NAADS told to cater for disabled persons
Nov 18, 2009
THE National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has been asked to design special programmes for people with physical and mental disabilities.
By Florence Nakaayi
THE National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has been asked to design special programmes for people with physical and mental disabilities.
The Central Region MP for people with disabilities, Safia Nalule, said people with disabilities were capable of contributing to the wellbeing of their families and the development of the country if they are involved in suitable productive activities.
“The way society treats you depends on how they think about you. Having a disability does not mean you cannot be useful,†she told researchers in Kampala on Thursday.
Nalule condemned people who use abusive language to refer to people with disabilities.
Researchers were meeting ahead of conducting a baseline study of the mental health situation in Kampala Central division.
The survey, which is expected to kick off soon, will be conducted by Kampala Central division and Mental Health Uganda (MHU), a local non-governmental organisation.
The director of MHU, Julius Kayiira, said the survey was aimed at identifying problems and come up with solutions that can promote mental health services in the city.
He said people with mental illnesses are not only those who loiter on the streets or scavenge for food in dust bins, but also those with mild disorders. Kayiira added that it is dangerous to leave people with mental illnesses unattended to.
“For example, if you have employees who are stressed they can not deliver. One enters office in the morning but because he is stressed, it clocks mid-day when he has not done anything,†Kayiira said.
“The city needs social services where a person can get immediate help to such problems,†he added.
The chairperson of the central division health committee, Geraldine Busingye, thanked MHU for extending services to the vulnerable groups, whom she said are neglected by the community.
“People with mental illnesses are our sons and daughters. So, we must be compassionate towards them,†said John Baptist Mubiru, a researcher.
THE National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has been asked to design special programmes for people with physical and mental disabilities.
The Central Region MP for people with disabilities, Safia Nalule, said people with disabilities were capable of contributing to the wellbeing of their families and the development of the country if they are involved in suitable productive activities.
“The way society treats you depends on how they think about you. Having a disability does not mean you cannot be useful,†she told researchers in Kampala on Thursday.
Nalule condemned people who use abusive language to refer to people with disabilities.
Researchers were meeting ahead of conducting a baseline study of the mental health situation in Kampala Central division.
The survey, which is expected to kick off soon, will be conducted by Kampala Central division and Mental Health Uganda (MHU), a local non-governmental organisation.
The director of MHU, Julius Kayiira, said the survey was aimed at identifying problems and come up with solutions that can promote mental health services in the city.
He said people with mental illnesses are not only those who loiter on the streets or scavenge for food in dust bins, but also those with mild disorders. Kayiira added that it is dangerous to leave people with mental illnesses unattended to.
“For example, if you have employees who are stressed they can not deliver. One enters office in the morning but because he is stressed, it clocks mid-day when he has not done anything,†Kayiira said.
“The city needs social services where a person can get immediate help to such problems,†he added.
The chairperson of the central division health committee, Geraldine Busingye, thanked MHU for extending services to the vulnerable groups, whom she said are neglected by the community.
“People with mental illnesses are our sons and daughters. So, we must be compassionate towards them,†said John Baptist Mubiru, a researcher.