YUMBE | PWDs | ACCESSIBILITY

YUMBE - Persons with disabilities ( PWDs) in Yumbe district have raised concerns over lacking accessibility to public places in the district.

Speaking during the celebration of the belated day of PWDs in the district on Wednesday, Amviko Hellus, the councillor representing persons with disabilities in the district said many of the PWDs are facing a lot of difficulties in the district to access most of the public institutions such as health centres, schools, public offices, among others.

According to Amviko, most of these public institutions don't have standard ramps and others have narrow doors which hinder accessibility to PWDs especially those on wheelchairs.

Ededra Zamza chairman District Union for PWDs in Yumbe parades together with other PWDs through Yumbe town. (Credit: Adam Gule)

Amviko said mothers who are PWDs face difficulties when at labour due to highly raised beds and most times end up delivering on floors.

"In health, education and even public offices, there is still a lot of challenge of accessibility, there are no ramps and doors not friendly for us as PWDs," she said.

Amviko urged government and partners to intervene and improve accessibility for PWDs in all public places in order to create inclusion.

Ededra Zamza, the chairman district union for PWDs in Yumbe said besides the absence of ramps and narrow doors to public places, the deaf are also struggling to access different services in the district due to language gaps.