PLWDs concerned over exclusion
NKOSINOTHANDO DEWA IN GWERU
People living with disability (PLWD) have expressed concerns over apparent exclusion from government programmes as those with visual and hearing impairments have not been catered for when information is disseminated via radio and television.
A local disability advocate, Let’s Make a Difference Disability Zimbabwe, has appealed to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for help.
“We are asking that the Ministry of Health and Child Care to do awareness campaigns on the ground as we are not well informed, especially the deaf, they are neglected,” the executive director for Let’s Make a Difference Disability Zimbabwe, Nigel Tahwa said.
He appealed for the inclusion of every citizen especially on life-saving vaccination as the excluded sometimes do not get the doses.
Tahwa said sometimes the interpreters pass on wrong information.
“These programs are important and everyone must be a part of them and information must be accessed by everyone because interpreters pass on the wrong information and at times. They get frustrated by being asked many questions as they are telling someone who is clueless,” he said.
He said the government should use braille and sign language when rolling out mass drug administration programmes to cater for everyone. He encouraged holding physical campaigns as this will result in almost every citizen having their questions answered.
