "In choosing LEGO as our partner for this project, we considered their brand values of creativity, fun, learning, caring and quality. All these resonate with us because they are values we hold dear. We are passionate about impacting the lives of today's children in a positive way because we believe the future of this country is in their hands."

According to her, the initiative was targeted at children between the age of 0 - 24.

Acknowledging the huge differences in the needs and interests of those within this age segment, she said the bank created sub-segments in order to provide more relevant and useful products and benefits to its young customers.

"These sub-segments are 0-12, comprising pre-school and primary school students; 13-17, comprising junior and senior secondary school students and 18-24, comprising young adults. Each sub-segment has its owned tailored product and 360 engagement programme," she explained, adding that one of the strongest values of this initiative was the fact that all account holders have the benefit of operating their accounts even after crossing the age bar for each segment.

The Managing Director, Arc Lights Ltd, the exclusive representative and distributor of LEGO Education in Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Obasanya said: "What we are doing is that we are partnering with FirstBank to give children the opportunity to have LEGO which is a creative tool that has positive impacts on the child's creativity."

He said: "We have exciting products such as LEGO chima, LEGO friends, and LEGO education which we provide in schools to aid the teaching of sciences such as computer science, technology, engineering and mathematics and it is a lot of fun for us and the FirstBank. The bank is a credible partner with over 100 years history while LEGO is over 85 years as a company and we feel that the children of this generation should also be given that opportunity, especially that the economy is better and there is an emerging middle class just as more people want good education for their children and are looking for quality toy that would help develop a child mentally."

For Mrs. Remi Falae, a parent whose children were part of the celebration, it was a time to celebrate with the children. She said: "I have three children and they all have kidsFirst account which they have had for the past six years. I pay a certain amount from my salary every month and I am highly impressed with FirstBank so much that I told my children to forfeit the Children's Day programme in their school and so far it has been quite interesting watching the kids enjoy themselves here."

FirstBank's Head of Cooporate Social Responsibility, Ismail Omamegbe said: "This is one of our programmes called kidsFirst and it came about as part of our support for young people as a responsible cooporate organisation. Usually part of our strategy is to have what we call inclusivity and diversity and as such for events like this, we ensure that we have an inclusive event which involves people living with disabilities as part of every event that we organise.

"We do not have a separate event for them which would further exclude them and this is one of the reasons they are here. We partner with disable organizations from time to time and we provide them with support as necessary.

Miss Adetutu Alade, a 16-year-old deaf and dumb teenager who participated in the event expressed her excitement on the gesture by the FirstBank saying: " thank you to first bank and I'm really happy to be here."

Also, other children with disabilities expressed their gratitude to FirstBank using sign language.

The first of the three products to be launched was KidsFirst, the product for the 0-12 sub-segment which combines the fun and excitement that children are looking for with the dependability and convenience that parents need.

The partnership with LEGO according to FirstBank will give KidsFirst account holders access to exclusive LEGO events, content and products.

As a popular children's brand known for both entertainment and educational values, LEGO was indeed the perfect partner for KidsFirst.

In addition to great product features that include low opening and operating balances, an annual scholarship scheme and the convenience of internet banking, through KidsFirst, FirstBank now offer parents useful online tools to help them plan for their children's future and exciting real world experiences to engage and entertain the kids.

"KidsFirst is a must for any savvy parent looking to build a solid financial future for their child," said one of the parents who watched the film along with the kids at the cinema

Gammarth - A regional workshop for the Arab Region on the 'Disabled Person's Status and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)' meant to prepare for the High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development opened, on Wednesday, in Gammarth, northern suburbs of Tunis.

Opening works, interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh emphasised the need to mobilise efforts of all stakeholders to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all categories, including those with specific needs.

Larayedh also highlighted the imperative to update and promote relevant national legislation by means of putting into effect positive discrimination programmes targeting people with disabilities, establishing a statistical system and creating a coherent database to help make policies and rectify a number of programmes.

The two-day event takes place ahead of the High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development with the overarching theme: "The Way Forward: a Disability Inclusive Development Agenda towards 2015 and Beyond," to be held during the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly next September 23 in New York, Social Affairs Minister Khalil Zaouia underscored.

Chief of the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Akiko Ito underlined the need to ensure the fundamental rights of this category, namely the right to healthcare and education, while securing their integration in the development process.

The Arab world is home to nearly 53 million persons with disabilities who demand to be integrated in their respective societies, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative pointed out. About 50% of the former can lead a normal life, he specified.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Tunis Maria Luisa Fornana said there are 300 million disabled children in the world, 100 millions among whom are under the age of 5.

80 % of children with disabilities live in developing countries and 250,000 to 500,000 lose their sight annually because of vitamin A deficit, she further said.

Tunisia
Copy of Draft Constitution to Be Presented to NCA Members May 31 At Latest - Fadhel Moussa "The National Constituent Assembly (NCA) Joint Co-ordination and Drafting Commission can approve the draft constitution … see more ≫

Angola: Minars to Implement Early Intervention for Inclusion of Disabled Children

AllAfrica.com
29 MAY 2013
RELATED TOPICS
Angola
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Luanda - Social Welfare Ministry (MINARS) foresees to implement an early intervention for social inclusion of children with disability, on order to ensure the normal development of the children aged 0-6 years old.

According to the source, the National Plan for Integrated Actions on Disability 2012/2017, under education field, provides for the implementation of the early system (in childhood), promoting the early detention of disability and access to a multidisciplinary rehabilitating response, starting after diagnosis.

According to the document, the early intervention in the childhood is a set of measures of integrated support centred on child and family, including preventive and rehabilitating actions, in the ambit of education health and social welfare.

While Thembisa Maso, a KTC resident still waits for her house to be completed, Mbuyiselo Vena, her neighbour, is struggling day in and day out in a wheelchair after being on a housing waiting list for the past 20 years.

Fifty-six year old Vena lives with diabetes and had both his legs amputated in 2010. He gets around in a wheelchair. Has has also lost sight in his left eye, and sees blurry with his right. He survives on his disability grant.

"I don't know what to do anymore, I have been waiting for a house for as long as I can remember. This shack that I live in leaks and sometimes I get pains because of the cold. I have been attending meetings about our houses but since I've been in this chair, it is a struggle even going to the toilet," said Vena.

He moved into his shack in June 1992 and has been part of the Qhayiya Housing Project. As you walk to the shack, there is mud because of the rain and this is where his wheelchair gets stuck sometimes.

"It's really difficult for him because he cannot even go to the shop, so at times you find him sitting in his shack starving because there is no one he can find to go to the shop for him. I try my best to check up on him as much as I can, but I am not always here," said Maso.

Vena said he had someone who helped him, but she works and leaves the house very early, only to return in the evening. "I have no problem washing and dressing myself, but when I have to do something outside the house, it's another story. Just yesterday I had to hire a car to take me to Groote Schuur so I could get my eyes checked out. All I want is a house, I have been waiting so long and my health is not getting any better."

Meanwhile, last week Friday, nine beneficiaries with special needs received houses, along with wheelchair bound, 89-year-old Lena Maasdorp, who was promised a house by Premier Helen Zille two years when she visited the area.

Bruce Oom, spokesman for the Western Cape MEC for Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, said the department would investigate Vena's matter.

Luanda - Adaptive sports in the African continent still records lack of government policies in most countries after 50 years since the creation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), currently African Union (AU) in 1963.

The continent also reports the existence of "taboo", and lack of scientific actions at the technical training level.

The information was released to Angop by the President of the African Paralympic Committee, the Angolan Leonel da Rocha Pinto at the end of the meeting of the Executive Committee of Zone VI of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA), under the commemoration of Africa’s Day, on Saturday.

Twenty-six years after the institutionalisation), the current African Paralympics Committee began in 2010 working on affirmation and enhancement of the athlete, by demanding the right to good preparation and, specially, consider the sport elite and not entertainment.

According to Leonel Pinto, most of governments in the 54 countries of the continent are not very sensitive to support to adaptive sports.

The African Paralympic Committee was created in 1987 in Algeria with the designation of the African Sports Confederation of Disabled (ASCOD).

Times of Zambia
Posted May 30, 2013
by andrew Miti in Local News
By JULIUS PHIRI -

GOVERNMENT has said teachers who sexually abuse pupils should be blacklisted from the teaching fraternity in the country.

Gender and Child Development Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale said at a stakeholders’ meeting in Chipata that the penalty of just suspending teachers who abused pupils was inadequate.

Ms Mutale said with the high number of schools being opened in communities, teachers accused of molesting pupils found it easy to get jobs in other private schools once expelled.

She said this in reaction to a case in which a 15-year -old deaf and dumb pupil at Magwero School was allegedly sexually abused by a teacher.

According to the mother of the victim, Esnart Hamalala, her daughter was sexually abused on three separate occasions between December 2012 and January this year.

She said doctors conducted tests on April 9, this year and discovered that her daughter was four months pregnant.

Ms Mutale also said the Government was in the process of reviewing the child policy in the country.

“The Government would like to take over some of the institutions that deal with issues of children’s well-being,” she said.

Ms Mutale was on a familiarisation tour of institutions that deal with children in Chipata District.

She said the Government, in its quest to ensure that every child had a better life, was committed to addressing issues that affect the welfare of children.

The Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD) recently concluded a week-long celebration of the achievements of the disability community in The Gambia.

The highlights of the celebration included an exhibition of talents to break the stigma and discrimination against persons living with disability. National Epilepsy week was also observed at the same period.

According to Isatou Sanyang, the Chairperson of GFD, they have decided to set aside 20 - 26 May each year to celebrate the achievements made by the disability community in The Gambia, exhibit their talents and break the stigma associated with disability.

She said people with epilepsy are also facing stigma and discrimination with some children dropping out of school and places of employment.

Madam Sanyang further explained that the importance of such a commemoration is to reflect on the difficulties such children and their families experience, and for society to recognise their experiences.

According to Isatou, the stigma associated with such children makes their parents or guardians hide them from the rest of society, which, she said, is unacceptable.

Edrisa Korita, the Project Coordinator for Disability Employment Service underscored the importance of the event, noting that it is the first time in the history of GFD.

The Disability Employment Service Project is an innovative project, funded by Sight Savers UK and the main aim of the project is to bridge the gap between training and employment for skilled persons with disability in The Gambia, he said.

He said they implement this project, focusing on 3 key strategic areas, all of which, he added, are for direct service delivery for person with disability.

"We have set up a disability employment service centre, off Unique Solutions Junction for persons with disabilities and employers to provide them with the necessary support service like registering participants into the project database, linking registered participants to potential employers, and also offering advice on workplace adjustment for employers," he concluded.

AllAfrica.com-2013/06/01
BY MUIGAI KIGURU AND REUBEN OLITA, 31 MAY 2013
RELATED TOPICS
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Athletics Kenya and Safaricom Limited have launched the Safaricom Athletics Series.The series will involve 14 major local races including road races, half marathons and full marathons.

Safaricom have sponsored the series to the tune of Sh23m.The events are also divided into two--eight AK sanctioned races and six corporate social responsibility races.

They AK events include Mombasa International and Kisumu City Marathons; Madoka and Kisii half marathons; Ndalat Gaa Cross country, Gusii Golden series, Imenti South Road race and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Memorial race.

The charity events are Iten road race, Kericho Great Run, Henry Wanyoike Hope for the future run, Kapenguria Peace race and Kass marathon.

Also included in the sponsorship are the Deaf Athletics Association of Kenya (DAAK) deaf track and field national championships set for this weekend at the Nyayo Stadium.

Safaricom director of Marketing, Rita Okuthe, said the events will also have a jackpot of Sh600,000 for the marathons and half marathons while the road races and the cross country events will attract Sh400,000 . The amount will be shared equally between the top men and women's team. Rita said a team will have to participate in at least five races to score.

"A team will have to enter four athletes to score and the team with the least cumulative time at the end of the season will be rewarded with the jackpot," said Evans Bosire, the AK public relations officer.

Kenyan athletics legends Tegla Loroupe, Paul Tergat and Henry Wanyoike, who sponsor some of the community races said the move will help unearth more talents in the long distance races.

"Athletes do not win gold for themselves," said Loroupe, a former world half marathon champion. Multiple paralympics gold medallist Wanyoike, said just like in competitive races, where there are pace setters, Safaricom have set the pace and other corporates should come up and support the initiative.

"We have yearned for these series for so long," said Tergat a former five-time cross country champion.

Meanwhile, Wency Wabwire won the 1,500m as the Busia County Youth polytechnics athletics and ball games started in Busia

yesterday. Wabwire, 24, from Esidende Polytechnic, led a pack of over 40 runners to win in 3:52.0, six seconds ahead of team-mate Peter Owuor.

Wabwire ran as a guest runner during the Prisons Championships at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi and finished second.

In boys' 10,000m, Justus Erick from Nambale won in 16:23.75. He was followed in second place by team-mate Benjamin Esamai and Francis Ndege from Esidende.

Albert Okello from Nangina won the men's 5,000m in 15:13.0. and was followed in second place by Samson Karani from Amagoro. Esidende's Godfrey Ouko was third.

The girls' event was won by Triza Akinyi from Nangosia in 22:04.0. Velma Nabwire from Nangina was second with Busagwa's Belinda Oduory taking third position. The Games County chairman Henry Ogesa said 18 youth polys are taking part in the games that will end tomorrow. Ogesa said Busia will again host the Inter County Games on June 26-29 with Mombasa staging national finals in September.

What our eyes have not seen and our ears have not heard is the story of a deaf and dumb commuter bus driver who was arrested in Lagos on Monday, 27 May, 2013. He was conveying commuters in his bus when he was arrested.

It is difficult to imagine that a man with such a severe disability could go into driving profession that requires the sense of hearing among others for one to be able to effectively control a moving machine such as a motor vehicle.

That is the story of Sunday Ogunmola who has been driving danfo, the ubiquitous Lagos commuter bus, since 1999 without being detected by law enforcement agents. He was even driving without a valid licence. Luck ran out on him on Monday when he drove on the prohibited BRT lane at Apongbon area of Lagos, southwest Nigeria. He was arrested by officials of the state Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit.

When he was asked why he was driving on the prohibited lane, he could not reply. It was then the officials discovered that he is deaf and dumb. His arrest underscores the danger danfo drivers constitute to other road users in the state. They drive under the influence of alcohol and hard drugs, which explains why they defy traffic rules and regulations with impunity.

In September last year, the state government came up with a startling statistics of commuter bus drivers who drive under the influence of illicit drugs and alcohol. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris announced that out of the 2,500 of them administered with breathalyzer to check their blood alcohol content, 441 of them tested positive to psychotropic drugs such as cannabis or marijuana and cocaine, while 781 were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

What this means is that public transportation in the state deserves serious scrutiny to flush out these drivers who constitute a serious danger to other road users and even the commuters they convey. There are many Sunday Ogunmolas that have not yet been detected. If a deaf and dumb man could drive in a city like Lagos for 14 years without being detected, then something is seriously wrong with law enforcement agencies.

The state government must regularly carry out checks on the mental state of these bus drivers. If checks conducted in two motor parks, Alaagba Motor Park in Iyana-Ipaja and Under Bridge Motor Park within the metropolis, could turn up such a huge number of drug addicts as drivers, then thousands of them may be plying the roads.

The government should come down hard on these potential killer drivers by invoking section 21, subsection 1 of the new traffic law which stipulates that anyone convicted for violating this law is sentenced to two years imprisonment or made to pay a fine of N100,000 or both. This is one of the ways the devil-may-care attitude of the drivers can be put in check and safeguard other road users.

P.M. News-2013/05/31
Published on May 31, 2013 by pmnews ・ 4 Comments
By Gbenga Bunmi Aina

I am writing in response to your story in the P.M.NEWS on-line issue of Monday May 28, 2013 entitled Deaf, Dumb Bus Driver Arrested, and the follow-up Editorial published on Thursday May 30 entitled The Deaf And Dumb Danfo Driver And Us.

GROUP TERMINOLOGY
I am only an occasional reader of P.M.NEWS and other on-line news sources; however this particular story caught my eye because of my own deafness.

Media practitioners, especially journalists, control powerful vehicles for molding public opinion. When a group of journalists and editors - by virtue of whose professional calling are or should be considerably better informed and vastly more enlightened on contemporary issues than the generality of their own society - particularly ones who write for as progressive a media institution with a reputation as admirable as P.M.

NEWS, commits the cardinal error of describing a Deaf person as “deaf and dumb”, I am angry and disgusted, as I am sure millions of Deaf people on the planet and their families, friends and allies who read the story and the editorial were as well.

Again, I am Deaf myself. The trajectory of my life in Nigeria was characterized by constant overcoming of obstacles occasioned by attitudes created not by evidence, but by an ill-informed and rather backward orthodoxy regarding Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people. Aspects of this prevailing orthodoxy are apparent in the choice of descriptive label; in the comments section of the story; and in the tone of your editorial: Deaf people “can’t” because they can’t hear.

arrest of deaf driver ignites controversy
I have been an administrator in American higher education for the past 15 years. But as a Deaf person, I am not unique in that sense. I was employed as a lawyer and Senior Deputy Editor at Gani Fawehinmi Chambers/Nigerian Law Publications for 3 years up to my departure for the United States in 1994. But as a Deaf lawyer, I am not unique. I graduated from OAU, Ile-Ife in 1990 and was called to the Bar in 1991. But as a Deaf university graduate, I am not unique. I spent 5 successful years at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, graduating in 1983. But as a Deaf alumnus of a prestigious Nigerian high school, I am not unique. Millions of Deaf people all over this world can point to superior records of accomplishment in their own CV’s than I am able to in mine.

And yet, the orthodoxy holds that “deaf and dumb” people cannot do things any other human being should take for granted.

This is neither the time nor the place to discuss the tangential issue of why Deaf people consider “deaf and dumb” pejorative, but these are powerful examples. During 2001, I saw the likes of Comrade Adams Oshiomole ?as he then was?dismiss the federal government as being one “of the deaf”; a columnist with another newspaper congratulating the Broadcasting Service of Oyo State (BCOS) for incorporating “hand sign translations on the news for the deaf and dumb at last”; the hitherto unimpeachable Wole Soyinka treading the dishonorable path of applying deafness to describe reactionaries in opprobrious terms; and the then irresistible Reuben Abati refer to “the deaf and the dumb” in his article of Friday June 22, 2001. These individuals are among the educated elite of Nigerian society, and if elementary enlightenment eludes them, then perhaps for us Deaf people generally to theorize that nothing better can be expected from the generality of society which is constituted by these otherwise distinguished gentlemen’s putative intellectual inferiors, is forgivable.

