MAP calls for support
Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAP) has asked President Peter Mutharika to intervene in the financial challenges facing the institution.
MAP, formerly known as Malawi against Polio following its establishment in 1979 after a polio outbreak, made the call yesterday when its executive members, led by director general Sydney Ndembe, met Mutharika at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre.
During the meeting, MAP principal training officer Cedrick Pahuwa highlighted the financial constraints the institution continues to face since its inception.
“We assist people who have suffered stroke, tuberculosis of the spine, various forms of gender-based violence [GBV] and road accidents by providing intense rehabilitation. MAP helps people with disabilities from their own areas by visiting them and this service has been suspended at the moment due to lack of funds.
“Our Kachere Rehabilitation Centre, which was opened to offer comprehensive medical rehabilitation services and acts as a referral for all rehabilitation cases in the country, has a 40-bed capacity, thereby restraining us to help many needy Malawians.
Over the years, we have managed to train our own 20 physiotherapists but due to limited resources, they were not trained in occupational therapy,” said Pahuwa
Speaking earlier, Mutharika said there is need to nurture the different abilities people with disabilities have.
“There is a need as a country to pay more attention to these people, especially during times of disasters such as floods and food insecurities. Government will come up with loans for these people to make sure they live a comfortable life,” he said.
