Macoha urges positive disability reporting

Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) has urged the media to report positively on issues affecting persons with disabilities in the country.

In an interview on Tuesday, Salima  Macoha administration officer James Chidzanja pleaded with the media to lead in changing people’s perceptions and attitudes towards persons with disabilities.

He said despite making remarkable strides in various development initiatives, many still view people with disabilities as useless in society.

“We would like to urge the media to inform and educate the public that people with disabilities have the potential to develop the country, just like any other person with brilliant ideas. Let us accept and engage them in our society,” Chidzanja said.

He also pleaded with parents living with children with disabilities to allow them to mix with their friends and to treat them with dignity.

Earlier this year, the district hosted national commemorations for 2018 International Day of Persons With Disabilities when the district council chair Everson Mpayani called for inclusion of people with disabilities in various aspects of day-to-day life.

He said time has come to give space to persons with disabilities to participate in various development platforms.

According to the 2008 National Population and Housing Census, the country has about 498 000 persons with various forms of disabilities.