Deep ignorance about deafness and issues related thereto lies at the heart of this disparaging labeling of Deaf people. This is an unfortunate reality in a country approaching its centenary that has prided itself for many years as the “Giant of Africa”.

Hopefully, cognizant of its ability to influence the formulation of public opinion and shape the corpus of public knowledge, P.M.NEWS and its entire journalistic corps will find common cause with Deaf Nigerians and take the lead in enlightening both the general public and leading individuals on sensitivity and correct usage.

The correct term for a person whose auditory faculties are not functioning is “Deaf” simpliciter. The additional factor that this person is unable to express orally, is incidental, but not in all cases true, being entirely a function of whether deafness is congenital or adventitious. All Deaf people, whether they are capable of speech or not, prefer to be termed properly and correctly as Deaf.

It will be appreciated if P.M.NEWS will lead the way in educating the general public and referring to Deaf people simply as Deaf henceforth.

DEAF DRIVERS
While auditory information is important in the driving process, there is insufficient data to indicate that deafness affects driving ability. In 1994, McCloskey, Koepsell, Wolf and Buchner conducted a population-based case control study to determine whether hearing loss puts older drivers at greater risk of collision injuries. Their findings (Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries and Sensory Impairment of Older Drivers) were reported in the magazine Age & Ageing, 23 at pages 267-273.

The cases were drivers who sought medical care, within 7 days, for injuries sustained in a police recorded motor vehicle crash. Controls were selected from a pool of eligible subjects who had not been injured in a police recorded motor vehicle crash. Driving exposure, based on self-report, was similar for both groups. Sensory impairment data were extracted from medical records. Results of their investigation revealed no significant increase in risk of injury from motor vehicle collisions as a function of deafness. Clearly, there is no association between deafness and increased risk for motor vehicle accidents. Consequently, there is no empirical evidence to warrant restrictions on Deaf individuals from operating a vehicle.

I doubt any law in Nigeria explicitly or by implication prohibits Deaf persons from operating a vehicle. I also doubt regulations exist governing the operation of motor vehicles by Deaf persons. Accordingly, I would suggest the adoption of fitness-to-drive guidelines to clarify the position. Australia and Canada have workable, reasonable and logical guidelines:

Condition/Illness	Canada	Australia
Totally Deaf	No restriction	Not addressed
Hearing Aids	No restriction	Not addressed
Some Hearing Loss	No restriction	No restriction. As greater reliance on vision is needed, external mirrors are required
Vestibular disorders	Acute labyrinthitis: Patients with acute labyrinthitis or positional vertigo with horizontal head movement should be advised not to drive at all until their condition has subsided or responded to treatment. Recurrent attacks of vertigo: Patients who are subject to recurrent attacks of vertigo that occur without warning also should not drive until it is certain that their spells of dizziness have been controlled or abated.	Acute labyrinthitis, Benign paroxysmal vertigo, Meniere’s Disease, Recurrent Vertigo: Should not drive while symptoms persist.

At worst, the Deaf driver, Mr. Sunday Ogunmola, was arrested for driving without a license and driving in a BRT lane. Driving without a license seems to be a common enough offense in Nigeria; and driving in the BRT lane illegally appears to be similarly common, going by the Lagos state governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s widely-reported apprehension of an army colonel for doing just that. Sunday Ogunmola’s real offenses are prosaic, and, in reality they are indicative of the systemic need in Nigeria for all qualified persons to enroll in formal, structured driver education classes and pass written and practical driver-education exams as a prerequisite for the issuance of a driver’s license, be it private or commercial.

AllAfrica.com
31 MAY 2013
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Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), in collaboration with the South Sudanese Ministry of Health, stemmed a meningitis A outbreak and vaccinated over 130,000 people against the disease in South Sudan's Upper Nile state, reinforcing its commitment to assisting the region's population.

Starting on 15 May, medical teams deployed in the northern city of Malakal administered a vaccine first introduced a few years ago that will give the region's vulnerable population a longer-lasting immunity to meningitis A (a strain likely to cause large-scale epidemics).

"This vaccine protects people from meningitis A for ten years, seven more than the previous one," says Olimpia de la Rosa, MSF emergency medical coordinator.

The vaccination campaign, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, aimed to contain an existing meningitis outbreak in the area and immunize the population in Upper Nile state, located in the so-called meningitis belt.

"Even if treated, some of those contracting the disease can be deaf or disabled for life, so vaccinating all these people was really important," stresses de la Rosa.

A total of 133,633 people were immunised in just ten days. Since early April, 141 cases of meningitis A were reported in Upper Nile state, with seven deaths. The Ministry of Health plans to continue vaccination in other areas with the goal of covering all of South Sudan by 2014.

MSF has been working in the region that today constitutes the Republic of South Sudan since 1983.

MSF is present in eight out of South Sudan's ten states and responds to many emergencies including large-scale displacement, refugee influxes, alarming nutrition situations, and peaks of disease such as malaria and kala azar, in addition to providing basic and specialist healthcare services.

Benedictor Mokoena glides through her classes at University of Pretoria. On her blue and silver motorized wheel chair, the 18-year-old navigates narrow hallways and avoids stairwells.

“Sometimes it is hard because you cannot do the same things you used to,” she said. “Getting in a bus, going to the bathroom, getting off the bed. A lot of things change.”

Mokoena was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident in 2007. She returned to public school and graduated as prefect, but her trajectory is not the norm for the five percent of South Africans living with a physical or cognitive disability.

Many drop out of school before reaching matric due to stigma and other barriers, following global trends revealed yesterday by a Unicef report, The State of the World's Children 2013: Children with Disabilities.

Worldwide, only 51% of girls with disabilities complete primary school compared to 61% of girls without disabilities, the report said. For boys, it’s only 42% compared to 53.

Attitudes of peers and teachers, building accessibility and learning material contribute to this difference in South Africa, said a social policy specialist at Unicef, Andries Viviers.

“The most important part of the report is to emphasize inclusion of children with disabilities, instead of just looking at integration,” he said.

Across South Africa, more than 100 000 learners with a disability attend public schools, Viviers said. The number of full service schools - ones equally equipped for students with and without disabilities in the same classroom - have grown from 31 in 2008 to 513 in 2011. There are 423 special needs schools nationwide.

Fundisa Multipurpose Skill Centre for the Disabled in Orange Farm is one of them. Founded in 2009, the NGO empowers people with disabilities through educational courses and teaching profitable skills like beading.

Most of the centre’s 17 students initially attended public school but switched to Fundisa, said its founder, Selina Mosele Mbatha.

“The treatment isn’t good for them there [in public schools],” she said. “The person in charge of them doesn’t know about their disability - they don’t know how to handle them.”

At an even earlier age, less than one percent of children with disabilities have access to early childhood development centres in South Africa because most centres do not cater to disabled children, according to the Disabled Children's Action Group.

But for Mokoena, things weren’t so bad. Her secondary school in Limpopo installed a ramp before she asked. “The teachers were very supportive," she said. "I wanted to show that it doesn’t matter if I am in a wheelchair or not, to still prove that I get good marks.”

（TICADサイドイベント案内）６月２日JICA横浜　アフリカ・日本障害ダイアローグ

この度、DPIが毎年行っている、JICA「障害者地域メインストリーミング研修（自立生活プログラム）」の一環として、また横浜で行われますTICAD（アフリカ開発会議）のサイドイベントとして、JICA横浜で「アフリカ・日本障害ダイアローグ　～インクルーシブな開発と障害者：アフリカでの取り組み～」を行うことになりましたのでお知らせいたします。

なお、申し込みはJICAあふりかひろばのホームページからとなっておりますが、情報保障の記入欄がありませんので、情報保障の必要な方はお手数ですがDPI日本会議事務局(office_en@dpi-japan.org又は FAX03-5282-0017）まで、直接ご連絡下さい。

締切日が5月22日と迫っておりますので、早めの申込みをお願い致します。

アフリカ・日本障害ダイアローグ
～インクルーシブな開発と障害者：アフリカでの取り組み～

この度、JICAの研修員受入事業として、アフリカ英語圏（ケニア、ルワンダ、ウガンダ、ジンバブエ、マラウイ、モザンビーク、南アフリカ）から障害者リーダーと障害分野の行政官が障害者の自立生活研修のため来日されます。本年はTICAD V（第5回アフリカ開発会議）開催の公式サイドイベントとして、アフリカの障害者のおかれた状況をふまえ今後のアフリカ開発について考える場として、「アフリカ・日本障害ダイアローグ」を開催することとなりました。彼/彼女らを囲んで、障害者をめぐるアフリカの課題について語り合いましょう。

今回は、南アフリカで障害者の権利問題に取り組み、現在アフリカ障害者の十年事務局長を務めているアンドリュー・K・デュベ氏をお招きし、講演・パネルディスカッションを行う予定です。障害をもつ仲間の生の声を聞き、彼らの生活を知るよい機会です。皆様のご参加を心よりお待ちしております。

日　　時　：　6月2日（日） 13:30～18:30 (受付開始：13：00)

場　　所　：　JICA横浜ホール「かもめ」　　　　　　

参加費　　：　無料　(完全事前申し込み制)

言　　語　：　英語（日英同時通訳あり）、
情報保障：　日本語手話通訳　日本語文字通訳あり

参加申込：　　以下ウェブサイトよりお申し込みください。
http://www.ticad.net/africa/jicaevents/index.html
＊情報保障について記入する欄がないため、情報保障が必要な方はDPI日本会議事務局（office_en@dpi-japan.org）までご連絡ください。

申込受付締切：　5月22日（水）

【主催】　　独立行政法人　国際協力機構（JICA）
特定非営利活動法人　DPI日本会議

【後援】　　横浜市

【協力】　　ヒューマンケア協会

【お問合わせ】　DPI日本会議（担当：田丸、島野、堀場）
Tel：03-5282-3730
Fax：03-5282-0017
Email：office_en@dpi-japan.org

プログラム（予定）
13:30-13:45 開会あいさつ
13:45-14:15 主賓挨拶
14:15-15:15 基調講演1「アフリカ開発における障害者の取り組み」
　　　　　　 A.K.デュベ氏　(アフリカ障害者の十年事務局長)
15:15-1545 質疑応答
15:45-16:15 休憩
16:15-17:30 パネル・ディスカッション「アフリカ諸国における障害者施策」
パネリスト：JICA研修員7名
コーディネーター：長瀬修氏（立命館大学衣笠総合研究機構生存学研究センター客員教授）
17:30-18:00 質疑応答
18:00-18:15 TICAD・障害者の横浜宣言の決議
18:15-18:30 閉会あいさつ（DPI日本会議）

＜会場案内＞
JICA横浜
〒231-0001　神奈川県横浜市中区新港2-3-1
Tel：045-663-3251　Fax：045-663-3265

＜最寄り駅＞
JR、横浜市営地下鉄　桜木町駅下車　ワールドポーターズを通り徒歩15分
JR、横浜市営地下鉄　関内駅下車（北口）　ワールドポーターズ方向に徒歩15分
みなとみらい線　馬車道駅下車（4番万国橋出口）　ワールドポーターズ方向徒
歩8分

情報保障の必要な方は以下の情報をDPI事務局（メール：office_en@dpi-japan.org、FAX:03-5282-0017）にお送り下さい。
名前(ふりがな)
所属団体（あればご記入下さい）
連絡先電話番号
※日中連絡のとれる番号をご記入ください。
Eメールアドレス
情報アクセス
＊情報アクセスの必要な方は、必要なアクセスに○をつけてください。
手話通訳　・　文字通訳　・　点字資料　・　拡大資料　・　磁気ループ

Despite his smile and jovial mood, Ibrahim Kasirye hurts inside. Born deaf and dumb, abandoned by his parents, he now faces a 12-year prison sentence for alleged defilement.

Kasirye maintains that he did not commit the crime, arguing that those who accused him only took advantage of his disability to incriminate him. He told Petride Mudoola writes
This interview was quite different from the interviews I have conducted before. Getting information from Ibrahim Kasirye was a challenge because of his hearing impairment. I had to hire a sign language interpreter to translate what he was saying. In the company of a colleague, Kasirye is escorted through the gates to the reception by a prison warder. His face beams with confidence and one would assume he is not troubled. This was the first time he was receiving visitors. He unexpectedly smiles; it is the sight of a visitor who interprets sign language triggering the smile.

The interpreter introduces me to Kasirye as a journalist who has come to interview him. Kasirye then greets me using sign language, but I do not respond because I hardly understand a thing he communicates.

“It’s long since I last spoke in real sign language,” Kasirye explains. His only hope in prison is a fellow inmate who uses rudimentary sign language to communicate to him. Kasirye painfully recalls the day he was arrested by the Police in Makindye at a home where he worked as a domestic helper. He claims a Policeman arrested him for no reason in March 2011. On getting to Katwe Police Station, it turned out that he was accused of defilement, but being deaf and dumb, he could not defend himself. In the police cell, life turned into hell for him. Neither Policemen nor fellow inmates knew sign language, so he had no way of communicating his side of the story.

In the cells at Katwe Police Station, Kasirye always cut a forlorn figure as he had not come to reality with what befell him. Life seemed hopeless as nobody could understand him. The only question he wanted an answer to was: why have I been arrested?
Remembering the day he was arraigned in court, he says: “I tried to defend myself but at that particular moment, it looked like the whole world had ganged up against me,” Kasirye recalls, with a tone of bitterness. He says even the person he thought would be his saviour ? the interpreter ? seemed distant and not interested in his defense. He believes had the interpreter put in even the smallest ounce of interest in his cause, he would be a free man today. “The sign language interpreter seemed to simply go through the motions and I feel like he did not state my case to the prosecution fully. No one stood in to support my reasoning.” Kasirye recalls that after several hours of difficult questioning during trial, he was pushed into accepting the crime. He says he lost hope in the court proceedings and decided to wait for the outcome. What hurts Kasirye most is the fact that during his trial, he was not given the chance to bring witnesses in his defence. “All I needed was justice and the chance to defend myself,” he says, tears welling in his eyes. Kasirye goes silent for a couple of minutes, staring into the distance. Even the sign language interpreter goes silent as we see the pain and hurt in Kasirye’s hitherto jovial face.

Doubly trapped Most convicted criminals will insist they have suffered some kind of injustice. But Kasirye’s story stands out among the many. He feels he has suffered injustice because he is double trapped by his disability ? he can neither speak nor hear. Now serving a 12-year jail term in Nakasongola Prison, Kasirye insists his accusers took advantage of his disability to incriminate him. He contends that his inability to communicate during his arrest and while at the police station has hopelessly isolated him from the world. With no sign language interpreter in jail, Kasirye feels he was sentenced to “a prison within a prison.” He lives in fear since he is the only deaf inmate in that prison. Kasirye is afraid to sleep at night for fear of what would happen if a fire broke out and he could not hear the alarm.

“I am afraid I might die in the fire. Nobody understands sign language in prison. I have to wait for a fellow inmate to have a chat about big issues like my 12-year sentence,” he laments. Kasirye says he longs to interact with other inmates and the prison staff. Unfortunately, they do not understand the deaf man’s mode of communication. He says it is hard to defend himself in case of any disagreement. Kasirye is required to walk with his friend and aide all the time. His aide also has to speak on Kasirye’s behalf. Access to medical services is another problem he faces. He says none of the health workers knows sign language. He confides in his colleague who then explains to the doctor. Kasirye says this deprives him of the much-needed privacy.

Ray of hope
Although Kasirye has gone through all this, he still believes there is hope. Kasirye wants to leave prison a learned man but has not benefited from the educational programmes in the prison department because there are no facilities or specialised teachers for the deaf.

Unlike home where he used to move aimlessly, Kasirye appreciates that prison has shaped him and brought him to order since each programme in the detention facility is done in an organised way. While in jail, Kasirye has gained skills in crafts like making beads out of paper. He can also weave mats and baskets, skills he never had before.

About Kasirye
Kasirye was brought up by his maternal grandmother after his parents abandoned him on discovering that their child was deaf and dumb. He went to Masaka School for the Deaf but dropped out after P7 when his grandmother could not afford secondary education fees.

Kasirye left Masaka for Kampala in search of a job. He was hired as a domestic helper in Makindye and worked for sometime before he was arrested. Asked whether he is remorseful about the crime he was convicted for, Kasirye insists he did not commit any crime and has nothing to be remorseful about. If given the opportunity, Kasirye wishes to join a driving school in order to become a driver.

Expert opinion
Experts observe that deaf and blind prisoners face major challenges because they do not have support while in detention, yet they are vulnerable and require assistance just like normal prisoners. “Despite the existence of affirmative action, the community is still silent on the plight of persons with disabilities, especially those who happen to be in conflict with the law,” observes Simon Ochan, a sign language instructor at Kyambogo University.

Blind inmates require a guide to support their movement, while the deaf need a sign language interpreter to ensure effective communication. Unfortunately, detention facilities do not provide such services. Ochan appeals to NGO’s to reach out to these people to ensure that they cope with life in prison.

Frank Baine, the prison’s publicist admits there is inadequate infrastructure to cater for the needs of convicts with disabilities in prisons. “Much as prison is mandated to rehabilitate convicts, it’s quite costly to train the deaf and the blind inmates because it requires an extra budget to pay special needs teachers as well as purchase specialised equipment to train them, ” Baine explains. He mentions hearing aids for the deaf and braille machines for the blind among the equipment the prison department requires for proper rehabilitation of disabled inmates.

Baine appeals to the Ministry of Public Service to attach sign language experts and guides to prisons to ensure that convicts with disabilities access appropriate services while in detention.

Mmegi Online
BONTE SEEPI
CORRESPONDENT
FRANCISTOWN: A 25-year-old man appeared before a magistrate court on Thursday to answer a charge of rape.

