Nkhata Bay District Disability Forum (DDF) says unity remains a challenge among organisations working towards promoting issues concerning people with disabilities.
Nkhata Bay DDF chairperson Mac Dwellings Nkhoma expressed the concern on Tuesday during a briefing on a five-year disability mainstreaming project to be implemented in Traditional Authority Zilakoma by Livingstonia Synod Aids Programme (Lisap) with funding from Help a Child.
“Organisations promoting issues of disability do not work together. This has created a barrier such that rights of people with disabilities are not recognised as anticipated,” he said.
Lisap project manager Charity Nyirenda said his organisation will work hand-in-hand with other organisations towards disability mainstreaming, which will improve the participation of people with disabilities in various aspects of development.
“We are implementing this project to ensure that people with disabilities access different facilities in the district. We will conduct sensitisation meetings through the Area and Village Development Committees to change people’s mindset that disability is not inability,” she said.
On his part, Nkhata Bay district agriculture development officer Yaz Nyirenda, who represented the district commissioner, appealed to DDF and Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) to work together.—Mana
