Latest update February 1st, 2025 6:05 AM
Latest News
- Govt. to seek another extension from World Bank to complete Petroleum Management Project
- Piecemeal information on decisions and revenue management ingredients for corruption- NRGI
- CANU warns of dangerous ‘Strawberry Quick’ drug circulating in schools
- Court yet to rule on request for access to Brutus’ bank account
- PPP to meet GECOM on Tuesday to discuss elections -Jagdeo
Disability Commission looks to strengthen capacity of differently-able persons
Evelyn Hamilton
Strengthening the capacity of both adults and children with disabilities has been listed as one of the key factors in the National Commission on Disability’s strategic plan. This is, according to Chairperson of the Commission, Ms Evelyn Hamilton, who at a recent forum at the National Park disclosed that the Disability Commission is in fact looking forward to a society where persons with disabilities enjoy their rights and are therefore able to live full and productive lives as well.
As such, Hamilton said that she has been heartened by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 2013 State of the World’s Children Report which entails recommendations that value the efforts of the National Commission on Disability and its partnership organisations of the Ministry of Education and other supportive organisations.
According to Hamilton, who doubles as the Ministry of Education’s Planning Officer, one of the key recommendations of the Report speaks to fighting discrimination and enhancing the awareness of disability among the general public. It was also pointed out that awareness is also crucial among decision makers and those who provide essential services for children and adolescents in such areas of health, education and protection.
“I believe this is one of the key responsibilities of the National Commission on Disability…it is certainly stated as a key strategy in our strategic plan where we state strengthening the capacity of men, women and children with disability and disability people’s organisations to advocate for their rights.”
This, Hamilton said, is also essential to allow for the effective and efficient management of such organisations with the help of UNICEF and other agencies.
Hamilton noted that the National Commission has embraced this path in accordance with the Report’s recommendation which advises that “we should involve children and adolescents and I suppose, by extension, all persons with disabilities in making decisions that affect them not just as beneficiaries but as agents for change.”
Moreover, the Disability Commission has been involved in advocacy, training and networking with other key and like-minded agencies like the Ministries of Education, Labour, Human Services and Social Security and Culture, Youth and Sport, according to Hamilton.
And even as these efforts are being made, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ms Beverly Pile, disclosed that although challenged by limited financial and human resources, the Disability Commission is aiming to have in place by this year end, a comprehensive report on the state of disability in Guyana.
During a recent interview with this publication, she disclosed that the report will be based on the findings of an in-depth survey which is already in the initial stages.
According to Pile, attempts are being made to ascertain not only how many persons are living with disabilities, but the specific types as well as the respective needs of such persons.
“The vision or intent is to make sure that when we are speaking about persons with disabilities or when we have any sort of activity we don’t just talk off of our heads, but we have actual facts and figures.”
Based on the country census of 2002 there are 50,000 persons living with disabilities, but Pile noted that “I am quite sure that has significantly increased. Right now the Commission has to capture what we have in reality.”
Once completed, the report, which is expected to guide the way forward for the Commission, will be officially launched.
But even as the Commission ambitiously eyes the completion of the report, its work is tremendously hampered not only by the lack of financial, but also human resources, Pile disclosed. Although the Disability entity is the recipient of an annual subvention from the Ministry of Health, the finances she said, are not nearly sufficient to undertake all of the Commission’s outlined plans.
She revealed that this includes sensitisation efforts across the country. The sensitisation undertaking is mainly to raise awareness about the Disability Act of 2010. However, currently such moves have been confined to Georgetown, something that cannot be allowed as according to Pile, “we are a National Commission so we need to get out there and sensitise persons in the Regions as well.”
Nevertheless, the Executive Secretary assured that “we are trying all that is absolutely possible to make sure that the nation understands the issue of disability in Guyana.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A wave of criminal deportees may be coming our way soon
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-It is peculiar the way the PPP/C government often finds itself staring down the barrel of... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