Bose Nteseng from Kutamogoree was arraigned before Magistrate Dumisani Bagopi on Thursday on allegations that he raped a disabled person. Constable Oteng Selalame of Dukwi Police Station told the court that the accused allegedly committed the crime on August 9, 2012 at Kutamogoree. The accused appeared in person and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Bagopi granted him bail on condition that he pays P200 cash and provides two sureties worth P200 each.The accused was also ordered not to interfere with state witnesses while on bail. "The accused should also report to Kutamogoree Customary Court every Monday during working hours and he should ensure the court attendance whenever required," Bagopi said.

Nteseng was remanded in custody until he fulfills his bail conditions. Bagopi also ordered the prosecution to provide statements to the accused before the next mention on June 21. In another rape case, Dikgobo Japi, 26 of Dukwi also appeared for mention before magistrate Bagopi on a single charge of rape.The accused is alleged to have raped a 23-year-old woman of Dukwi on November 20, 2012 in that village. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was granted bail on condition that he pays P200 cash and does not interfere with state witnesses. He was further ordered to report at Dukwi Police Station every Monday during working hours.Bagopi also told the accused to avail himself in court whenever needed. The accused was remanded in custody until he fulfills bail conditions. When asked if he had anything to say, the accused pleaded with the court to give him time to look for the money to pay for his bail. "Right now I don't have any money. So I beg this court to give me at least today to go and look for the P200 that is needed so that I can pay for my bail".

Bagopi advised the accused to seek assistance from the prosecution. He will appear again for mention on June 21.The accused appeared in person while Selalame represented the state.

Early this year, an Environmentalist and public health researcher at Makerere University informed us that if the high level of noise and pollution in Kampala is not controlled, many Ugandans will be deaf by 2040.

That it is not even surprising that many people today suffer from hearing impairments. Kampala is so noisy that for instance unless one tunes his or her voice and hearing antennas to the highest levels, one will struggle to hold a conversation with another on the many busy crowded and jammed streets .

Statistically, more than 95% of people in Kampala live in areas of noise discomfort. Noise and chaos has even invaded once quite upscale suburbs of Kololo, Nakasero and Muyenga.

Although there is an increase in the number of vehicles in the city, majority are in dangerous mechanical condition. Their engines and exhaust pipes have leakages that ooze out fumes, smog, and carbon emissions, which pollute the environment. Although Police, VIP cars and medical ambulances have sirens, they are extremely loud. Kampala hosts shouting contests of car hooters, rowdy taxis and bodabodas, amplified microphones and vuvuzelas.

The city parks such as the Constitutional Square, Uganda Railways park, Villa Park, Golf Course, Centenary Park among others that were planned to be quite hideaways for relaxation are either not accessible, sold to investors or buildings have been erected there. For those with houses in close proximity, no amount of shield, walls or windows can protect you from the roar coming from outside

More despicable is the widespread violation of the city planning requirements. It is strange that apartment buildings are erected in close proximity to main roads or highways. One wonders what happened to city our planners.

According to health practitioners, anyone who spends more than five hours daily in garages, wielding workshops, Pentecostal churches, markets, taxi parks, on construction sites, night clubs, music studios, smoking places, bars and bibanda will most likely be affected by several diseases such as headaches, deafness, heart failure, cancer among others

Its strange that even in institutions of higher learning, noise is prevalent. Some students in halls of residences play very loud music, not caring whether their colleagues are reading or sleeping.

During examination time, you find university premises so crowded with the "balokole" shouting their hearts out. Although I risk being termed a pagan, I doubt whether you honestly ask God to help you pass your exams by shouting the loudest! Someone needs to tell street preachers that there are lawfully designated places of worship to practice their trade.

Noise torment in Kampala has reached unprecedented levels and like we installed spy cameras to fight terrorism, the city needs sound proof gadgets to reduce the noise.

However, all this does not mean we are lacking relevant laws to curb the noise. Laws are just not enforced. The broader interpretation of Article 39 of the Constitution provides for a right to a clean and healthy environment. Section 32 (1) (a) of the Police Act empowers Police to regulate the extent to which music, drumming or public address system may be used on public roads or streets or at occasion of festivals or ceremonies.

Other laws that need to be enforced are under The Physical Planning Act 2010, National Environment Management Act and Kampala City Council Authority Act. As we celebrate the World Environment Day on June 5, we need to tighten up the law and impose restrictions and sanctions on noise law breakers and pollutants.

Disability HIV/AIDS Human Rights Programme Director Elijah Ngwale says the capital City, Lusaka has become un-friendly to the persons with disabilities.

Mr. Ngwale says physical environment does not favour persons with disabilities in terms of infrastructure because persons with disabilities do not have access to roads, schools, houses, health facilities among others not only in Lusaka but also other towns in the country.

The Disability Activist has for this reason challenged the Zambia Environment Management Agency (ZEMA) to monitor the guidelines that impede the rights of his members.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Ngwale said this in an interview as the country joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Environment Day, today.

He said since the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the Convention on the rights of persons living with disabilities in 2006 in which rights of disabled people are enshrined, only three countries have domesticated the Convention.

He regretted that most African countries neither have disability legislation in place nor have made any effort to mainstream issues of persons living with disabilities in their programmes.

Mr. Ngwale has however commended the Zambian Government for being proactive in dealing with issues pertaining to persons with disabilities in which the Zambian Government enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act number six of 2012.

The theme for 2013 World Environment Day celebrations is dubbed, “Think. Eat and Save.

Think.Eat.Save is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages people to reduce their food-print. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted.

FAO further reports that 1 in every 7 people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of 5 die daily from hunger.

This year’s campaign sensitizations seeks to take action from homes and then experience the power of collective decisions from people in positions of influence including political will from respective governments.

This is to reduce food waste, save money, minimize the environmental impact of food production and force food production processes to become more efficient.

Egyptian Gazette
By Youssra el-Sharkawy - The Egyptian Gazette
Wednesday, June 5, 2013 04:25:00 PM

CAIRO - “Politics prohibited" Mohamed Nasha'at, a theatre director, warned his fellow directors at the beginning of their performance while they were on stage. Special Performance II is being performed every night at 7:30pm in the Artistic Creativity Centre in the Cairo Opera House grounds.

"They could close the performance and take us to jail. Please, don't," he asked the other friends, who insisted on performing for audiences come what may.

This was the beginning scene of Special Performance II, the recent project that was created by students in the Department of Directing at the Artistic Creativity Centre in the Cairo Opera House, under the supervision of veteran director Essam el-Sayyed.

The performance is performed by actors from the Department of Acting in the Centre, which is headed by theatrical director Khaled Galal.

The show consists of six different, short plays, each lasting for 10 minutes and directed by six different directors. Each separate performance is inter-related and are woven together to make an intriguing very lovely plot that employs comedy in scenes involving two policemen (played by Mohamed Mohamady and Ahmed Mohy).

They watch each play in order to torture those directors who employ political implications in their plays. This satirical link highlights what occurred previously before the January 25 Revolution, when there were restrictions on culture and arts with critical political undertones, which matter hasn't changed much since the old regime was ousted.

The first play is L'Etat de Siege (The State of Siege), written by Albert Camus and directed by Mina Ezzat. It revolves around the arrival of a plague, personified by a young opportunist, in Cadiz, a city in Spain, and the subsequent creation of a totalitarian regime through the manipulation of fear.

In order to make it intensive, the director cut the original play, which is in three acts, into 10 minutes as did his fellow directors in their plays. But in spite of the cuts, actors were still able to show their abilities in those few minutes.

Two of the best actors were Mohamed Abdel Wahab who played the dictator and Mayada Amr who played his assistant.

The second play is El-Kanaba (the sofa), directed by Ahmed Fouad, who presents in his play an ‘Egyptianisation’ of the famous 'Frenzy for Two or More' written by Eugene Ionesco.

The original text tackles the life of a husband and wife who are always quarreling about trivial issue like "the difference between the snail and the turtle" without even being aware of the war happening outside their house.

In the Egyptian adaptation, Fouad gets the couple to always sit on the sofa where they quarrel about anything and are scared of everything.

They thought there was a war, but they didn't even try to move from the sofa to see what was happening. Fouad's adaptation sheds light on the percentage of Egyptians who don't want to take a role in what is happening around them and are known to media as Hezb el-Kanaba (the Sofa party), as they prefer to view the changes and speak about them while siting at home without sharing or participating. The two protagonists participating in the play are Bassem Kenawy and Sara Magdy.

The third play is Black directed by Mohamed Nasha'at. It is taken from a 2005 Indian film with the same title. Black revolves around a blind and deaf girl, and her relationship with her teacher who tried his best to teach her everything.

The film, so as the play, draws inspiration from the life and struggle of the American author, political activist Helen Keller (1880 - 1968) who was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The actress who plays the deaf-blind girl is Alhan el-Mahdi while the teacher is Mohamed Mohamedy, both being very emotional and playin their roles with love.

Shakespeare also was a guest in Special Performance II, as director Mohamed Habib chose to adapt his Romeo and Juliet to a staging of just 10 minutes.

As a dancer and choreographer, Habib presents in his play a mixture between acting and modern dance. He retained some of Shakespeare's text and replaced text with dancing in most scenes. The director himself played Romeo while Sara Adel played Juliet.

Habib also played the main role in the fifth play Matlob Arousa (Bride Wanted) directed by Ahmed Abdel-Fattah. His play featured a man who is searching for a bride, but unfortunately he finds that each one has a major default, which leads him to refuse the idea of marriage. However, he eventually finds the bride he is searching for. Sara Salam played all the female roles and knew how to be different in every character.

The last play is the Egyptian writer Mahmoud Diab's masterpiece Bab el-Fotouh directed by Sherif el-Shalakamy. It tells the story of a knight who came a long way to meet the Sultan to hand him his book Bab el-Fotouh, which contained some principles that would allow his people to live happily if the Sultan followed these principles. The play is a message to every king charging him to respect his people and treat them as free people, not his property or an inherited fortune.

The knight, played by Hamdy el-Tayeh, who enjoys a touching voice and performs credibily.

Bab el-Fotouh was chosen by Director and supervisor Essam el-Sayyed to be the end of Special Performance II to finalise the six-play, all of which have been exposed to politics, but in a non-political way.

AllAfrica.com
BY STEPHEN ASTARIKO, 5 JUNE 2013
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The High Court in Garissa has stopped the Garissa and Mandera executive committees from carrying out any official functions pending determination of a case filed by a lobby group. The Northern Nomadic Disabled Persons Organisation moved to court challenging the composition of the cabinet named by Garissa governor Nadhif Jama and his Mandera counterpart Ali Roba.

The group said the constitution requires a five per cent slot for persons with disabilities in the committees which was not met. Justice Stella Mutuku issued a temporary injunction and set the hearing for the petition on June 10.

Speaking to the press after obtaining the injunction, Nondo executive director Harun Hassan said the group sought the intervention of the courts after its attempts to seek audience with the governors bore no fruits.

"The rights of the disabled as enshrined in the constitution are not a privilege," Hassan said. "The persons we want nominated to these committees meet all the required educational and technical expertise required for the office."

Hassan thanked Wajir governor Ahmed Abdullahi for nominating a disabled person Rukia Ahmed who has been assigned the ICT docket in the executive committee.

He said his organisation, which operates in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit and Isiolo counties, is closely monitoring the nominations to see if a disabled person will be included in the county government.

"We are keenly waiting for the Marsabit list where we had five of our own apply, in Isiolo no disabled person was included in the committee but we have no issue as none applied," Hassan said. "In Garissa and Mandera, five fully qualified disabled persons applied in each county. This is why we feel short changed."

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AllAfrica.com-
BY KEBBA JEFFANG, 5 JUNE 2013
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The Gambia Federation of Disabled (GFD) on Wednesday,22 May 2013, commenced the celebration of the first ever joint Disabled and Epilepsy Week in the Gambia in an event held at the Buffer Zone in Tallinding. The commemoration, with the theme "Promote the Employment for Persons with Disabilities", aims to highlight the achievements they have made to improve on the difficult conditions of the disabled people in the society. In her introductory remark, the GFD Chairperson, Madam Isatou Sanyang, expressed her gratitude and dilated on the reasons and importance of the program. She said the GFD has set aside 20th to 26th May every year as a week for celebration in order to reflect on the challenges they encounter and the successes made to stop the stigma and discrimination against the people with disability in society. She said this has coincided with the International Epilepsy Week which, she added, makes it interesting for them to combine the two events as it is the first time this is in the Gambia. "The importance of this commemoration is to reflect on the difficulties that the disabled persons and their families are experiencing in the society.

It is also important to highlight on the preventive measures of epilepsy which is to socialize and educate the society about it so as to reduce the number of people who develop epilepsy," said the GFD President.

The Deputy Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Mr. Momodou Jaiteh, representing the KMC Mayor, welcomed the participants and expressed his happiness to the disable community for coming up with such an important program. Deputy Mayor Jaiteh disclosed that Council has pledged that beginning this year it will be giving GFD an annual subvention of D20. 000.00.

He further pledged that they will be providing employment for ten disabled persons during the course of this year (2013). "I urged the society to be responsive and show respect to the disabled persons since every able person can become a disabled," said Mr. Jaiteh.

He also made a similar appeal for society to be supportive to people with epilepsy. He finally assured the Council's continuous support to GFD members and its work. Mr. Edrissa Korita, the GFD Project Coordinator, spoke about the employment opportunities for the disabled. He said if the employers know the advantages of working with the disabled then they would learn the good lesson.

"So far the project has managed to sensitized over 17 training institutions and 80 potential employers in and around the greater Banjul area and thanks to these institutions for their collaboration with us. If you check the number of disabled and the number of so-called able persons that are employed, there is a big gap and this is what we want to close," said the GFD Project Coordinator.

The Executive Director of the GFD, Mr. Anton Venus, also expressed his profound gratitude to the gathering. He also reiterated the point that both the disabled and epileptic persons deserved maximum respect by the society as they are very much part of humanity. He disclosed that his organization is making tireless efforts to see to it that Gambia adopts and ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of Disables in order to ensure the attainment of equality between the able bodied and disabled persons.

He said Gambia is among the remaining 14 African states which have not yet ratified this UN Convention. A representative of Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Madam Beatrice Prom, expressed the pleasure of GCCI to be associated with both the GFD and the commemoration of this important week to sensitize the public about the roles of the disabled in the society as well as promote employment opportunities for disabled persons. She said the GCCI has a connection with private sector employment in this country.

"I would like to inform this gathering that we are also the employers association of The Gambia. Being the employers association of this country, we have put up a crucial provision in this, and we have already associated with this because we, the GCCI, are chairing the Disability Employment Steering Committee and we are very much honored to play this crucial role," said Madam Prom.

She informed the gathering that GCCI is working very hard to find links for GFD with business associations such as the Bankers Association, Association of Contractors and Consultants and so on to enable the gap to be easily bridged. Mr. Lamin Dibba, Chairman of the Association of Mentally Disabled -The Gambia, spoke on the stigma and discrimination showing to epileptic patients by the society which he described as inhuman. He noted the misconception that society has on epilepsy which, he added, determines the way patients are treated. He dispelled the misconception that epilepsy is contagious and its cause is spiritual.

He said epilepsy is neither contagious nor is it spread through saliva. He urged the people to be friendly to epileptic patients and regard them as brothers and sisters. He said so far schools and the media are helping them in their sensitization and urged them to continue with this support.

Mr. Mamadi Dampha, from the Employment Unit of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, speaking on behalf of the Deputy Permanent Secretary 1, said the stigma and discrimination against the disabled persons has no room in the this country since all people are equal before the Constitution of the Gambia. "One of the advantages we have of being a small country is that we know each other ... every Gambian should know that people with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities as able bodied people.

Therefore we should not discriminate against them because they can contribute to the socio-economic development of our country. We can all be disabled today on our way home because who knows what would happen if an accident occurs," said the employment ministry official. He noted that the purpose of the UN Convention is to provide equal employment to people with disabilities and to promote and respect their inherent dignity.

He added that these include those people who have long term physical, mental, intellectual impairment which may be the cause of their discrimination in the society. The gathering was entertained by a visually impaired artist, Junior Pisces, who is also a teacher at the GOVI Resource Centre. He highlighted in his song the usefulness of the disabled person if given the opportunity. The event was chaired by Mr. Musa Jobarteh.

Gambia
Freedom of Association The fundamental importance of allowing people or groups the right to determine their membership choices without … see more ≫

Visually impaired students of HVP Gatagara School have received educational materials and sporting equipment from MTN Rwanda.

The donation was made during a visit by MTN staff to the school during the company's annual "21 Days of Y'ello Care" which includes outreach activities by the staff of the country's telecom giants.

On behalf of the company, Mary Ashimwe said, "We brought Braille papers to encourage the blind children and to show them that they are not alone. We also gave the school a big water tank, because we know that water is important for hygiene."

HVP Gatagara School for the Blind in Rwamagana started in 1998 and has both primary and a secondary section.

Jean Pierre Nteziryayo, the director of the school, said MTN's support was timely, adding that the Braille papers were very much needed by the 212 students.

"The papers we use are very expensive and have a guarantee of only one year.our school population has been growing," he said.

Visual impairment, one critical component of disability, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), has affected about 285 million people in the world.

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As part of efforts to harmonise policies that ensure inclusive education, the Ministry of Education (Mineduc) is set to revamp the education policy to cater for children with disabilities.

The announcement was made in Kigali at a validation workshop aimed at updating stakeholders about the resolution on inclusive education policy passed by the cabinet in 2007. It attracted partners in education including disabled people bodies.

According to Erasme Rwanamiza, the in charge of planning for inclusive education at the ministry, the existing policy was not bad but there are so many things that need improvement to meet the needs of disabled children's education.

"For instance, the 2007 statement was not clarifying needs for public buildings, especially schools to conform to disabled persons' needs, thus this workshop will expose issues to be modified and the ones to be added," he added.

Some of the plans include providing inclusive education training to teachers in the country effective this year, according to Dr Evariste Karangwa, the founder of Faculty of Special Education at Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) and chairperson, National Task Force for the Development of Inclusive Education (NTFDIE).

"We will start a school of inclusive education and rehabilitation in KIE, with seven programmes designed to give teachers' inclusive education knowledge," he said.

The project implementation has been allocated Rwf400m by Mineduc. Karangwa noted that the school will enhance training for teachers nationwide.

