This update can also be downloaded as PDF document (please click here) Update - August 2008

Monthly News date                                                                                                         August    2008

Regional News

Evaluation on SADPD Activities Conducted in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Kenya

The Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities late last month conducted evaluation meetings in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Kenya to determine the impact of its work at the national level.

The evaluation process was an opportunity to obtain baseline information of some of the agencies that the secretariat has been working with over the past four years.

The process included field visits and a visit was made to Makaza school for the blind which is run by the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB). The team also visited Philanthropique Organisation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The organisation raises awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and also promotes their social and econoimc development.

Evaluation meetings included a meeting with representatives of Disabled Peoples Organisations, Gender sub-committee of the Decade Steering Committee and Decade Steering Committee members. Another meeting with the national federation of persons with Disabilities (FENAPH), VSO and other agencies was held.

An analysis of the meetings indicated that the capacity building of the Decade Steering Committees is still a priority.

For more information, contact nikiwe@africandecade.co.ke

ETHIOPIA

In Ethiopia, a workshop was held with National Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) on 21- 22 July 2008. Nine DPOs attended  the workshop. These organisations were: -

Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf (ENAD), Epilepsy Support Association of Ethiopia (ESAE) and Ethiopian Federation of people with Disabilities (EFPD). Ethiopian National Association for Intellectual Disability (ENAID), Ethiopian National Association  of People with Leprosy (ENAPAL), Ethiopian National Association for the Blind (ENAB), EWDWA, Ethiopian National Association  of the Deaf-Blind (ENADB), EFPDE and Ethiopian Women with Disabilities National Association (EWDNA).

Site visits were also done from 23 – 25 July 2008 to witness day-to-day functioning of the organizations and to collect outstanding forms. Organisations visited included:

Ethiopian National Association of the Blind (ENAB), Ethiopian National Association for  the Deaf-Blind and Ethiopian National Association for Intellectual Disability  (ENAID).

There were also meetings with key people from the various organisations.

KENYA

Meetings in Kenya were organised around Focus Group Discussion with national parent organizations and youth leaders.

The main objectives were, to have a better understanding of the needs of parent and youth organizations so that subsequent capacity building initiatives are relevant and effective.

The other purpose was to establish a task team to facilitate the establishment of a National Parent Network and a National Youth Network to advance the rights, opportunities and dignity of children with disabilities in Kenya.

The third objective was to consult with development partners who could support capacity building initiatives and promote mainstreaming. The workshops were also held to explore opportunities to promote leadership and the education of children and youth with disabilities. Twelve participants from the National parent organizations participated.

The participants were drawn from Brian Res Centre for the Deaf Blind. Kenya Association of parent of the Deaf, Down Syndrome Society of Kenya (D.S.S.K), Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalic  Association of Kenya, Kenya Society for the Mentally handicapped, Life skills programme and National School Feeding Council of Kenya.

For more information, email nafisa@africandecade.co.ke

IASSID 13TH World Congress

The 13th International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities World congress was held in Cape Town on 25-30 August, 2008 for the first time ever.

Over 800 delegates participated in the congress which had sessions addressing the various needs for persons with intellectual disabilities.

The various plenary sessions had topics ranging from, education & employment, Empowerment, Rights and Ethics, Families and Parenting, mental health and HIV/AIDS.

The Congress was geared at creating relationships that would improve the welfare of people with Intellectual Disabilities.
For more information visit, contact
Email: info@mencap.org.uk                

Disabled Persons in Eriteria Given Free Loans

The Eriterian Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare has given interest free loans amounting to over 3.5 million Nafka to 124 demobilized war-disabled veterans in the Nothern Red Sea region.

The loan is aimed at enabling disabled nationals become self-supporting and productive. The country has put in place community-based rehabilitation program of disabled citizens.

For more information, visit  www.shabait.com

Disabled Persons of Ghana Promised Free  Medical Care and Education

A Ghanaian presidential candidate Ofori Ampofo of the Ghana National Party (GNP) has promised to give free education and medical care to persons with disabilities should he be elected president.

Ampofo made the promise during a visit by Ghana’s Journalists Network for Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Ghana goes to polls on 7th December, 2008.  The Journalist delegation was led by Amoah Kwaku Addi who is the networks president.

