 |
| Hon Richard Banda receiving Petition form Charles Banda |
Representatives from people
living with physical disabilities petitioned the National Assembly to force
government make “available free of charge” essential assistive devices
particularly for mobility.
An Affiliate organization to
FEDOMA called Persons with Physical Disabilities in Malawi (PPDM) petition is
pushing for free availability of assistive devices among the poor persons with
disabilities and lower prices for such devices to those who can afford.
The petition recommends that
policies or strategies related to assistive devices require regular budgetary
support from government to ensure implementation and for the replacement, repair
and maintenance.
It adds that the essential
assistive devices needs to be identified and made available free of charge to
the poor people who cannot afford the devices.
 |
| Charles Banda Reading the petition |
Vice Chairperson for the organisation,
Charles Banda, when handing over the petition on Wednesday evening to Hon Richard
Chimwendo Banda, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Social and
Economic Affairs, said the concerned population
of persons with physical disabilities wants provision of assistive devices be
part and parcel of development national agenda.
He said persons with
disabilities are facing a number of challenges including lack of increased
participation in development activities hence calls for government actions as defined in
accordance with international and local disability rights instruments by making available of assistive devices free of charge to the poor.
Banda observed that assistive
devices are priced as high as K500 thousand for wheel chairs in shops and at K300
thousand for pair of callipers in current services offered 500 Miles Project,
prices that an average Malawian is failing to afford.
He said now with no mobility aids
such as tricycles, wheel chairs, crunches and callipers many poor Malawians
with physical disabilities have lost mobility or they crawl on the floor. Banda
noted that the worsening situation is due to lack of support to organisations
that gives out services and such devices including Malawi Against Physical
Disabilities (MAPD) and orthopedic centres in Lilongwe and Blantyre who are
currently inactive.
Banda said currently, persons
with physical are being denied equal access to many other social amenities
including education, employment and health.
“Mobility devices enable persons
with disabilities to achieve personal mobility and access to these devices is a
precondition for achieving equal opportunities, enjoying human rights and
living in dignity” he said adding that article 20 of United Nations Conventions
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) also places the
responsibility of States to ensure that persons with disabilities have personal
mobility with greatest possible independence, promote and ensure availability
as well as access to mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies.
Assistive technologies when
appropriate to the user he said “Have been shown to be a powerful tool to
increase independence and participation”
He therefore said this is opposed
to provisions in Sections 12(2), 13(c)(f)(g) and many others of the
Constitution of the Republic of Malawi; some Priority areas of the National
Social Support Policy; some Sections in the Disability Act of 2012 and some Articles
of the UNCRPD
The PPDM vice chairperson
therefore asked Malawi government to abide by its commitments ratified in the
UNCRPD and adopted Disability Act, and signed international treaties to ensure
that persons with disabilities have equal access to basic human rights through
access to assistive devices (including mobility devices).
“To this end government must
adopt comprehensive approach to strengthen in-country capacity for provision
for assistive devices at all levels”
Receiving the petition hon
Richard Chimwendo Banda, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Social
And Economic Affairs of Parliament, said he will try to plead with the Speaker and
the business committee to ensure that the petition is discussed in this budget
sitting.
“If it is not possible we will
make sure it is given priority in the next sitting of parliament” he said
adding that their grievances will be well articulated in by the legislatures
through lobby for increased funding targeting their challenges.