The move seeks to improve disabled education policy in order to meet inclusive education, which will require disabled persons to have their specific schools.

He was responding to a query by Jean Pierre Nteziryayo, the head teacher of Gatara School of the Blind in Rwamagana District, who said that the lack of qualified teachers with special needs training a another major challenge that many schools faced.

Atleast 10 per cent of young people in Rwanda have disabilities, according to an Education ministry report. A few attend their local mainstream school, though most go to special schools and centres in urban areas, too far for most Rwandans.

The High Court in Garissa has stopped the Garissa and Mandera executive committees from carrying out any official functions pending determination of a case filed by a lobby group.
The Northern Nomadic Disabled Persons Organisation moved to court challenging the composition of the cabinet named by Garissa governor Nadhif Jama and his Mandera counterpart Ali Roba.

“The rights of the disabled as enshrined in the constitution are not a privilege,” Hassan said. “The persons we want nominated to these committees meet all the required educational and technical expertise required for the office.”

Hassan thanked Wajir governor Ahmed Abdullahi for nominating a disabled person Rukia Ahmed who has been assigned the ICT docket in the executive committee.

“We are keenly waiting for the Marsabit list where we had five of our own apply, in Isiolo no disabled person was included in the committee but we have no issue as none applied,” Hassan said. “In Garissa and Mandera, five fully qualified disabled persons applied in each county. This is why we feel short changed."

UNICEF reports on a school in Bamako, Mali, that ensures its 160 pupils with hearing impairments have an education. Watch in RealPlayer

Like all children, those with disabilities have many abilities, but are often excluded from society by discrimination and lack of support, leaving them among the most invisible and vulnerable children in the world.

On 30 May, UNICEF launched its flagship report The State of the World’s Children 2013: Children with Disabilities. The report brings global attention to the urgent needs of a largely invisible population.

It’s been almost 10 years since teachers searched the streets of Bamako for hearing-impaired Malian children, 19 of whom would be their first pupils. Today, the School of Hope is ensuring that its 160 pupils have an education - and a role at the centre of their families.

BAMAKO, Mali, 5 June 2013 ? Discrimination against hearing-impaired children is declining in Mali, says Moussa Sanogo, headmaster of the School of Hope in the capital, Bamako. “We started the school in 1994 with 19 pupils whom we, the teachers, found by going out on the streets of Bamako,” he says.

“These days,” continues Mr. Sanogo, “there are schools like ours in every region of Mali, and this means everyone knows of someone who is deaf. The situation is much improved,” he adds.

The school now has 160 pupils, but Mr. Sanogo deals daily with the prejudice and pain that can surround disability. “It is common for the father to blame the child’s mother,” he says. “I spend time dealing with ructions in families when, in fact, what I want to get across is the importance of not isolating this child, of bringing him or her into the centre of the family.”

His message has been picked up loud and clear by Seydou Diarra, an electrician who lives with his wife, Djita, and their six children in the Magnambougou district. Last year, Mr. Diarra attended sign language classes on Saturday mornings at the School of Hope, where his 11-year daughter, Fatoumata, is a pupil.

The Diarra household is adjacent to a busy market. The family share a yard with another family, so there are always a dozen children milling around. The eldest, 15-year-old Wassa, says she and the others look out for Fatoumata.

Asked who her best friend is among her brothers and sisters, Fatoumata points to Bakary, a brother two years her senior. Bakary has picked up some sign language.

Like many poor Malian children, Fatoumata has a range of chores assigned to her. It’s a matter of pride in the family that she, like the others, runs errands, does laundry and even sells coconut sweets made by her mother.

Eleven-year-old Fatoumata lives in Magnambougou district. She carries out chores at home and attends lessons at School of Hope. Last year, her father attended sign-language courses on Saturday mornings at the school.
The strong bond between Mr. Diarra and Fatoumata is evident. “I do not know why, but even before she became sick, we had a special understanding,” he says. “She was only a year old, and she called me ‘papa’, and she brought me my slippers when I came home from work.”

Fatoumata was barely a year old when she fell ill with suspected meningitis and lost her hearing.

Every morning, Mr. Diarra takes his daughter to the School of Hope on the back of his motorbike.

The school’s tidy playground and immaculately maintained classrooms are filled with the happy cries of the hearing-impaired children, carrying UNICEF schoolbags. The sign language chattering in the shade of a tree is brought to halt by headmaster Sanogo’s dramatic hand-waving.

The children gather around a small garden and sign the national anthem of Mali as the flag is hoisted in silence.

Mr. Sanogo says 90 per cent of the pupils at the School of Hope are survivors of meningitis ? an inflammation of the protective membranes of the spine and brain. Meningitis vaccination campaigns have been stepped up in recent years.

In 2011, UNICEF reached nearly 11 million Malians under the age of 29. >From 2014, meningitis will be included in routine campaigns in the region.

On a visit to the School of Hope, UNICEF Mali Representative Francoise Ackermans called for more to be done to identify disabled children. “ The situation in Mali is similar to other developing countries. We do not really know how many disabled children there are.”

“Even today, many children with disabilities are hidden or are on the street. Yet, they have the same rights [as all children]. We have to identify them. We have support their families, their communities.

“Children should be at school. They should be able to play together, to grow and to become citizens,” she says.

MBABANE - A report surrounding the contro-versy in hosting the Miss Deaf Queen of Africa has been compiled and is ready for submission.

It explains the whole saga that led to the abrupt resignation of former Miss Deaf Pageant Director Noku-thula Mbatha after citing sabotage by the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture (SNCAC) over a licence to host the International Miss Deaf Queen of Africa.

The detailed document is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs’ Principal Secretary’s office.
Mbatha resigned following a bitter clash with the SNCAC over hosting rights for the international beauty contest scheduled for September 28.

“A full report has been compiled and is ready to be handed over to the Principal Secretary Sicelo Dlamini,” said Swaziland Beauty Pageants Association’s President Tony Dlamini.

However, he could not highlight its contents as it is yet to be handed over to the PS. “I do not want to be seen pre-empting it,” Dlamini said.
The country is expected to host the Miss Deaf Queen of Africa for the first time in the history of the pageant.

The directors of the international contest were very impressed with the Miss Deaf Swaziland contest last year and declared before Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku that Swaziland was next to host the Miss Deaf Queen of Africa for the first time as it met all the requirements.

As sponsorships poured in, including accommodation for the international guests and the venue, the issue of Mbatha having not secured a licence was brought up by the Arts and Culture Council. The SNCAC said only the state can host an international beauty contest.

The Standard Digital News
Updated Thursday, June 6th 2013 at 22:55 GMT +3
By ERICK OCHIENG’

Both Serah Wangare and Simon Kibai, who won in the 10,000m race on the first day of the competition, also won the 5,000m race as the Deaf Athletics Association of Kenya (DAAK) championships at Nyayo National Stadium came to a close yesterday.

Wangare was given a chase by perennial rivals Anne Nasimiyu and Juster Kwamboka but clocked 19:31.5 to win the women contest.

Nasimiyu settled for second place in 20:36.7 while Juster Kwamboka was third in 20:52.4.

World silver medallist Kibai clocked 14:15.0 to prove hot to handle for other world beaters including Michael Letting (14:45.0) and world champion Daniel Kiptum (14:46.7) in the men’s 5000m which was a volatile competition.

Rebecca Matiko walked on air after clinching victories in the women 800m (2:21.3), Javelin (24.80) and 1500m (5:07.00).

“I am now focusing for gold in these categories in Sofia,” said the 17-year --old who is a Form Two student at Gianchere Secondary for the Deaf.

Matiko is hopeful she will get a competent coach to propel her for a win in the global arena as currently she trains under her school teacher Joan Jeremiah.

Matiko added that she was greatly surprised with her win in the 800m which she was attempting for the first time in the Deaflympics. She was position eight in the world championships last year.

World junior steeplechase record holder, Baxton Menjo, also cruised to the tape to win the men’s 800m race in 1:53.2.

“I am sad that I lost to Kibai in the 1,500m, I blame my spikes for not making me comfortable in that run,” Menjo said.

People living with disabilities in Naivasha have accused politicians and some government officers of ignoring their plights. Under the Disabled Resources and Information Center, the group said the CDF office has continually blacklisted them.

According to the centre executive officer Josphat Kimemia, very few disabled students benefit from the bursary fund under CDF.

He said out of the 49 disabled children who had applied for bursary last year, only two were assisted. “For years we have had problems getting bursary for disabled students and we hope that this will change under the current leadership,” he said.

He said 25 disabled students had tendered their bursary application and challenged the CDF officials to give them a chance. Meanwhile, the centre has expressed concern over the rising cases of cerebral palsy in the region.

At least two new cases are recorded every week. Kimemia said majority of cases are from rural areas around the lakeside town. He said their reports indicate that the children were first-borns to young mothers. “Our initial investigations point to lack of information among the young mothers and interference during birth,” he said.

The American Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Michael Owen yesterday pledged to champion the popularization of the Disability Act.

He made this pledge during a friendly visit to the Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disability at the National Stadium Hostels in Freetown.

Explaining the challenges of the Commission, the Chairman, Frederick Kamara told the Ambassador that the Commission is in dire need of establishing itself in the regions which he said will go a long way in popularizing the Commission and indeed the Act. The Chairman also mentioned the need for the development of a database to enable the registration of persons with disability across the country. He said the database will help them put in place development plans for its members. He went on to request for the facilitation of linkages with other disability groups in other countries with which to share experiences. He also requested for other logistical support in the form computers, printers, scanners, photocopier and vehicles to facilitate the work of the Commission.

Ambassador Owen said the popularization of the Act will be his priority as he will continue to speak to the press on the issue and use any other forum that opens to him to state something on the issue.

He promised to facilitate the information exchange between the National Commission and other disability groups internationally.

He pledged to continue the good relationship between his country and the people of Sierra Leone, especially with regards disability.

The Chairman of the Commission expressed gratitude to the Ambassador and team for the visit.

Malawi: Disability Minister Bemoans the Use of Children With Disabilities to Beg

AllAfrica.com
BY MARY MAKHIRINGA, 7 JUNE 2013
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Lilongwe - The Minister of Disability and Elderly Affairs Reen Kachere on Thursday described as unfortunate the tendency of some parents who use their children with disability to go round town begging.

The Minister was speaking in after she officially launched a report, known as the situation analysis of children with disabilities report titled 'From exclusion to inclusion' which among other things highlights problems that children with disabilities face in their day to day life and possible interventions that the society at large need to give to such children.

She also noted that some adults with disabilities are also involved in this malpractice thereby making the cities of Malawi not pleasing.

"My Ministry noted with concern that some parents are using their children with disabilities to go round town begging, this is a violation of human rights as these children are kept the whole day in the streets with no food or water.

"As a Ministry we are trying our best to equip these people with disabilities with various skills. We empower them by giving them loans to start up various businesses as well as employing them at our MACOHA factory in Bangwe," said the Minister.

Kachere further said that these people need to be brought together one day and be told on the badness of their tendency.

"We need to organise a function one day whereby we need to educate these people on the badness of going round in town begging.

"In this regard, there is need to involve people with disabilities who are doing better in life so that they can give a good example to their friends who spend most of their times in the streets, In such a way am sure these people can be motivated to stop going out in the streets begging," she suggested.

Reports indicate that 36,741 children are living with hearing impairment while 27,021 children are living with visual impairment.

42 per cent of these disabled children are by birth, five per cent by accident, two per cent by snake bite, and 12 per cent is not known.

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Six head teachers, four teachers and two invigilators have been blacklisted by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), after investigations into the 2012 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exam malpractices.

In a report released on Friday at the UNEB headquarters in Ntinda, the body announced that the results of over 1,000 students had been indefinitely cancelled.

Dan Nokrach Odongo, the UNEB deputy secretary and head of Secondary School Examination Department, said the cancelled results were of students who had prior knowledge of practical examinations, got external assistance, smuggled unauthorised material into examination rooms and were involved collusion as well as impersonation.

Gomba Global College in Butambala and Naggalama Islamic Institute in Mukono had their centre numbers withdrawn because the school heads acted in "an awkward manner" towards the invigilators.

"In Naggalama Islamic Institute, an invigilator detected malpractices and confiscated the materials, but it was forcefully removed from her and she was assaulted," Odongo said.

At Gomba Global College, Odongo said the candidates confessed to having contributed sh5,000 when the malpractices were detected by the invigilators, but the head teacher, Kyowa Abbey, destroyed the evidence and gave out new stationery to the culprits to do the exams. UNEB handed Kyowa to the Police on finding out.

Other UCE candidates, whose results were cancelled, are from Trinity High School Lugoba, Mbale Secondary School, St. Joseph's Seminary Nyenga, St. Joseph's Girls School Nkono, Luzira Secondary School, Light Secondary School Soroti, Central College Kawempe, Savio Secondary School Lira, Mt. Rwenzori Girls Secondary School, Mbale School for the Deaf, Padel Townhall, Luwero Mixed Secondary School and Albert Secondary School Hoima among others.

Others are St. John's Secondary School Nandere in Luwero, Ntinda View College in Kampala, Kiboga Progressive Secondary School, Valley College Senior Secondary School Bushenyi, Oxford High School Mbale among others.

Results of a student of St. Mary's College Kisubi, who mismatched answers of the question above and below throughout, were cancelled.

Athanasius Tumuhaise of Canon Njagala High School Hoima reportedly "performed the physics experiment and gave the results to nine candidates. He was handed over to the Police for action.

Liberia: Blind Justice - Liberia's Visually Impaired Get Protection Law After House Concurs

The house of Representative Tuesday concurred on an act passed by the Liberian senate to provide freedom of movement for Blind and Visual impaired people in Liberia.

The bill was concurred on by plenary of the house Tuesday as a result of a report submitted to that August body by the joint committees on Health and Social Welfare and Judiciary after reviewing it.

The bill titled "Creating the Freedom of Movement and Protection for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Liberia, according to the joint committees before submitting its report the committee, cited the leadership of the Association of the Blind and visually impaired and lengthily discussed the bill with clarity.

The bill among several things states that the blind and visually impaired as citizens of Liberia are entitled to freedom of movement and protection in accordance with Article 15 and 20 of the Liberian constitution.

The new law mandates the government of Liberia to ensure that the blind and visually impaired are afforded equal opportunity to participate fully in the political, social, and economic life of the state, and to engage in the remunerative employment.

The bill also state that "as Citizens of Liberia, the Blind and visually impaired need to have and enjoy the same rights as able-bodied or non- disable persons, to the full use of the streets, highways, walkways, public building and other public places and facilities."

The bill also provides grant justification for the full protection and accessibility by statue for the blind and visually impaired who make up 31% of the 16% disable or 173,600 blind people.

The bill also mandates all drivers to give the right away to all visually impaired and blind person who attempt crossing a street through the guide of a white cane, guide Dog or human guide.

The bill though received the support of most of the Representatives but Henry Fahnbulleh (UP-District #4 Montserrado County) had a different opinion on the matter

He argued that the bill segregates between the blind and the physically-challenge and one that does not holistically address issues that affect others who are physically challenged.

Fahnbulleh, who file in a motion for reconsideration said: "We are not just here to pass bill and concur with the Senate. I am saying here today that this particular bill is bias and not holistic because it excludes the physically-challenge and discriminates against those who are physically challenged."

Rep. Fahnbulleh's motion for reconsideration was denied by majority of his colleagues who saw his advocacy as being politically motivated.

Meanwhile the president of the Liberia Association of the Blind Mr. Beyan Korta in a telephone conversation with FPA expressed his happiness about the passage of the bill.

Korta said, the passage of the bill is a dream come true for blind people in Liberia and described it as a piece of legislation that will give hope to Blind and Visually impaired people in Liberia.

ZANZIBAR ministers have warned parents to stop hiding children with disabilities. They have encouraged the parents to take their socially disadvantaged children to school so they open doors for them for the future.

Ms Fatma Abdulhabib Fereji, a Minister of State (Disabilities) and Ms Zainab Omar Mohammed, the Minister for Social Welfare, Youths, Children and Women Development, issued the statement when they visited Upendo Centre for Deaf Children at Mwanakwerekwe on Unguja island.

They said that children with disabilities have talents just like other children and therefore they should not be denied the opportunity to prove their potential, since government policy pushes for education for all, including people with disabilities. “Let us show love to all children including those with disabilities,” Ms Fatma said.

Ms Zainab emphasised that the community has a great role to make sure that no children are hidden in homes. “Expose any parent who hides such a child. It is inhuman.” The ministers were also accompanied by a visitor from South Korea who donated writing equipment, school bags, shoes and toys for the deaf children at Upendo.

The centre, which was established in 2005 takes care of about 40 children with hearing impairments. Upendo centre secretary Mwanajuma Zahoro told the ministers that the centre was facing several challenges including shortage of skilled teachers who would handle deaf children.

She also said that there was a lack of equipment, transport facilities, increasing costs of renting the house they live in and poor pay for teachers.

Myjoyonline.com-
From: Kwaku Owusu Peprah
Published On: June 12, 2013, 00:00 GMT

Man was born to function efficiently with all five senses but when he cannot hear, the story is different.
Have you ever paused to wonder how the deaf and people who are hard of hearing find their way around in a world where most communication is by sound?

Well the deaf live in a world of silence so many of them get lost, no matter how loud you call them.
This is the reality of life for the hundreds of such people who travel daily around the country.
But how do they cope? Kwaku Owusu Peprah has been finding out as he communicates through a sign language interpreter.

“Many people don’t respect us. One time I went to buy an item to my home. I was going to Adiembra [a suburb of Takoradi in the Western Region]. I could not hear the shouts of my destination at the taxi rank and I was very frustrated,” a deaf woman told Owusu Peprah.

This may have happened at a taxi rank but there are many tales of abuse, discrimination and prejudice against people with hearing impairment.
In the bank, at the hospital, in the schools the abuses are enormous. On Hotline this Thursday, Joy FM airs the first of a two-part documentary dubbed The Sounds of Silence.

Political parties willing to participate in the proportional representation system ahead of the harmonised elections will be required to submit their party lists in advance to allow for the sharing of the seats, according to Electoral Act amendments endorsed by Cabinet on Tuesday. The amendments were made to align the Electoral Act with the new Constitution ahead of the polls expected to be held by July 31.

Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa said without the party lists, the political parties would not be considered for proportional representation system.

"The lists should have six people per province in respect of the women's quota and six per province for the Senate and 10 per province on the provincial council," he said. "If they submit the party lists, it means they will participate in the sharing of seats available for allocation.

"After the elections, Zec will, province by province, aggregate the votes cast for candidates of the political parties which are participating in the proportional representation system. They will divide the aggregate figure by six in case of the Senate and women's quota and by 10 in case of the provincial council members."

Added Minister Chinamasa: "This will give us what we call the quota which in terms of figures is the value of each seat. Zec will proceed to aggregate the votes cast for candidates of each political party participating in the proportional representation system without regards to whether that candidate won the election or not.

"The aggregate for each political party will then be divided by the quota to determine how many seats to give to that party."

Minister Chinamasa said if there was a remainder, it would be dealt with after the initial allocation of seats.

On people living with disabilities, Minister Chinamasa said two representatives would be selected through an electoral college to represent them in the Senate.

Members of the electoral college, Minister Chinamasa said, would be composed of people living with disabilities.

"In the new Constitution, there is a provision that two persons have to be elected to the Senate to represent persons with disabilities," he said.

"We have agreed to create an electoral college to elect these two, who obviously should be a man and a woman."

Minister Chinamasa said each form of disability had a national association and each would be required to nominate four delegates to constitute the electoral college.

"We have been advised that there are 16 national associations representing one form of disability or another, for example, we have a national association for the blind or the deaf and dumb," he said. "These, each of them, have to give us two women and two men to go into the electoral college.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) welcomes the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Tanzania and the ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled.

Tanzania has a population of 43 million, 3.4 million of whom are disabled. Deprived of educational opportunities in childhood and as adults unable to take part in socio-economic activities, disabled Tanzanians are often among the poorest people in the country.

Access to health care and physical rehabilitation services, particularly for those living in rural areas, is especially difficult. It is estimated that only two per cent of disabled Tanzanians have used rehabilitation services.

The Ministry of Health and the Special Fund have launched a programme to promote the rights of disabled people. "The ultimate aim is to ensure that all those in need of physical rehabilitation have access to the necessary services.

This will have an effect, not only on individual lives but on the entire society," said Dr Hussein Ally Mwinyi, Minister for Health and Social Welfare.

Disabled people throughout the country will be identified and referred to the proper physical rehabilitation facilities, and their difficulties in gaining access to rehabilitation services dealt with. Furthermore, the development of regional satellite workshops nearer their homes will make it easier for disabled people to reach physical rehabilitation facilities.

"It is envisaged that the government of Tanzania will take greater responsibility for this programme by allocating an increasing percentage of the budget, to ensure not only its continuity but also its prospects for expansion," said Jozef Nagels, who heads the Special Fund in Tanzania.

The ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled was created in 1983. It aims to achieve the socio-economic integration of disabled people by promoting accessibility to rehabilitation centres, enhancing the quality of patient services, and ensuring the long-term functioning of the centres. For further information, please contact:

Somaliland: Government to Employ Qualified Handicapped Citizens-President Silanyo

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) - Students graduating from schools the hearing impaired in the country have been promised priority in civil service employment.

The president H.E Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo promised this during a meeting with students from countrywide schools of the deaf at the presidency in Hargeisa.

The hearing impaired students from the Borama, Burao, Gabile and Hargeisa schools for the deaf astounded the assembly by singing the Somaliland national anthem through sign language which was translated to the head of state by their tutors.

"Am very pleased and satisfied by what I have seen and heard about your educational developments in the various institutions" said president Silanyo. Presenting a speech in sign language. The head of state who promised the institutions priority of employment of their graduates within the civil service further reaffirmed his administration's commitment to the development of education without discrimination to all in the country.

A youthful impaired student made a lengthily speech in sign language that detailed various aspects of their education and wishes from the state said he, "We are very proud to be taugSinging the national anthem in sign languageht in a primary and secondary school syllabus similarly with other schools in the country"
This is the third time for the head of state to meet and brief students having held similar meetings with secondary school and university students a couple of months back.

Others gracing the occasion included the first lady Ms Amina Sh Mohamed Jirdeh 'Amina Weris', Vice president Hon Abdirahman Sayli, Presidency minister Hirsi Haji Ali, Education minister Ms Zamzam Abdi Aden, Finance minister Abdiaziz Samale, Livestock minister Dr Abdi Aw Dahir and Agriculture minister Prof Farah Elmi Gedode.

Yusuf Amuda, President, West Africa Deaf Association, on Friday in Lagos appealed to the Federal Government to accord equal opportunity to Nigerian deaf athletes as their able-bodied counterparts.

Amuda, a member of the Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation, said that deaf athletes were intelligent people who could lift the country’s image at international competitions.

He noted that the only issue they had was that they were deaf, but could do what able-bodied athletes engaged in and even perform better.

“Government and other people should treat us like those that can hear; we should not be looked down on. Our hearing impairment does not make us dumb.

“If government gave us equal recognition like the able-bodied, it could not have allowed us to feature in just three sports at the upcoming Deaflympic Games in Bulgaria.

“I am not saying that government is not trying but it needs to do more by helping us to attend international competitions apart from the Deaflympics,’’ he said.

Amuda also said that sports had improved the standard of most deaf players and had taught them that they could relate with others without resigning to their impaired situation.

“I am happy that sports are teaching deaf people that we should not resign to our fate and that we can operate with others in friendship and love.

“Sports are based on fair play and tolerance which the athletes are adopting in their everyday activity; so, more of those who are talented should join sports,’’ he said.

Amuda also urged parents to encourage their children to participate in sports as doing so would keep them busy and away from vices.

PEOPLE living with hearing impairment in the country should give their opinions on the draft constitution released recently, to enable them get their basic rights, Deputy Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Mrs Anjela Kairuki has said.

Speaking at a one-day seminar that drew participants from women of different walks of life, Mrs Kairuki said Tanzania has over one million women living with hearing disability and the number was increasing every day.

"We have planned to help such disabled women and children by providing them with opportunities to participate in different social, political and economic activities, so as to improve their income, because there are limited opportunities for them to access education and other income-generating activities," she said.

In order to encourage women and other people with disability she said, the government has decided to provide them with free training that will enable them acquire skills on entrepreneurship.

She promised to contribute 1mil/- to enable them access loans from Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS).

"The government has also resolved to build one classroom for the deaf at Buguruni Primary School in Dar es Salaam, to accommodate more deaf students whose number has been increasing," she noted.

Commenting on the funding, the minister said the government will consult the Union and find ways of supporting them with credit facilities.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of Tanzania women union for people living with hearing impairment, Ms Tungi Mwanjale thanked the government for its continued support.

She said that the members of the Union were benefiting in all aspects of the country's activities including politics, social as well as economic activities.

"Despite the government's support, the Union still faces many challenges including disabled women who are often discriminated and at times denied their basic rights.

"We kindly ask the government to support us, by extending loans to our society that will enable us run our various business activities.

Dr. Ephraim Avea Nsoh, the Upper West Regional Minister, has warned that consultants and contractors that do shoddy works on government projects would be blacklisted in the region.

He said they could have their work terminated should they fail to supervise their works, use the right materials and or hand over projects on time.

Dr. Nsoh said this on at the weekend when he inspected on-going government projects in the Wa Municipality.

The Minister inspected the Regional Innovation Centre, which was started in 2009 by the Ministry of Communication at a cost of GH shil.382,000. Work on that project is 85% complete though it was expected to be completed in 2012.

Dr. Nsoh also visited the site for construction of the new Upper West Regional Library by Messrs Consar Limited. The GETFund (Ghana Education Trust Fund) project, which was given out on contract in 2010 at a cost of three million Ghana Cedis is 60% complete.

At the Wa Senior High Technical School, the Regional Minister inspected eight projects - an assembly hall, science and mathematics laboratory, dining hall and kitchen, administration block, dormitory blocks, semi-detached quarters, classrooms and a fence wall.

Six of the projects had been completed and handed over to the school for use, while a 12-unit classroom block that was yet to be completed was in use and the dormitory block was also yet to be completed.

Dr. Nsoh later inspected a site for proposed hall of residence for students of the University for Development Studies, lecture hall complex, clinic, library complex with offices, a 12-unit classroom for the Wa Senior High School and a primary and Administration block at the Wa School for the Deaf.

He expressed satisfaction with most of the projects that were under construction and encouraged contractors to speed up the work.

Dr. Nsoh told the contractors not to use inadequate allocation of funds for the projects as an excuse but should count themselves blessed for getting the contracts.

Prof. Francis Z.L. Bacho, Dean in-charge of the Wa Campus for the University for Development Studies, commended the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council for the support given to the Wa campus since its establishment in September 2002.

He said they could open up more faculties in the Wa Campus should the projects under construction be completed on time.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has today urged parents against hiding their children with disabilities from the public as the practice is a violation of their rights.

The First Lady pointed out that hiding persons with disabilities is discrimination on the basis of their physical or mental ability and sometimes impeded efforts by government and non government agencies from identifying and assisting them.

The First Lady said it was disheartening to know that some of the persons with disabilities are confined so as not to be seen or heard instead of embracing them with love and understanding.

"Within our families and institutions are people living with disabilities. All of us were created in God's image and therefore we must embrace one another irrespective of our limitations," said the First Lady.

She was speaking at the start of this year's edition of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Annual Gender and Disability mainstreaming week at the university.

The First Lady acknowledged the annual event, themed Gender and Disability Mainstreaming, as a reflection of the much needed commitment by both individuals and institutions to contribute towards gender and disability mainstreaming.

She further observed that the event theme resonate deeply with the Social pillar of Vision 2030 which aims at bringing all citizens on board to partake in development regardless of their status.

She noted with appreciation that besides national frameworks, JKUAT has institutionalized measures to streamline gender parity both in student and staff populations.

The First Lady commended JKUAT for surpassing the constitutional 30% gender requirement in staffing and student enrollment, adding that "The establishment of Gender and Mentoring centre and the development of Anti -sexual Offenses policy are progressive steps towards achieving gender inclusion and making the institution an inclusive place for all stakeholders".

The First lady appreciated that JKUAT has already taken the right steps in implementing affirmative action targeting people living with disabilities in student admissions and staff employment.

The First Lady, who launched the University's Anti-sexual Harassment and Disability mainstreaming policies, however challenged the University to enhance disability mainstreaming from its current level of 0.5 per cent to the national aspiration of 5 percent.

She called on public and private agencies to recognize the fact that it takes inclusion of both men and women in all day to day functions to enable the country realize meaningful development.

The JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof. Mabel Imbuga said that the university has put in place the necessary mechanisms to cater for needs of persons with disabilities enrolled at the institution.

Prof. Imbuga cited the newly established rehabilitation centre saying that it will go along way in addressing the various challenges affecting persons with disability.

During the occasion, nominated MP Mwaura Maigua, said persons with disability continue to face many challenges in their daily activities and efforts must be made to ensure that they were effectively facilitated to live normal life.

AllAfrica.com-2013/06/17
17 JUNE 2013
Zimbabwe
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It was Nelson Mandela, in 1994 who once said, "There is no keener revelation of a society's soul than how it treats its children!" The State of the World's Children Report 2013 -- launched on May 30 by the United Nations Children Fund -- exposes the chilling reality of the plight of children living with disabilities.

Dedicating Unicef's flagship annual publication to children with disabilities puts the spotlight on these children whose talents or aspirations are constrained by ignorance, intolerance and stigma.

Highlights from the report reveal the stark reality of children living with disabilities globally. Although speculative, the data suggests that some 93 million children around world aged 14 or younger live with a moderate or severe disability of some kind.

According to the World Health Organisation in many developing countries only 5-15 percent of the people who need walking frames, hearing aids or other such assistive devices are able to obtain them.

Because the methods of classification and methodology for collecting disability statistics are varied, it is difficult to determine precise data on the population of people living with a disability in Zimbabwe. While consistent and accurate information on children with disabilities helps reveal the extent and level of access to fundamental rights and essential social services, the national data survey tools in Zimbabwe do not provide data on people with disability.

One of the few attempts to provide useful information on the living conditions and quality of life of people with disability in Zimbabwe is the Disability Living Conditions Survey, published in 2003.

According to this survey, 29 percent of children with disability (34 percent female and 22 percent male) never attended school, in comparison with 10 percent of non-disabled children (12 percent female and 8 percent male) -- this is a differential of almost three-fold.

Many children with disabilities experience stigma from birth and are prone to exclusion, concealment, abandonment, institutionalisation and abuse. Compared to their peers, they are routinely denied access to health, education and social services.

Data limitations notwithstanding, children living with disabilities in the more remote areas, especially rural areas in Zimbabwe face even bigger challenges and are subjected to greater discrimination with limited or no access to any services compared to disabled children in the urban areas.

These children, along with their parents -- their mothers especially -- are more likely to be ostracised and banished from society, being accused of witchcraft and other curses. As a result, these children face even more exclusion and deprivation. Indeed, disability is invariably perceived in very negative and pejorative ways.

It is indeed saddening that people living with disabilities -- especially children -- encounter multiple attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers that militate against their effective inclusion with Zimbabwean society. It is a common perception within Zimbabwe that disabled people are passive and economically unproductive and therefore constitute a "burden" upon society.

Government support to people with disabilities in Zimbabwe was at its peak in the mid-1990s and was a regional best practice example of Government commitment to supporting the most vulnerable. However, the current administrative and institutional infrastructure arrangements are an example of the significant erosion of basic social services for these children.

Limited funding from Treasury continues to be available for the restoration of Zimbabwe's renowned "Rehabilitation Units" at Government clinics and hospitals; specialised services in schools and dedicated assistance grants and procurement through the Department of Social Services within the Ministry of Labour and Social Services.

Disability issues have not had the high-level priority status within the Government of Zimbabwe, despite the establishment of the National Disability Board and the appointment of a Presidential Advisor on disability issues.

Current efforts by the Government, supported by development partners, seek to change this through conducting a new nationally representative survey on disability to provide more reliable evidence that can feed into programmes and policies, complemented by the ramping-up advocacy and programming to ensure the realisation of the rights of all people -- especially children -- living with disabilities.

Programmatic efforts to revive dedicated services for children living with disabilities also include a national cash transfer programme benefiting more than 30 000 of the poorest and most vulnerable families; 60 percent of which include people with disabilities.

Slow and steady work has begun with the Ministry of Health to restore dedicated rehabilitation units to identify and treat children with disabilities as well as provide family care. A system for tracking children with disabilities and main-streaming is now included in the national health information system.

Last week, the Government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities; bolstering Zimbabwe's already strong legislative and policy framework for these vulnerable children. These efforts mean little, however, without long term, sustained and substantial financial resources.

Changing perceptions and policies with the active involvement of children with disabilities is vital to fulfil their rights and the promise of a truly inclusive society. In addition, we should strive for more inclusive societies that improve the situation of many children with disabilities. Key steps have to be taken to accelerate progress and reduce disparities.

As Zimbabweans, we need to remind ourselves that a child is not disabled because they cannot walk, hear, see or have albinism; they are disabled by a society that excludes them. It is important for us all to focus on a child's abilities and potential instead of what they cannot do! Concentrating on the abilities and potential of children with disabilities would create benefits for society as a whole.

Children with disabilities have the same rights and needs as all children. They have the right to survive and thrive, to be included in the lives of their communities and societies, to live healthy lives and reach their full potential, and to become productive members of their societies. However, children with disabilities have too often been invisible in policies, in national programmes, in data and in societies exacerbating their exclusion and contributing to inequity.

They are visibly absent from large scale funding disbursements. They often have less access to services such as health and education, and are more likely to be subjected to neglect and abuse. Working with the Government of Zimbabwe, Unicef and partners want to change that!

Katima Mulilo - The chairperson of the Disability Network Forum, Sylvia Chidunka, says people with disabilities continue to be discriminated against and sidelined and also called on government to increase the grants for disabled people.

Chidunka said this last Friday when a group of people living with disabilities gathered in Katima Mulilo for a late celebration of National Disability Day.

"People with disabilities are often neglected in many aspects of life, be it jobs, education or sports. They are called names. We want people to start taking us seriously. Even in parliament there's only one disabled person. We want that to change so that our cries can be heard. We also appeal to government to increase our grants," Chidunka said.

She appealed to disabled people who may not have access to services to go and register themselves.

"Please bring people with disabilities, don't hide them and deny them their rights. They need to benefit from what the government is providing," urged Chidunka.

Chidunka, who also serves as the manager of the Mainstream Foundation, a charity organization that cares for children with disabilities, called on potential benefactors to help the organization to renovate its offices.

The offices are located in the abandoned buildings of the defunct Mapilelo, an HIV and AIDS project. "We were given this building by the Ministry of Health and Social Services. We need this building to be renovated as you can see it is old. We are appealing to donors or those willing to assist us to do so. This is for the benefit of the children with disabilities and the community at large," said Chidunka.

Kisco Inambao, who is visually impaired, urged people living with disabilities in the region to cooperate before blaming bureaucracy for delays in providing services to disabled people.

"We should work together when these events are happening. This is the only way for us to create awareness about our needs. We also have problems with officials in the offices. They keep postponing appointments with us over and over. This is leading to delays in us getting our services," said Inambao.

AllAfrica.com-2013/06/17
BY NASIR IMAM, 17 JUNE 2013
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Children of disabled persons at Karomajiji disabled community along Airport road Abuja were at the weekend immunized against the wild polio virus.

Executive Director, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board (FCTPHCDB), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, at the event, said the Board is partnering with AMAC to conduct the Immunization Plus Days vaccination simultaneously in all the six area councils of the territory.

He said the FCTPHCDB is presently conducting a house-based macro plan in conjunction with WHO in order to take stock and enumerate houses which will aid planning for the teams to conduct the polio vaccination.

Dr. Rilwan said there were lots of rejection of immunization in the disabled community initially, hence, the decision to conduct the flag- off of the exercise which, according to him is free and safe.

He said because of the high influx of people, there are 9 high-risk wards against the 12 wards in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) but said the Board is collaborating with WHO and UNICEF to tackle the outbreak of polio in the FCT.