During the visit, the presidential hopeful donated an electronic motorised wheel chair and four crutches to the network to be given to PWDs in Ghana.

The Journalists network has organised a series of meetings with presidential candidates ahead of this year’s general elections in the country, wanting to know what policies and programmes the aspiring candidates have for Persons with Disabilities .

The bold move by the Journalist network is encouraging and should be emulated by others in the continent if there is to be meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities. Africa has a large population of Disabled persons who represent a powerful election tool for lobbying.

For more information, contact aidasarr64@yahoo.fr

Microsoft South Africa Target Persons with Disabilities

Microsoft South Africa has teamed up with Quadriplegic Association of South Africa (Quasa) and Rod Colembarander Resource Centre in Pinetown, Kwazulu – Natal to give computer courses to persons with disabilities.

According to Vis Naidoo of Microsoft South Africa, Microsoft is looking at ways to target people with disabilities for sometime now and offer the products that are available. In May this year, the centre launched week long introductory computer skills courses and hopes to develop more courses soon.

Over 70 persons with disabilities have benefited from the project. However, transport problems to the centre have been blamed for the small number of trainees so far.

Source: The Times, August 19, 2008

Leprosy in DRC under Control

Leprosy is under control in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to current statistics released by the Government. The number of people infected has reduced to less than one case per 10,000 people.

However, health officials in the country warn that the reduction in the number of Leprosy cases nationally does not signify a complete eradication of the disease.

There are still an estimated 800 recorded cases of the disease in the country. Leprosy screening campaigns in prevalence areas have been intensified, especially among the indigenous communities, in the districts of Haut-uele and Bas-uele in the province of Orientale.

According to the medical coordinator at the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis centre, Jacques Kumbahuka, a lack of access to health care among the indigenous communities mainly living along the border with Southern Sudan and the Central African Republic had aggravated the prevalence of the disease in the regions.

Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network 
              (IRIN)

International News

Bangladesh Persons with Disability Demand Equal Voter Rights

The Rajshahshi Chapter of Action on Disability and Development (ADD) this month organised a procession  to create awareness on persons with disability voters in the country.

They demanded permanent or temporary polling centres for persons with disabilities, separate voting lines for them, adapted transport, positive media publicity, declaring the rights of disabled people in election pledge, ensuring an election free of black money and participation of persons with disability.

For five days, street plays were performed at different intersections of the Rajshashi city corporation area to generate awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities.

For more information, visit www.blogs.com.bd

A London Council Apologises to Disabled Asylum-seeker

A London Council that told a disabled asylum-seeker that he was not entitled to a free travel pass has apologised. Lambeth council in London had told a wheel chair – user Youcef Bey-Zekkoub that it would not renew his Freedom pass.

Following protests by campaign groups Winvisible and Transport for All and a legal challenge, Lambeth reversed its position in late July, 2008 and sent Mr. Bey-Zekkoub a written apology.

Five other disabled asylum seekers in similar positions are now being issued with Freedom passes. The pass is usually given free to persons with restricted mobility.

Source: Disability now.org.uk

Upcoming Events
Regional

18-19 September
SADPD AGM
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact: Patsy@africandecade.co.za

2-5 October
Disability lifestyle expo
Location: Johannesburg
Contact: independentliving08@gmail.com

13-17 October
FAMOD General Assembly
Location:  Mozambique
Contact: cantolalc@yahoo.com.br

24-25 October
AU Conference
Location: Namibia
Contact: ttjimbumbi@opm.gov.na

International

9-11 September

Workability International Conference
Location: Hokkaido Japan
Contact: araki@selp.or.jp

 
15 October

International white cane day

 
3 December

International Disability Day
 

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Helpful websites
www.afri-can.org                                            
www.motivation.org.uk
www.wheelchairfoundation.org
www.paranet.ch
www.joniandfriends.org
www.africandecade.org.za
 
The Secretariat of African Decade of Persons with Disabilities News Update is circulated monthly. We welcome views and feed back from our readers. Your Reponses will always be published in the next issue. For more information, please contact info@africandecade.co.za
 
Compiled by: Jane Mwangi
Edited by: A. K. Dube