EAC Regional Mechanism and Strategies to Complement National Efforts on PwD’s

EAC Countries

EAC Partner States have been urged to conduct research and provide health services for the prevention, control, early detection, management and support to various human disabilities. The sentiments were echoed as a historic East African Community Conference on Persons with Disability came to a close in Kampala, Uganda on Saturday. While closing the Conference, Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, Uganda’s State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations called for a common approach in the region that offers holistic programmes taking into consideration the specific needs and aspirations of PwDs. Otaala said on behalf of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EAC Affairs of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Eriya Kategaya : “The region recognizes that PwDs are a valuable human resource in its development. However, the existing frameworks do not allow PwDs to actively get involved in the integration process.”

He called for the enhancement of the roles of the Forum for EAC Ministers responsible for Social Development to create effectiveness and efficiency in implementation of the recommendations of the Conference, including monitoring and evaluation. The Minister urged: “Partner States must commit and mobilize the necessary resources both human and financial to ensure the agenda is successfully carried forward.”  The Kampala PwDs Conference provided a unique opportunity for the EAC to bring together stakeholders, experts and policy makers among others to deliberate the way forward for EAC & Partner States and tackle possible obstacles. The historic Conference stimulated new thinking and came up with firm resolutions on how best the EAC Partner States, and as a region, could make the difference for peoples with disability.

At the opening ceremony on Friday, Tanzania’s Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Prof. David Homeli Mwakyusa drew the attention of participants on his revelation. “The global prevalence of people with disabilities stands at 10 percent and as wananchi with special needs there is no way that the Community can afford to ignore such a large section of the people,” he said. He said the inherent psychological set up of some PwDs was that they tend to demand what they thought were their rights when it was not, hence the need for legislation. He said a programme was needed to dispel wrong notions and beliefs that our populations harbour. The association of witchcraft with disability was commonplace in our societies and the care of PwDs should not be left to the government alone.  “This should be primarily the duty of the community, but we need to draw other stakeholders to assist,” noted the Minister who is also the Chairperson of the EAC Sectoral Council on Health.

© 2010, Suleiman Mbatiah. All rights reserved. – Reproduction of Newstime Africa content on any other news medium without the prior consent or approval of the publishers is forbidden, and in direct contravention of International copyright laws. Violators will be pursued and prosecuted.