The Executive Secretary, who said Nigeria has 96% burden of polio in the world with Afghanistan and Pakistan having only 4%, therefore urged residents to accept the immunization saying "prevention is better than cure."

AllAfrica.com
BY MARTIN MWITA, 17 JUNE 2013
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PERSONS living with disability in Mombasa have accused the county government of sidelining them. The disabled have accused politicians of using them during the campaigns and dumping them after elections.

Speaking at the Changamwe social hall, Changamwe Network for Persons with Special Needs chairman James Karanja challenged the county government to involve them in the devolved government. He said disability mainstreaming program is likely to fail if the disabled are not fully involved.

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ICC Says Kenyan President Can Skip Some Court Sessions The International Criminal Court (ICC) has given Deputy President William Ruto the green light to skip some Court … see more ≫

Two pregnant girls from Effutu are among the 3,139 candidates in the Cape Coast Metropolis writing this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) which started on Monday.

Out of the 2,500 candidates writing in five of the seven centres in the Cape Coast Metropolis visited, 12 were absent and inquiries made by the GNA indicated that some of them have travelled out of the country.

The centres visited were the Saint Augustine’s, Adisadel, Mfantsipim, Holy Child and Effitu Senior High Schools.

The Adisadel College centre recorded the highest number of absentees, four males and three females out of the 639 candidates from 16 schools.

Mr. Robert Eghan, the Supervisor in charge of the Adisadel centre told the GNA that one female candidate travelled out of the country but had no idea about the others.

At the St Augustine’s centre, there was only one female absentee out of the 430 candidates from nine schools, whilst at Holy Child two of 470 candidates from 13 schools were absent with 25 of them being deaf and dumb from the Cape Coast School for the Deaf.

Mr. Lawrence Owusu Addi said the atmosphere was calm with all the students comporting themselves, adding that, initial problems, including wrongful spelling of names were rectified before the commencement of the English objectives paper.

At the Effutu Senior High Centre, two pregnant girls among the 255 candidates were spotted writing their paper.

Ms. Vivian Etroo, Metropolitan Education Director for Cape Coast told the GNA that the girls were allowed to write the exams to enable them to continue schooling after delivering, if they so wish.

She said the Mfantsipim centre had 540 candidates from 14 schools and Wesley Girls, 377 from 11 schools.

Also at the Aggrey Memorial School centre in the Abura-Asebu Kwamankese (AAK) District, one pregnant girl was spotted writing the exams.

At Saint Ann’s centre at Ntranoa in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality, 325 candidates from 13 schools are participating with only one absentee.

The KEEA Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Gademor Gabriel when contacted said, 1,367 students from 72 schools are writing at eight centres in the Municipality.

All the supervisors at the various centres said there had been no incidents so far as the students have comported themselves. A total of 40,520 candidates are writing the BECE in the Region.

AllAfrica.com
BY CLEMANS MIYANICWE, 18 JUNE 2013
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Opuwo -^ AFTER seeing many Himba and Zemba people unable to access education because of hearing impairment, Uatetere van der Merwe decided to start a sign language training centre to cater for deaf community members at the northern town.

The training centre, which is based inside one of the rooms at old Kunene regional office, has 40 students of which 25 live outside Opuwo.

“Students stay far away and due to long distances are unable to attend classes,” Van der Merwe said through a translator.

Van der Merwe was born at Ehomba, situated more than 100 kilometres away from Opuwo.

He believes that the community keeps children with disabilities such as hearing impairment away from school because they have not seen educated people with the same challenge.

Van der Merwe laments that people with disabilities are still rejected by community members. “It does not mean just because you are like that (hearing impaired) that one is unable to do anything.”

According to him most of the children do not go to school due to lack of communication between teachers and parents.

In a letter Van der Merwe wrote to Kazeungere Tjeundo, he requested hostel accommodation for those who will attend sign language classes.

He also wants the programme to be incorporated in the national literacy programme and has said that he's willing to accept any guidance.

“I find it difficult to access my learners and prospective learners in the district. There is no vehicle,” Van der Merwe said of the challenges he is facing.

Another issue he deals with is about the hearing impaired people not understanding translations in court and then are convicted in cases where they would otherwise not have been.

“I have a strong feeling in my heart to help all people who have the same communication difficulties as mine,” he said. He pleaded with business people to assist the new centre financially.

The deaf man said that Namibia's Vision 2030 recognises that special efforts are needed in order to ensure that people living with disabilities are well integrated into mainstream of the society. His objective is to see the Ministry of Education empower deaf people by strengthening education for deaf people and sign language.

Emanual, Kunene regional coordinator for National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN) said that teachers must be trained in basic of sign language and that Kunene region is in need of a fully equipped sign language school.

Emanual also advised that the government and Non-governmental organisations should have awareness campaigns on the importance of sign language.

“Everywhere we go, it's a problem. That is why this school was started. Those in offices must come and attend,” she said.

For more information, contact Emanual at 0812356730/065273134 or sms Van der Merwe at 0813331274.

Children with hearing disabilities of Egypt's The Silent dance troupe have achieved acclaim as a 'step forward in the history of dance theatre' will perform on 25 June in Alexandria

The Silent, a dance troupe of children with hearing disabilities, will perform at Al-Horreya Centre for Creative Arts on 25 June in Alexandria.
Choreographer and director Reda Abdel Aziz helps the hearing impaired children by transforming the melodies into waves the dancers can feel - what he calls "bony contact."

The goal behind forming The Silent group in 2005 was to develop a new creative generation of children with special needs who are open to the world. As a result, they will be able to contribute to building a creative, mature and open society.

The group, established in Al-Mahla Al-Kobra governorate in northern Cairo, achieved great international success through many festivals. Many theatrical dance experts described their work as a step forward in the history of dance theatre.

Miss Deaf Swaziland Vuyisile Masangane (C) with First Princess Lindokuhle Mamba (R) and Second Princess Nelisiwe Dlamini.

MBABANE - Reigning Miss Deaf Swaziland, Vuyisile Masangane, has dropped out of school.

Masangane, who was crowned in September, last year, was doing her second year in Vocational Studies at the School for The Deaf. When schools closed for the first term, Masangane went home just like the rest of the pupils but did not return for her second term.

After seeing that Masangane was not at school, the school tried to track her whereabouts but did not get a proper explanation from her parents. Since the beginning of the term, Masangane has not been to school and this is worrying the school authorities. Thulani Gamedze who spoke on behalf of the school confirmed that the beauty queen had not been to school and their efforts of tracing her whereabouts had failed.

“It is true that Masangane has gone missing. After we discovered that she had not returned for her second term, we tried to engage her parents as we wanted to know the reasons that might have led to such a decision. However, we have failed to get a valid reason as the guardian we talked to did not have proper answers,” he said.

Gamedze said they could not proceed with the investigation as they had difficulty when talking to the parents. “As a school, our hands were tied as the guardian did not come out clear on what had happened to Masangane. We also do not know what really happened. We could not continue with our investigations especially because the guardian was not forthcoming with information,” he said. He said they were also keen to know the problem that might have led Masangane to take such a decision.

“As a school we are also worried because she was among the pupils that were to be graded last year. This is really worrying us. The worse thing is that we have also failed to get proper answers that might have made her to stop attending school,” she said. Meanwhile Nokuthula Mbatha who was in charge of the pageant when Masangane was crowned said she was aware of the rumours.

“I heard that she never went back to school but because I am no longer in charge of the pageant, there was no way I could have pursued the matter. When I heard, I felt bad because there was absolutely nothing I could have done to save the situation,” she aid. Also contacted about the matter was Tony Dlamini, President of the Swaziland Beauty Pageant Association who said they were aware that Masangane was no longer going to school.

“Masangane’s matter is under investigation. We have had several meetings where the matter was discussed. However, it would not be proper for now to disclose any information up until the investigation has been finalised. We have also met with Masangane and she told us her side of the story. Once everything has been finalised, we will be in a position of releasing more information to the public,” he said. Dlamini asked to be called in a week’s time with the hope that the matter would have been finalised by then.

AllAfrica.com-2013/06/18
BY MATHIAS HAUFIKU, 18 JUNE 2013
RELATED TOPICS
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Africa: Fresh Alert Over Severe Weather

Although drought in the Kavango Region has impacted the supply of water and food for tens of thousands of people, especially children - the elderly and the disabled suffer the most from the prevailing drought.

The current drought has been described as the worst in three decades and is likely to get worse before the next rainy season by which time most available food reserves would be depleted. Registration for drought relief food for people worst affected by the drought has already started in the region. Speaking to New Era yesterday, Secretary for the Rundu Urban Local Development Committee, Anna Hausiku, says pensioners and disabled people in Rundu's Sauyemwa location feel the brunt of the drought.

"I visited some of the homesteads in the area to notify the public that they should come and register in order to receive relief aid, and I saw that the elderly people and disabled are really suffering," she said. "I know the majority of the people are affected, but the old people and those with disabilities are the most affected because they cannot do any work to feed themselves, " said the development committee secretary. Hausiku says registration officials are faced with the daunting task of repeatedly informing people that "only those people who are critically affected will receive drought relief food for now," adding that everyone wants to register as being critically affected.

Registration for people living in Sauyemwa, who are critically affected by the drought started yesterday. People residing on the outskirts of Rundu were previously omitted from receiving drought relief food, because they reside within the local authority's jurisdiction. Government however decided to retract its earlier decision and to include the residents of informal settlements who own mahangu fields. Rundu currently has five informal locations namely Kaisosi, Ndama, Kehemu, Sauyemwa and Kasote.

Intellectual Property Watch
Published on 19 June 2013 @ 11:01 pm
By William New, Intellectual Property Watch

World Intellectual Property Organization delegates this week have launched into negotiations expected to yield the first treaty creating exceptions and limitations to copyright for the benefit of visually impaired people. Many delegations have said much work remained to be done in the next ten days to breach differences. A new text on commercial availability was released this evening .

The “Diplomatic Conference to conclude a Treaty to facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities” is taking place from 17-28 June in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The new draft text on commercial availability is available here [pdf]. The status of this document was not clear at press time.

According to the rules of procedures adopted on 18 June with the understanding that the composition of the drafting committee was not yet settled and would be issued later, the diplomatic conference has two main committees. Committee I is in charge of proposing text for adoption by the plenary, and Committee II is responsible for proposing for adoption by the plenary of “any administrative and the final clauses of the Treaty.”

Committee I started work on the afternoon of 18 June, at the close of the first plenary session. According to sources, negotiators have been discussing the issue of commercial availability, which was one sore point in the negotiations leading to the diplomatic conference (IPW, WIPO, 14 June 2013).

Commercial availability appears in Article D (3) (Cross-border exchange of accessible format copies) of the new draft text. This refers to a limitation on cross-border exchange in the case that commercially available copies of special format work exist, within reasonable time and price in the country of importation. It has been vigorously opposed by some developing countries and associations representing blind persons.

Tonight, a new draft proposal was issued in Committee I, for Article D (3) including a series of proposals the United States, the European Union, and the African Group, and informal proposals by Ecuador, and Singapore. The draft proposal was posted by Knowledge Ecology International.

The African Group proposed that “whenever an authorized Entity in a Contracting Party/Member States requests a copy of an accessible format copy, such request shall constitute sufficient evidence that the work requested is not commercially available in the importing country for beneficiary persons.”

The European Union said in its opening statement [pdf], “We are ready to explore all possible compromises that stay within our objective and reach an acceptable level of legal certainty.” The group appears to have proposed in Article D(3) some soothing language for opponents of the commercial availability clause. It states: “Furthermore, it is understood that this Article does not imply [that national law should impose] any duty on the exporting authorized entity to investigate whether the work in the particular accessible format can be obtained under reasonable terms for beneficiary persons in the receiving country or any action that will delay the distribution or making available of the accessible format copy to beneficiary persons.”

In the “informal proposal” of the draft proposal, appears the notion of interoperability, which has been advocated by blind people.

The draft text, as it stands, is still punctuated with brackets (reflecting areas of disagreement).

The Elections and Boundaries Commission should not worry about extending the voting registration time, unless it is for people like the disabled who have not been catered for when it comes to registration (imagine being deaf or blind and trying to register without assistance).

However, Swazis need to learn to do things in time and constant extensions for licenses or voting or whatever teaches the general public that deadlines don’t matter. It also gives the government an excuse to miss deadlines. What is important, though, is that the EBC can feel proud of the number of voters registered so far.

If they can get even 50 per cent of all eligible voters by the end of the month (roughly 300 000 people), it will be a huge achievement. Bear in mind that the US presidential elections in 2012 were estimated to attract 57.5 per cent of the eligible electorate, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate.

That means roughly 93 million eligible citizens did not cast ballots for their national leader. This is compared to 62.3 per cent who voted in 2008 and 60.4 per cent in 2004. In 2000, the turnout rate was only 54.2 per cent. And this is the nation the world looks to in order to provide a role-model for democracy. In other words, in those countries where voting is voluntary (Australia has recently made it compulsory, for example), it is impossible to ever get 100 per cent of the eligible voters to vote.

So for a nation which has comparatively recently introduced the electoral process into its politics, and has a Constitution only seven and a half years old, we are not doing too badly at all.

What’s more important than the number of people being registered is the integrity of the elections. There is still an enormous lack of understanding out there about elections ? Chief Maloyi of Ensingweni, for instance, is convinced that voting is compulsory. He obviously hasn’t read the relevant legislation yet. The EBC needs to concentrate more intently on pursuing the ‘free and fair’ part of the elections as we move forward, rather than trying to add more names to the list. If the elections are transparently fair, then in five years time, the voters will come in numbers.

Sometimes one wonders if we are getting our advice from the right places. In the common understanding of what a Competition Commission is and what it does, the first and primary role is to break up monopolies, ngci.

This is for the simple reason that, by definition, you can’t have competition with a monopoly. This is not, however, the understanding of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Competition in Mauritius, Rajendra Servansingh, who spoke during the official launch of the Swaziland Competition Commission (SCC) and put forward the novel view that ‘being in a monopoly situation or in a dominant market position is not in itself an issue’. This may be true for the latter but not the former.

One only has to compare the average prices of goods and services in an economic sector without a monopoly to a monopolised economic sector to see the difference. Monopolies always deliver less and cost more. In the common understanding, Competition Commissions are supposed to encourage competition and oppose economic concentration.

This would appear to be at odds with the way the economy is trending. If the Competition Commission believes the advice that monopolies encourage competition, they’ve shot themselves in both feet already.

MBABANE - Bad friends are alleged to have been the main reason why Miss Deaf Swaziland, Vuyisile Masangane, dropped out of school.

Masangane, who was a pupil at the School for the Deaf in Siteki, did not return to school for her second term.

Gabisile Dlamini, Masangane’s mother said up to now, she also did not have a clear reason why her daughter decided not to go back to school. “All was well when schools closed for the first term break. It was during the opening of schools for the second term when she resisted going back. She never gave me a clear reason. I suspect that she might have met some friends who influenced her not to go back to school,” she said.

Dlamini said she had tried all possible means to beg her daughter to go back to school but all her efforts failed. “It pains me because I thought since she was enrolled at the School for the Deaf she would get proper guidance and have a future. As I speak, I do not know what to do because going back to school is just not a priority to her,” she said.

Dlamini said her biggest challenge was that each time when she spoke to her daughter, she had to use sign language something she was not familiar with. “It has not been easy to understand some of the things my daughter says because I am not used to sign language. I have since engaged some of the experts from the deaf community who understand sign language better to assist me as I want my child to have a better future,” she said. Dlamini said the reason why she had not been coming out clear why Masangane had quit school was because she also did not have a valid reason as her daughter had failed to tell her the main reason.

“I believe that since I have included members of the deaf community, they will assist me in understanding why she decided to quit school. I want my child to go back to school so I believe they will be of great help in that regard,” he said.

MBABANE - Reigning Miss Deaf Vuyisile Masangane’s mother, Gabisile Dlamini, has formally requested Nokuthula Mbatha to reconsider her decision to quit organising the Miss Deaf pageant.

Mbatha resigned about a month ago sighting unworkable conditions. Yesterday, Dlamini visited Mbatha’s home in Manzini where she had gone to ask if it was possible for her to withdraw the resignation letter. Dlamini said the main reason she thought of going to see Mbatha was because she knew the role Mbatha had played in helping the deaf community.

“I never believed it when I heard that she had resigned. The pageant motivated our children and they discovered themselves as human beings who were also recognised in society,” she said. Dlamini said her discussion with Mbatha was positive and she was sure that she would reconsider her decision.

Meanwhile, Mbatha said she explained to Dlamini that she never took the decision out of anger but did so because she could no longer cope. “In as much as I understand what she is saying, it is difficult for me to continue with the pageant. When you feel that you are not able to cope, it becomes best that you quit other than forcing matters. It was best for me to quit,” she said.

World report on disability About 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability, of whom 2-4% experience significant difficulties in functioning. The global disability prevalence is higher than previous WHO estimates, which date from the 1970s and suggested a figure of around 10%. This global estimate for disability is on the rise due to population ageing and the rapid spread of chronic diseases, as well as improvements in the methodologies used to measure disability.

The first ever WHO/World Bank World report on disability reviews evidence about the situation of people with disabilities around the world. Following chapters on understanding disability and measuring disability, the report contains topic-specific chapters on health; rehabilitation; assistance and support; enabling environments; education; and employment. Within each chapter, there is a discussion of the barriers confronted, and case studies showing how countries have succeeded in addressing these by promoting good practice. In its final chapter, the report offers nine concrete recommendations for policy and practice which if put in place could lead to real improvements in the lives of people with disability.

Thirty-five staff at the Winneba Government Hospital, have been trained as sign language interpreters to ensure effective communication with speech and hearing impairment patients.

At a ceremony to inaugurate the trained staff at the hospital on Wednesday, Dr. George Prah Medical Superintendent of the Hospital said the training was to comply with the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715).

He said the Act "directs service providers to the public to put in place the necessary facilities that makes the service available and accessible to persons with disability" including the deaf and dumb.

The Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Ephraim commended management of the Municipal Government Hospital for being the first health facility in the Central Region to initiate such a move.

The Chief Executive said the initiative was laudable and hoped management would ensure that the trained staff carry out their roles effectively.

