Victoria Kaapanda
Oshikoto governor Penda Ya Ndakolo urged people with disability, who are not yet registered for the social grants, to visit the offices of the Ministry Of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare to be registered.
He said this during a handover of 25 wheelchairs to physically challenged persons in Oshikoto on Thursday.
Rani Trading, operating in northern Namibia, donated the wheelchairs through the government forum.
“The ministry has a special maintenance grant under the division of child welfare. This grant is designed to assist Namibian children under the age of 16 living with disabilities,” he stated.
He said people living with disabilities above the age of 16 can also go to the same ministry’s division of social welfare.
“I urge you all to inquire and take along the necessary documents so that you can be registered without delay,” he advised.
The governor further advised families who are receiving grants on behalf of people living with disabilities not to misuse the funds intended to assist them.
“There is absolutely no justification for that. It is just not acceptable,” Ya Ndakolo added.
Ya Ndakolo indicated that, according to the 2011 Census disability report of the Namibian statistics agency, the Oshikoto region had 12 172 people with disability and with difficulties to engage in any learning and economic activities.
“I am informed that currently, 569 children under the age of 16 are receiving special maintenance grants, while 3 671 people, above the age of 16, are receiving monthly disability grants,” he stated.
He further said learners and students living with disabilities are losing opportunities of going to schools due to a lack of wheelchairs, long-distance and sandy roads to schools.
Moreover, people living with disabilities generally lose the opportunity to participate in social activities due to their conditions.
“For our beneficiaries today, the lack of wheelchairs will be a thing of the past. This donation will create a more inclusive environment in which people living with disabilities can reach their full potential, as they will be mobile,” said Ya Ndakolo.
Frieda Naibas, who spoke on behalf of beneficiaries, thanked the sponsors wholeheartedly for the kind gesture during the event.
The company became the first private entity in Namibia to provide all 14 regions with wheelchairs.
– vkaapanda@nepc.com.na