…they also suffer low participation in empowerment programs and employment
The Noth West District’s development committee report has revealed a worrisome statistic of low participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in empowerment programs, tenders and employment in the region.
These are some of the wide ranges of challenges that disabled people in the district faces which consequently impact their quality of life and well-being.
According to the report, during the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, there was no tender allocated to PWDs by various government institutions.
The report also indicates that only the department of Labour and Home Affairs employed a single PWD on affirmative action. A total of 403 PWDs benefitted from empowerment programmes provided by the department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs and Tshidilo Stimulation Center.
Only 12 awareness activities for the PWDs were conducted by the Ombudsman, departments of Health and Wellness, Labour and Home Affairs, Maun Technical College and Tshidilo Stimulation Center.
The report also indicates that there were only fewer institutions with fewer numbers of staff with disabilities which stood 11 during the same quarter.
A total of 7 cases of discrimination or grievances involving disabled people were collectively resolved by the Ombudsman and department of Labour and Home Affairs during the mentioned quarter.
Other challenges include physical barriers in the built environment such as inaccessible buildings with the report indicating that Health and Wellness, Labour and Home Affairs, Lands and Agriculture departs and Tshidilo Stimulation Center are the only ones which have accessible facilities.
There is also a reported problem of insufficient funds for disability support services, which consequently result to reduced access to essential support including healthcare, assistive technology and rehabilitation. This according to the report further limits the opportunity for people with disability to participate fully in society and maintain their well-being.
“Limited access to information and communication technologies hindering the ability of disable persons to participate in community life and access services,” the report further added on the challenges.
Meanwhile, there is also reported shortages of classrooms, toilets staff (caretakers) in schools that have special units across the district. NWDC has 2 special unit classes at Boyei and Moremi Primary Schools with a total enrolment of 148 students, whose age ranges from 5 to 29 years with 3 special teachers and 2 vehicles to carry these students.
“Boyei Deaf Unit currently has 14 pupils with deaf disability while Moremi has 134 and specialises on multi disability. There is shortage of classrooms as ratio for special class is 1:10 pupils. Increase of number of pupils at Moremi Primary causing shortage of classrooms, “read the report.
Among interventions undertaken to improve the living of PWDs by the Disability Committee includes, training of staff on disability frameworks and inclusive service delivery, organising regular awareness campaigns and empowerment cases.
The committee also emphasized on the creation of a complaint mechanism for discrimination cases as well as monitoring implementation of Affirmative Action Recruitment Policy with regard to employment of PWDs in all ministries.