Dr Luiz Amoussou-Gohoungo, Effutu Municipal Director of Ghana Health Services, also advised the trained staff to ensure that the training they had gone through helped the hospital and the patients.

Mr Emmanuel Kweku Sackey, President of the National Association of the Deaf, appealed to the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service and all healthcare institutions in the country to consider the plight of the physically challenged.

Mr Peter Kyeremateng, Acting Central Regional Director of Clinical Care Department, who deputized for the Regional Director of Health Services, expressed appreciation to the management of the Hospital for taking the plight of the deaf clients into consideration.

He urged other facilities in the Region to emulate the example of the Effutu Municipal Hospital. Source: GNA

Thirty-five staff at the Winneba Government Hospital, have been trained as sign language interpreters to ensure effective communication with speech and hearing impairment patients.

He said the Act “directs service providers to the public to put in place the necessary facilities that makes the service available and accessible to persons with disability” including the deaf and dumb.

The Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Ephraim commended management of the Municipal Government Hospital for being the first health facility in the Central Region to initiate such a move.

The Chief Executive said the initiative was laudable and hoped management would ensure that the trained staff carry out their roles effectively.

Dr Luiz Amoussou-Gohoungo, Effutu Municipal Director of Ghana Health Services, also advised the trained staff to ensure that the training they had gone through helped the hospital and the patients.

He urged other facilities in the Region to emulate the example of the Effutu Municipal Hospital.

Ghana: Pentecost Women Donate to School for the Deaf Kyebi - Stories >From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

AllAfrica.com-2013/06/20
20 JUNE 2013
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The Kyebi District Women's Movement of the Church of Pentecost has presented assorted items worth GH shil.3,000 to the Kyebi School for the Deaf in the East Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The items include three maxi bags of rice, loaves of bread, bag of sugar, biscuits, cartons of milk, crates of eggs, cooking oil, soft drinks and assorted toiletries.

Presenting the items, Mrs. Mary Paintsil, wife of Pastor S.B. Paintsil, District Pastor of the Church of Pentecost Kyebi, said the gesture was to make the children happy and demonstrate the importance of love and care society attaches to their activities, especially the Church.

She was accompanied by the district executives and all members of the Women's Ministry in the district, numbering about 200 from the various Assemblies of the Church.

Receiving the items, the Assistant Headmistress of the School, Madam Comfort Ohene, thanked the church for the kind gesture, and asked for God's eternal blessings on the ministry for the love shown to the children.

According to her, the gesture was not the first time the Kyebi District of the Church of Pentecost had come to the aid of the children.

She disclosed that the items had really come at the right time, following a few challenges the children were going through in recent times, and promised to put them to good use to make the children happy.

The children, who could not hide their joy and appreciation, thanked the group through sign language, amidst singing and prayers for the Women's Ministry, and further appealed to other women groups in the various churches to emulate the gesture.

Gambia: Father Shows Concern for the Disabled, As Daughter Joins Paralympics Committee

Sulayman Drammeh, whose daughter was born handicapped, recently expressed his concern for the disabled to have equal rights and consideration in the society and to be given the necessary support.

The daughter, Isatou Drammeh, who is a member of the Gambia Paralympics Committee, was born handicapped, says the father.

In his view, Drammeh told reporters his daughter was born disabled and is now using a wheelchair to aid her movement.

"I urge all parents of the disabled to support their children and give them equal respect and opportunities," Mr Drammeh said. "I blame parents some times, because if you support your disabled child, he or she would not be on the street to beg. We need to give them home support," he says.

Mr Drammeh added that all kids are from homes where they should be given the first assistance before reaching the outside world.

In expressing his concern, he outlined his daughter's welfare needs, saying he had sought out treatments for his daughter from various places till at a point he had an advice from a Cuban national who told him it was natural, but he however keeps faith and takes care of his daughter.

The daughter, who currently attends junior school, used to be discriminated against during her primary schooling through isolation by her mates.

He further called for the disabled to be treated equally, outlining that life is a day-to-day process.

"Despite her being handicapped, my daughter never goes out for assistance, because I always give her the necessary support and attention she needs from me as a parent," Mr Drammeh said, while urging parents and families to help their children.

Kakasiye and her mother, who is breastfeeding her grand child, PHOTO/
Moses Nampala
newvision
SATURDAY VISION

MBALE district - She can neither see, talk nor hear and suffers from mental illness. More so, Yudaya Kakasiye’s problems have been compounded by lumpens who waylay and rape her - not once, not twice, but many times!

Kakasiye, 37, lives in Bumasanda, Bumasacha sub-county, Mbale district. Her parents, Masitula Namakoye, 57, and Hussein Ntalo, live in abject poverty. However, that is not their biggest problem. They are totally exhausted by their daughter’s plight and are utterly clueless about what to do to protect her.

Two years ago, when they realised that Kakasiye was pregnant, it seemed like a bad joke, but it wasn’t. Today, they do not know the father of her 18-month-old girl. Nobody does.

Occasionally, Kakasiye’s weary parents receive rumours of another rape carried out on their daughter. Since their daughter is blind, dumb and deaf, she cannot explain to them what is going on.

Although she is under their custody, they cannot keep her locked up in one place.

When Saturday Vision visited their home, they had to search for her. They found her wandering about in a nearby bush.

Her lean figure was draped in a dirty oversize dress. She seemed confused and restless.

Kakasiye doesn’t recall giving birth. When she was forced to breastfeed, she almost strangled the baby.

Namakoye says one morning as Kakasiye was walking about in the courtyard, she went and embraced her.

“That is when I realised that her belly, which had been concealed under an oversize dress, was unusually hard and it protruded. I discovered that she was four months pregnant! However, God helped us and she went on to have a normal delivery,” she narrates.

Namakoye says she has endured her cross as a mother and believer. She even took breast milk-inducing herbs so as to breastfeed her daughter’s baby.

As a young bride 37 years ago, Namakoye was happy to conceive almost immediately after getting married to Ntalo, who was a dashing young man.

She got her first shock in the labour ward shortly after delivery when the midwife announced to her that her baby girl was blind.

“We did not detect other deformities until she was three years old. She could not talk, let alone hear!”

By the time Kakasiye was five years old, her tantrums had become unbearable. It was later established that her mental faculty was also not developing normally.

It has since been a journey of distress and trauma. Her great consolation is that her four other children are healthy, although not so successful in life.

Ntalo says the thought of abusers lurking in his unfortunate daughter’s footsteps has cost him sleep.

“Somebody out there should volunteer to pay for my daughter’s permanent birth control method before another abuser gives us another fatherless grandchild,” says Ntalo.

Kuutusa with Kakasiye, her parents and her child at the home. Kakasiye’ s father wants her to be given contraceptives. PHOTO/Moses Nampala

The regional officer in charge of the family and child protection unit, Marion Kuutusa, is aware of Kakasiye’s problem. It first came to her attention when Issa Wamai, the son of Ntalo’s neighbour, was caught raping Kakasiye.

“Unfortunately, he has since escaped from custody and his whereabouts are unknown,” says Kuutusa.

Kakasiye was seven months pregnant when the rape happened. Namakoye was returning home from the garden when children from the neighbourhood rushed to inform her that Wamai had led her daughter into a maize garden, a few metres away.

She was shocked to find Wamai raping her daughter. He took off as Namakoye closed in, but residents chased and caught him. They handed him over to Mbale Police authorities.

“I am glad that we (the Police) pursued this matter vigourously and all the necessary evidence was collected, meriting a conviction of rape charges against Wamai,” adds Kutuusa.

“How can people live like animals waiting to take advantage of the unfortunate? It must be due to the rising consumption of drugs like bhang and mairungi (kut),” she added.

Over 571 cases of defilement have been registered in the northeastern region, which comprises Mbale, Manafa, Sironko, Bududa, kapchorwa, Kwen, and Bukwo districts.

“About 60% of the total number of cases registered are a result of drug abuse,” says Kutuusa.

She appealed to the public to volunteer information to enable the courts of law ensure justice to the victims and their families.

The village is awash with rumours which can’t be verified. One Esther Nakayenze, a resident, insists that the baby was fathered by Wamai.

“On more than three occasions before she conceived, Wamai would guide her home, saying he had found her straying into the bush. Nobody suspected that he could have been indulging in sinister acts!” Nakayenze said.

When Kakasiye’s parents went to Wamai’s father to discuss the issue and see how he could help them, it was disaster.

“He chased us with a panga and warned us never to step foot in his court yard again,” Ntalo said.

Wamai’s father tells residents that while it could be true that his son molested the victim, he is not the father of the child.

Another resident, Yusuf Nangoli, advises against drawing conclusions about Wamai.

“The village is full of young men who abuse drugs and rape her on separate incidents,” he disclosed.

The Sekyere East District Assembly has disbursed GH shil.16,000 being 2% of the Assembly's share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) to over 30 disabled persons in the district.

The beneficiaries, mostly members of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), Ghana Blind Union and National Association of the Deaf, coming under the umbrella of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled, were drawn from across the district.

The disabled, most of whom were first time beneficiaries, received between GH shil.100 and GH shil.500, depending on a proposal submitted to the Disability Fund Management Committee (DFMC), headed by Mr. James Atobra Boateng.

The members of the GSPD have, however, decided to use their share of GH shil.3,500 to buy canopies to enhance the operation of their rental services.

The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr. Solomon Adjei Mensah, expressed his appreciation to the members of the DFMC for the fairness and equity in the disbursement of the fund.

The DCE also assured Persons With Disability (PWDs) that the government was aware of their predicament, and would do everything within its means to improve their living conditions, and encouraged them to be confident, since their "Disability is not inability."

Mr. Kwesi Ofori Atram, District Director of the Social Welfare Department, told the gathering that the majority of the beneficiaries had not benefited from the fund before.

He said to ensure transparency and accountability in the management and disbursement of the fund, the committee had opened a separate account into which monies meant for PWDs were lodged.

The District Director, however, cautioned the beneficiaries to desist from accessing the same fund from other districts after benefiting from their home district.

Mr. Attram also advised them to use the money for the intended purposes, to encourage the government to continue to assist them.

Mr. Eric Bediako, District President of the GSPD, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed gratitude to the government for its commitment towards their wellbeing.

He announced that he local GSPD had so far purchased 100 mattresses and 200 plastic chairs with its share of the fund.

"We are going to use GH shil.3,500 of our share today to buy canopies to enhance our renting operation services," Mr. Bediako stated.

He, therefore, advised his colleagues in the other associations like the Ghana Blind Union and National Association of the Deaf to also venture into other income-generating activities.

Mbombela - Forty Mpumalanga police officers have learned to use sign language in order to service hearing impaired people and open case dockets, among other things.

“Previously, deaf people were not getting help at the stations when they went to open cases because police were not able to understand their language but that is history now,” said Mpumalanga police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela who awarded the certificates.

He said the project, which was initiated by the Nelspruit policing cluster and sponsored by insurance company Metropolitan, is the first of its kind in Mpumalanga.

Ntobela promised that before the end of the year, all 82 police stations in the province will have police officers who understand sign language to help speed up the process of opening dockets for deaf people.

“From now on, all deaf or people living with any kind of disability in our province will have access to our police stations quickly because of you,” said Ntobela.

He said the officers who will receive training include those working in the charge office, communication office and some in the detective unit.

Metropolitan Group Scheme’s regional manager Kobus van Vuuren said the company would sponsor the project until April next year.

He was working closely with the sign language instructors and was very impressed with their work.

“I went to their class last week and spent an hour with them. There is a lot of progress. The students were keeping up very easily,” he said.

“We are very happy to see this project bear fruit today because we are no longer vulnerable as before. We will have officers in our stations who will interpret when we open dockets,” said DEAF SA member Patience Mbuyane, who is also deaf.

She proposed that Commissioner Ntobela establish an SMS line for 10 111 so that deaf people can be able to report crime using text.

“We also urge our commissioner to make this language official in the province and to be ensure it becomes language number 12 in the constitution,” Ntobela said.

Project coordinator and co-founder of the project, Brigadier Dora Xaba, who is the commander of the Nelspruit cluster, said the idea was initiated by Constable Zanele Mtshali a month ago.

“When she came up with the idea I did not hesitate to consult with Commissioner Ntobela. I quickly went to his office to present my proposal and he agreed and welcome it with both hands and today it bears fruits,” she said.

Limuru MP John Kiragu will move a motion in Parliament to have upcoming buildings builf facilities to accommodate disabled people.

Kiragu, who is construction quality engineer, said most constructors do not factor people living with disabilities.

“The motion is in place. I am going to push for constructors to be required by law to think about the disabled. There should be a way in which it is easier for the disabled to access facilities both in public offices and private buildings,” he said.

The MP was speaking when he dispatched four wheel chairs, three callipers, three pairs of crutches and 10 cards from the National Council of Disabilities in Kenya donated by the Limuru sub-county in conjunction with Association of People with Disabilities.

“There is no harm of boosting a disabled friendly building where the toilets and the pavements give the less fortunate a feeling of belonging,” said Kiragu.

TANZANIA Resource Assessment Centre for Disabled Children (TRACED) has donated 28 pairs of clutches worth more than 4m/- to people with physical disability in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to provide such support at Uhuru Mchanganyiko Primary School, TRACED Executive Secretary, Ramadan Mbonia said his organisation was keen to support people with disabilities so that they can fully participate in various development activities.

"We as non-governmental organization (NGO) must work together in partnership to help people with disabilities and not to leave the burden to the government alone, “said Mbonia.

He advised other NGOs and good Samaritans to provide such assistance to people with disabilities and understand that the targeted group needs all necessary services similar to others.

Speaking after receiving the support, Ms Mary Msengi, a resident from Kigogo thanked for their support and said that people with disabilities are unable to afford clutches sold at 70,000/-.

Ms Msengi who engages in small business claimed that the government has ignored them in various development programmes and requested for funds to enable them tackle various challenges.

Ms Ashura Sadick, a textile businessman and a resident of Kinondoni said that major impediments they face in their operations was the city militia who have been regularly harassing them without good reasons.

All the good things provided for in the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) would be a mirage without the enabling regulations to make the law effective, Mr Yaw Ofori-Debra, President of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) has stated.

Mr Ofori-Debra said in an effort to advance the cause of the implementation of Act 715, the National Disability Day was instituted in the year 2007, a year after the promulgation of the law.

Mr Ofori-Debra, who was speaking at the commemoration of this year’s annual National Disability Day in Accra, yesterday, said the motivation for the annual celebration was to regularly remind government, service providers and the general public about the existence of Act 715 and the need to respect its provisions.

He, therefore, called on government to adopt the National Disability Day to broaden its focus instead of remaining a GFD annual event.

In an a keynote address, Hon. Rachel Appoh, Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Ministry was committed to mainstreaming disability issues into the development planning process.

Hon. Appoh disclosed that the Ministry would review the Disability Act to ensure maximum attention to issues related to People with Disabilities (PWDs) and strengthen collaboration with other sectors, especially the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Health and Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs to address the concerns of PWDs.

Dr Henry Seidu Daanaa, Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, said although there were challenges facing the implementation of the law, the promulgation of the law itself was a significant step in the fight for disability rights.

Dr Daanaa, therefore, called for a consistent public awareness campaign on disability and urged all stakeholders to continue exploring and working to find solutions to challenges facing PWDs.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD), Mr Max Vardon, disclosed that the NCPD was preparing a position paper on disability for the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Vardon said the United Nations had realised that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) had not given specific attention to disability issues, hence the request for the position paper to inform its post-2015 development agenda.

As part of activities marking the National Disability Day, a seven- member Media Caucus to promote the rights of the disabled and to work towards the effective implementation of the National Disability Act was inaugurated.

MBABANE - Nelisiwe Lushaba, the new Miss Deaf Beauty Pageant Director has only this week to show her capability of hosting Miss Deaf Africa.

The organisers of the Miss Deaf Africa who are based in Cape Town, South Africa have given the country only this week to indicate if the pageant would be hosted here or not.

Miss Deaf Africa’s main organiser Maria Sivertsen said if Swaziland fails to indicate by Friday, they will be forced to withdraw the pageant from being hosted in the country. In a telephone interview, Sivert-sen said she was very disappointed with the way the whole issue of Miss Deaf Africa was being handled because their wish was to have the pageant held in the country.

“We had already informed all our agencies around Africa that this year’s pageant would be held in Swaziland. We were already at an advanced stage with the preparations. “However, we had to wait because of the problems in the Swazi pageant,
” she said. Sivertsen said one of the challenges they came across was that since their local contact person, in this case being Nokuthula Mbatha, resigned, they had been left with no one to communicate with.

“While Nokuthula was the director, she used to update us and everything was on the right track. It is only now that there has been a problem. We could not continue with the preparations especially because we are still not sure if we have the venue or not,” she said. She said a lot of money was involved in making the event a success and therefore it was impossible for them to continue with the planning. “We have only this week to decide. If we do not get any communication from Swaziland, we will be forced to withdraw.

This will mean we will have to look for an alternative venue. It is a pity that we did not anticipate such a scenario but we have no choice but to withdraw if things come to a push,” she said. Sivertsen said when they first visited the country she was convinced that it was the best place to host the pageant. “The girls would be more disappointed especially because some of them had never had the opportunity of being in Swazi-land. “We had planned one of the best pageants but because of the challenges we are faced with, we might be forced to withdraw,” she said.

Sivertsen said she had already communicated with the Swazi-land National Council of Arts and Culture (SNCAC) informing them about their stance and were hoping to get a response before Friday. Stanley Dlamini, SNCAC Chief Executive Officer, said he had not yet received any communication from the organisers of the pageant.

“I am expecting an answer from them as I sent an email informing them that we would be happy to have a discussion with them about the pageant. I am still waiting for their response and that is when I will know the next step,” he said. Lushaba asked not to comment until the new Miss Deaf Committee is officially announced.

The pageant is expected to be organised by Nelisiwe Lushaba who is the now director for Miss Deaf Swaziland.

This means Lushaba, together with her committee, would now be expected to organise both the Miss Deaf and Mr Deaf Beauty Pageants. Information gathered is that Lushaba was informed that she would be expected to be in charge of both pageants something she had no problem with.

The Swaziland National Association of the Deaf (SNAD) approached the Swaziland Beauty Pageants Association (SBPA) executive committee where they asked that such an event be organised. Tony Dlamini, President of the SBPA confirmed that there was a plan to host a new pageant.

