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Disability Bill is indication of Govt’s commitment to the differently able – Ramsammy

Mar 13, 2010 News

The recently unveiled National Rehabilitation Services Strategy 2009-2013 sets out Government’s plans for providing and delivering equitable access to high quality and consumer-friendly disability and rehabilitation services to the people of Guyana.
And according to Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, it comes at a time when the legislation for People with Disabilities is before Parliament.
The much anticipated Bill was for the first time read in Parliament last November leading to the assumption that its passage and subsequent implementation may soon become a reality.
Minister Ramsammy had presented the crucial legislation which has since been placed before a Special Select Committee. The Act is designed to provide certain rights to persons with disabilities. Among these rights are promotion, protection and full equal enjoyment of those rights.
The legislation is also intended to facilitate the enforcement of the rights and eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability even as it serves to provide for the welfare and rehabilitation for such persons.
In addition, the legislation provides for the registration of persons with disabilities through the already established National Commission on Disabilities.
According to the Minister, the Disability Bill is a concrete expression of how far efforts have come in addressing the concerns of people living with disabilities. The new law, he said, would ensure that stigma and discrimination against the disabled are addressed more effectively. In fact, he noted that the fundamental human rights of people with disability are in wearingly recognised.
“Indeed, significant strides are being made as we address disabilities in our country. I am proud of the work of the Ministry of Health as we have placed disability prominently on the public health and developing agenda.”
And in addressing the issues of prevention, the Minister revealed that various screening programmes are in place and are being expanded in order to address the issues of early recognition and diagnosis. In doing so, he added that programmes are also in place to address lifestyle-acquired disabilities while simultaneously treatment and assistance for people living with disabilities are being addressed.
This he said is evident with the improvement of facilities and the training of professionals and the introduction of a Degree programme in Rehabilitation Sciences and another in Optometry at the University of Guyana.
“This is reflective of the advances we have made in building capacity to deal with expanded services for the prevention and treatment of disability. Truly we are serious in our goal that all preventable disabilities are reduced and all persons with disabilities are receiving equitable and high quality services that enable them to function as equal citizens.”
Administrative Manager of the National Disability Commission, Ms Beverly Pile, had some months ago commented on the much needed Bill, stressing that “We definitely hope that something will be done urgently.”
Pile had disclosed to this newspaper that the Commission which is located at 49 Croal Street, Georgetown, has been the nerve-centre to which all concerns of disabled persons are voiced. According to her, “they keep asking about the Bill. All we can say is yes we are working on it…that the Minister is doing everything possible.”
However, such an advisory only serves to make persons with disabilities and those within the Disabled People’s Organisations to become more despondent and frustrated, Pile noted.
Currently, there is nothing that can be done on their behalf, as there is nothing documented to give disabled persons any special rights, she added.
The Health Minister, under whose purview the Commission falls, had himself emphasised that although Guyana has made tremendous progress over the years there is still much more to be done in the area of disability, prevention and rehabilitation.
He had said, “I am disappointed that we have not been able to pass the Disability Bill as yet,” an area he noted requires continued focus.

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