People with disabilities must be catered for
Oct 13, 2007
EVERYONE of us can become disabled anytime. That is why it is unwise to ridicule, ignore, or take advantage of people with disabilities. In the modern era, efforts are made to factor their convenience in every utility, facility and programme. Unfortunately, this is an area we are lagging behind as U
EVERYONE of us can become disabled anytime. That is why it is unwise to ridicule, ignore, or take advantage of people with disabilities. In the modern era, efforts are made to factor their convenience in every utility, facility and programme. Unfortunately, this is an area we are lagging behind as Ugandans.
Though Uganda has 1.1 million people with disabilities, most organisations don’t plan for them in constructing new buildings, even when they are public utilities. We are building new roads and repairing others but ignoring the concerns of disabled people such as special walkways and audio signals to cross streets for the visually impaired.
And such provisions are a cardinal requirement of modern architecture and engineering yet Ugandan constructors seem to get away with plans that don’t provide for people with disabilities. The people concerned should start enforcing this. All CHOGM facilities, for instance, should have disability friendly amenities like special toilets and walkways.
We should also start focusing on preventing disability in our society. Most of the causes are preventable. Polio which was a notorious factor has been flushed out. The Ministry of Health says there has not been a reported polio case in the last 10 years. But we still have cases of poor disease management like malaria which leaves children with physical, visual and hearing impairments.
Quack doctors and nurses administer injections which leave abscesses that affect limb growth. Poor roads, bad drivers and bad workmanship cause accidents that leave many disabled.
Leaders should remember that anyone can become disabled any time, and begin to plan for people with disabilities in all their activities.
Though Uganda has 1.1 million people with disabilities, most organisations don’t plan for them in constructing new buildings, even when they are public utilities. We are building new roads and repairing others but ignoring the concerns of disabled people such as special walkways and audio signals to cross streets for the visually impaired.
And such provisions are a cardinal requirement of modern architecture and engineering yet Ugandan constructors seem to get away with plans that don’t provide for people with disabilities. The people concerned should start enforcing this. All CHOGM facilities, for instance, should have disability friendly amenities like special toilets and walkways.
We should also start focusing on preventing disability in our society. Most of the causes are preventable. Polio which was a notorious factor has been flushed out. The Ministry of Health says there has not been a reported polio case in the last 10 years. But we still have cases of poor disease management like malaria which leaves children with physical, visual and hearing impairments.
Quack doctors and nurses administer injections which leave abscesses that affect limb growth. Poor roads, bad drivers and bad workmanship cause accidents that leave many disabled.
Leaders should remember that anyone can become disabled any time, and begin to plan for people with disabilities in all their activities.