“The committee that would be announced before the end of the week would be responsible for organising the event. Once they are ready, they will inform us on how the event would be coordinated. They would have the final say and we will act on their recommendations,” he said.

Mbatha, who recently resigned as the director citing unworkable conditions, is currently being accused of allegedly failing to give a share of the money donated by different organisations to the beauty queen Vuyisile Masangane.

This transpired during an investigation, which was launched by the Swaziland National Association of the Deaf (SNAD) to determine some of the causes of the problems that have engulfed the pageant.
One of the allegations reported was that Mbatha used to take the queen to different churches, including Mbabane Alliance Church, where money was donated but never reached the queen.

Mbatha confirmed attending the meeting held last Thursday where some of the allegations were raised. However, Mbatha did not want to talk about the content of the meeting saying hers was to make a handover, something which she did. “I attended the meeting and the purpose was to make a handover. I made the handover and I am no longer in charge of the pageant,” she said. Asked about the allegations raised during the meeting, Mbatha said she would not dwell much on them only insisting that she was innocent.

“Trying to defend myself publicly will not work. One thing I am clear about is that I am innocent. I had the passion of seeing the pageant becoming a big event and indeed I have been successful,” she said.

She said she believed that the truth will one day come out where the public will understand that she had done nothing wrong. “It may not be today but I know that the truth will one day come out and people would understand how much I was dedicated to making the pageant a success,” she said.

MBABANE - Despite the recommendation by the deaf youth that the upco-ming Disability Festival be stopped, Nokuthula Mbatha says the festival will continue as planned.

The event is scheduled for next month at the Woodlands Conference Hall.
The Swaziland National Association of the Deaf wrote a letter to the Swaziland National Council of Arts and Culture saying the planned event would not be held as it was created as one of the Miss Deaf projects.

Asked about the festival, Mbatha made it clear that the festival would continue as planned. “Nothing has changed so far. The festival will continue as planned. All the artists have confirmed their participation and I am almost done with the preparations,” she said.

She said as the organiser of the event, she has already confirmed with everyone involved. “I am just working on the final details of the event but in as far as I know nothing has changed. If there would be any changes, the public would be informed,” she said.

BEING handicapped in one way or the other can be very traumatising at times. Only when one realises that handicaps can occur at birth, can befall anyone as one grows, the general wrong perception is that handicapped people are singly unsuccessful and unlucky.

It is good to recognise that in Zambia, great efforts are being made to correspondingly balance services for the handicapped and able-bodied.

I have recently noticed with interest user-friendly infrastructure with ambulatory facilities: rumps, escalators and sliders on nearly all new buildings.

In sport, some of the handicapped people have stirred to great heights. The likes of South African Oscar Pistorius is one case of admiration in point.

Jackson Kalilombe is a hearing impaired grade six pupil at Mano Primary School in Mufulira, and is passionate about sport.

Additionally, Jackson walks more than 16 kilometres daily to and from where he lives in Kankoyo.

Jackson became deaf at the age of two in 1995 and miserably, his father died when he was just a toddler; he stays with his mother, Jacqueline and his grandfather.

Jackson is a determined athlete; he never realised he had great athletics talent until his teacher, Gladys Mutepuka selected him for the recently held para-sport tournament at Mano Primary school last weekend during the Copperbelt inter-district sports festival.

Speaking through an interpreter, sign language teacher Mutepuka, flanked by Jackson’s impaired classmate John Chifunda, Jackson said his fanatical dream is to first train as a teacher as he believes athletic sport cannot give him a good career in future.

He says he cannot take athletic sports for granted, saying if there were more of his kind in sports, he would have loved to go for it.

As a good runner, Jackson said although he never hears the cheers that trail his races from the terraces, he knows he has a lot of following from his schoolmates and friends.

He is good in 100 metres and long distance races and called upon others to join in and take part in different sports disciplines.

Jackson requested for assistance from the general public and appealed to the corporate world to help the physically challenged and hearing impaired people in society.

He also encouraged deaf learning units in the country to frequently link up through sports so that the differently-abled can feel united.

The 20-year-old Jackson said the recently held inter-district sports festival was an eye-opener through which the physically challenged and hearing impaired expressed their abilities.

The story of Jackson is one that evokes emotional feelings; he is a single orphan, and as a result he has ended up malnourished as his aged grandfather, who strokes the streets with a broom for a living, cannot afford basic needs for a family of five with other siblings.

Born on 25 January, 1993, in Mufulira, Jackson lost his hearing in circumstances he feared to describe, but saying only it was horrible and strange.

He said efforts to help at the University Teaching Hospital failed and now at 20, Jackson says, he is used to using sign language. He still wants to realise his dream career as a teacher, and alternatively, he would opt to be a businessman.

Dressed in a worn-out poor uniform, socks and shoes, Jackson requested for financial support to help him complete his education as well as to accomplish his athletics career.

Zimbabwe will hold the inaugural National Disability Expo next month to raise awareness on the rights of people with disability, Special Disability Advisor in the Office of the President and Cabinet Retired Brigadier-General Felix Muchemwa said yesterday. He said the three-day disability expo would run from July 17 to 19 under the theme:

"Empowering and Mobilising Society to Create Sustainable Livelihoods for People with Disability".

"The inaugural National Disability Expo serves to advocate the rights of persons with disabilities as promulgated in the laws of the country," Rtd Brig-Gen Muchemwa said.

The expo, he said, would provide a platform for the Government and other stakeholders to interact, develop synergies and share experiences.

The conference would also showcase knowledge that addresses all disabilities and open new opportunities to anyone involved in the disability arena.

Various organisations are expected to take part, including Government, corporate institutions and NGOs.

Kenya national Deaflympics squad will be hoping to surpass their 2009 Taipei Games record (seven medals including four gold, two silver and one bronze medal) during the 22nd Summer Deaflympic Games in Sofia, Bulgaria between July 26 and August 4.

The squad of 54 athletes, comprising 25 athletes, 16 basketball players and 21 officials, who reported to camp in Nairobi yesterday, will be training at the Nyayo National Stadium before leaving for Sofia, Bulgaria.

The residential training is sponsored by mobile phone services provider Safaricom to a tune of Sh2 million. Safaricom sponsored the national trials by a similar amount.

Safaricom also plans to reward medal winners in Bulgaria,” said Safaricom Marketing Director Rita Okuthe during the sponsorship cheque presentation.

Okuthe added: “This sponsorship is part of the journey that we embarked on with the Deaf Athletics Association of Kenya ( DAAK) last month when we sponsored the trials used to identify the team to represent the country in Bulgaria.”

“The pride that comes with hearing our National Anthem play on an International stage is a conviction for working hard towards the medals, ” said DAAK chairman Johns Kirui, who thanked Safaricom for the sponsorship.

DAAK Public Relations Officer and the teams’ Head of Delegation Tom Okiki on his part said: “We thank Safaricom for the support for the teams. The company has indeed been a loyal partner and we remain grateful. I would like to call for other sponsors to come on board and help us in our journey to Sofia.”

The Deaflypic Games, which takes place every four years, is contested by deaf athletes in different disciplines including athletics, football, basketball, volleyball and swimming.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGSCP) is in the process of mainstreaming disability issues into the development planning process of the country. To this effect, it is reviewing the Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) to ensure maximum attention to issues related to Persons with Disability (PWDs).

A Deputy Minister at the MGSCP, Ms Florence Rachel Appoh, made this known when she addressed a forum to commemorate this year’s National Day of the Persons with Disability.

According to Ms Appoh, there were high social and economic implications for neglecting PWDs as about 3.5 per cent of the country’s population were disabled. Such persons, she said, were denied the opportunity to develop their full potential.

“Ultimately, this affects the socio-economic development of the country, especially with respect to education and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals,” she said.

The day, which fell on Monday, June 24, was celebrated on the theme, Eensuring compliance with the Persons With Disability Act 2006, (Act 715): The role of the government’.

The Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) was passed by Parliament in June 2006 and has 12 main objectives.

According to Ms Appoh, despite numerous interventions put in place in the act, Persons with Disability continue to be discriminated against in many ways including the lack of accessibility.

Also she said some children of school age, who are disabled, were deprived of formal education as some parents and guardians hid them from public view because of stigmatisation.

She said the ministry was mandated to ensure gender equality, facilitate the enforcement of children’s rights and promote the integration and protection of the vulnerable, excluded as persons with disability.

Therefore, the ministry intended to strengthen its collaboration with other sectors, especially the ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Health and Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, to address the concerns of PWDs.

The Minister commended organisations and institutions that had been supportive of persons with Disability and appealed to stakeholders, including corporate organisations, to support the ministry in its programmes and projects aimed at ensuring the protection of the rights of PWDs

AllAfrica.com-2013/06/28
BY GODFREY OJORE, 28 JUNE 2013
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Soroti - This will not be your usual wedding ceremony, no doubt. This couple will not hear you shout your lungs out in congratulatory gestures. Nor will they be able to speak out in appreciation. It will be their hearts and physical actions that will communicate.

Albert Enganyu, 42 and Jane Alwayo will be among 19 other couples that will exchange vows in a mass wedding organized by St. Paul Mission, Ochero in Soroti district.

The function will be presided over by Bishop Emmanuel Obbo of Soroti Catholic church.

Area residents are excited ahead of the ceremony, particularly over the union-to-be of Enganyu and Alwanyo - the deaf and dumb couple.

It is understood that such a rare union, of two deaf and dumb lovers, will be the first in region. But the question on most people's minds is how such a couple can take vows - vows that are normally proclaimed through speech.

"When I informed the bishop of a deaf and dump couple who accepted to wed in a mass wedding, the bishop told me that he was interested to unite the couple in a holy matrimony," said Fr. Edmond Okela , a priest at Ochero mission.

The LC3 of Ochero sub-county, Deogracious Ebayu, is set to be the best man and his wife, Christine Ironga, the matron.

Enanyu and his wife-to-be have been living together for the last 16 years and have five children together - two boys and three girls.

All their children have their sense of hearing and speech working just fine. The eldest daughter is in Primary Five and the youngest is aged seven.

Alwayo is a Langi from Amolatar district and a last born in a family of four. Both her parents died and she was raised up by her uncle.

Enganyu's in-laws granted him rights to wed their daughter although he has not completed paying the dowry [bride price]. He was asked to pay five cows and five goats in exchange for their daughter but he only paid three cows short.

Despite the deficit, the young woman's family has given them a go-ahead with their wedding plans.

"We have allowed them to wed and we are not going to ask for the balance," said Tom Obura, the elder brother of Alwayo.

The couple told New Vision, through an interpreter, that their wedding is a dream-come-true after their initial plans to wed ten years ago flopped.

"We decided to be joined in holy matrimony in 2003, but the rebellion of the LRA disrupted our plans after they killed the priest who was helping us," Enyanyu said.

The couple has prepared a bull and one drum of alcohol for their guests. The in-laws and the neighbors are also collecting jerrycans of alcohol to make merry on the evening of the wedding day.

Because of the nature of their disability, Fr. Okela has offered to buy the bride a gomesi [traditional ladies' attire] which she will wear as a wedding gown.

The choir leader of St. Paul Mission, Valentine Ochenge, has offered to buy a suit for the groom-to-be.

The couple has five children. Unlike their parents, the kids have all their natural senses working fine. PHOTO/Godfrey Ojore

Enganyu is a businessman dealing in fish at Ochero market. It is through this business that he is able to look after his family of six - his wife and their five offspring.

His mother, Abigairi Acengo, says that Enganyu's disability started when he was about four years old. And she suspects that it was measles.

"He got disabled when he was about four years after he fell sick and since then he has not been in position to speak or hear," Acengo tells of her son's plight.

The story is not any different from Alwayo's, who also became deaf and dumb at around that age.

"She was well but she fell sick of measles and in a short time she became deaf and dumb. We tried treating her in various hospitals but in vain," Obura said.

Sadly, the couple was not chanced with any education since their parents were unable to enroll them into institutions for the special needs persons.

But impressively, perhaps due to the demands of his business, Enganyu is able to write his name and even use a calculator.

His elder brother, Sylaus Edunyu, admitted that his deaf and dumb sibling had looked a bright boy right from childhood.

Enganyu is the second-last born in a family of six. All his brothers have no form of disability, which leaves a puzzling question of 'why only him?'. But then, his elder brother's first-born child was born deaf and dumb too.

Luckily, the child has managed to get an education. He is currently in Senior Four.

With that, it becomes harder to think through how that specific gene runs through the family. But for now, all questions aside. There is a wedding of a deaf and dumb couple just around the corner!

Albert Enganyu and Jane Alwayo, soon to get married, both became deaf and dumb around the age of four. PHOTO/Godfrey Ojore newvision

SOROTI - This will not be your usual wedding ceremony, no doubt. This couple will not hear you shout your lungs out in congratulatory gestures. Nor will they be able to speak out in appreciation. It will be their hearts and physical actions that will communicate.

Albert Enganyu, 42 and Jane Alwayo will be among 19 other couples that will exchange vows in a mass wedding organized by St. Paul Mission, Ochero in Soroti district.

The function will be presided over by Bishop Emmanuel Obbo of Soroti Catholic church.

Area residents are excited ahead of the ceremony, particularly over the union-to-be of Enganyu and Alwanyo - the deaf and dumb couple.

It is understood that such a rare union, of two deaf and dumb lovers, will be the first in region. But the question on most people’s minds is how such a couple can take vows ? vows that are normally proclaimed through speech.
“When I informed the bishop of a deaf and dump couple who accepted to wed in a mass wedding, the bishop told me that he was interested to unite the couple in a holy matrimony,” said Fr. Edmond Okela (right), a priest at Ochero mission.

The LC3 of Ochero sub-county, Deogracious Ebayu, is set to be the best man and his wife, Christine Ironga, the matron.

Enanyu and his wife-to-be have been living together for the last 16 years and have five children together - two boys and three girls.

All their children have their sense of hearing and speech working just fine. The eldest daughter is in Primary Five and the youngest is aged seven.

Alwayo is a Langi from Amolatar district and a last born in a family of four. Both her parents died and she was raised up by her uncle.

Enganyu’s in-laws granted him rights to wed their daughter although he has not completed paying the dowry [bride price]. He was asked to pay five cows and five goats in exchange for their daughter but he only paid three cows short.

Despite the deficit, the young woman’s family has given them a go-ahead with their wedding plans.

“We have allowed them to wed and we are not going to ask for the balance,” said Tom Obura, the elder brother of Alwayo.

The couple told New Vision, through an interpreter, that their wedding is a dream-come-true after their initial plans to wed ten years ago flopped.

“We decided to be joined in holy matrimony in 2003, but the rebellion of the LRA disrupted our plans after they killed the priest who was helping us,” Enyanyu said.

The couple has prepared a bull and one drum of alcohol for their guests. The in-laws and the neighbors are also collecting jerrycans of alcohol to make merry on the evening of the wedding day.

Because of the nature of their disability, Fr. Okela has offered to buy the bride a gomesi [traditional ladies’ attire] which she will wear as a wedding gown.

The choir leader of St. Paul Mission, Valentine Ochenge, has offered to buy a suit for the groom-to-be.

The couple has five children. Unlike their parents, the kids have all their natural senses working fine. PHOTO/Godfrey Ojore

Enganyu is a businessman dealing in fish at Ochero market. It is through this business that he is able to look after his family of six ? his wife and their five offspring.

His mother, Abigairi Acengo, says that Enganyu’s disability started when he was about four years old. And she suspects that it was measles.

“He got disabled when he was about four years after he fell sick and since then he has not been in position to speak or hear,” Acengo tells of her son’s plight.

The story is not any different from Alwayo’s, who also became deaf and dumb at around that age.

“She was well but she fell sick of measles and in a short time she became deaf and dumb. We tried treating her in various hospitals but in vain,” Obura said.

Sadly, the couple was not chanced with any education since their parents were unable to enroll them into institutions for the special needs persons.

But impressively, perhaps due to the demands of his business, Enganyu is able to write his name and even use a calculator.

His elder brother, Sylaus Edunyu, admitted that his deaf and dumb sibling had looked a bright boy right from childhood.

Enganyu is the second-last born in a family of six. All his brothers have no form of disability, which leaves a puzzling question of 'why only him?'. But then, his elder brother’s first-born child was born deaf and dumb too.

Luckily, the child has managed to get an education. He is currently in Senior Four.

With that, it becomes harder to think through how that specific gene runs through the family. But for now, all questions aside. There is a wedding of a deaf and dumb couple just around the corner!

Page last updated at Saturday, June 29, 2013 9:09 AM // Leave Your Comment A report on the review of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) has revealed a number of inconsistencies with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

“The PWD Act is not in harmony and it is inconsistent with the UNCRPD which Ghana ratified in August 2012”, report said.

The Draft Gap Analysis Report on the PWDs Act 2006 (Act 715) was conducted by Law and Development Associate in April 2013.

The goal of the UNCPRD is expected to significantly redress the profound social disadvantage of PWDs and promote their participation in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres with equal opportunities.

However, the report said based on the analysis on the PWD Act and the UNCRPD, the Act in its current form, required some amendment to fill in the gaps and put it in total conformity to the UNCRPD.

The report has recommended that the drafters of a new Act should take account of those provisions of the UNCRPD which have either not been provided in the Act or where provided, were not detailed enough to give a complete effect to similar provisions in the UNCRPD.

It said the Act should be redrafted to take account of rights of “women with disabilities”, the rights of “children with disabilities”, the inherent “right to life,” and the right to protection and safety in “situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies.”

The report added that the new draft should cover the right to “equal recognition before the law,” “liberty and security of person,” “freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” as well as “protecting the integrity of the person.”

The report also stressed on the right to “liberty of movement and nationality,” “freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information,” “respect for privacy,” and “participation in political and public life.”

The report maintained that the Act was lacking certain vital provisions contained in the UNCRPD without which Ghana could not boast of a robust regime to effectively protect the rights of persons with disability.

It said it was essential Ghana audits the Act and introduce the right legislative framework to give effect to the UNCRPD.

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アフリカ障害者の10年 African Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2013年4月～6月

アフリカ障害者の10年　African Decade of Persons with Disabilities　2013年4月～6月