KEETMANSHOOP – //Kharas governor, Aletha Frederick said disability is a development issue because there is a direct link between poverty and disability.
She said this during a recent handover of 20 wheelchairs and sanitary equipment to physically challenged persons in Keetmanshoop. Rani Trading, a non-governmental organisation situated in northern Namibia donated the wheelchairs through the Governor’s Forum.
“People with disabilities in Namibia face numerous challenges, but government is committed to improve the living conditions of the people with disabilities through the necessary policies and legal framework,” she assured.
Frederick explained the core function of the Division of Disability Affairs in government as that of advocating and promote the human rights related to persons with disabilities to improve their quality of life, enhance their dignity and wellbeing and empower them.
“Nevertheless, due to financial constraints, government cannot adequately address the needs of people with disabilities,” the governor explained. She added that there is a need to engage the private sector to assist the government in addressing this challenging situation.
She continued that there is a growing consensus that the most pressing issue faced globally by persons with disabilities is not their specific impairment, but rather their lack of equitable access to resources. “This includes education, employment, healthcare and social systems, resulting in persons with disabilities experiencing extremely high levels of poverty, which can lead to precarious living conditions,” said the regional political head.
She also said a wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices for enhancing personal mobility, which is a precondition for enjoying human rights and living in dignity. “I also believe this event will promote understanding and appreciation of the special needs of people with disabilities and will contribute to the creation of an inclusive environment in which disabled people can fulfil their potentials,” Frederick said.
Martha Mokeng, a caretaker of Hendrik Isaacks, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the sponsors wholeheartedly for the kind gesture during the event.
“My uncle is now more mobile to access places as opposed to paying taxi money for transport on every occasion,” she said.