Persons with Disabilities need to understand, benefit from inclusive disability policy

Elias Hakizimana Sep 30, 2022 0 Comments

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

Persons with short stature express concerns that they do not have knowledge about the disability inclusion policy, thus experiencing stigma and discrimination in the community.

Marie Appoline Buntubwimana, Executive Director of Rwanda Union of Little People (RULP), said that many people are not aware of the National policy of persons with disabilities in Rwanda, as herself tried to learn about it in rare cases, as an activist.

“Few of those I represent can also have knowledge of this policy, but the majority do not know this policy”,

These people were raising the issue on Thursday, September 29, 2022 in Kigali, during a National Dialogue on the Policy of Persons with Disabilities Dissemination and Implementation, organized by National Union of Disabilities’ Organisations of Rwanda (NUDOR).

Buntubwimana said that little people face still face various challenges including inaccessible infrastructures.

“We do not have access on the pharmacies’ counters in the public health centers because of our disability status, most of our members, especially women also face challenges of accessibility to the beds in maternity when they go to birth delivery. It is difficult for us because you know that women who are not little make it easier,” she said, adding that another issue is inaccessible seats in the public transport buses.” She said.

“We cannot sit safe in the cars, which can cause health problems on the back or in the legs, the seats are rifted on the very top for us, we suggest that the government can think of how little people can sit properly and safely in the public transport buses.” She said.

Huss Monique, Director General of Community Development and Social Affairs in the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) said that the disability policy started to be implemented in different categories including health, education, and citizens’ welfare among others.

“As the Ministry of local government that is in charge of this policy implementation, we managed to communicate this policy and the initiative did not stop, we are continuing the awareness campaign after discussions with different key ministries and stakeholders as well as players from different organizations. We meet for evaluation of what have been achieved, the way forward and the timeline to implement pending activities,” she said,

She added that the disability policy brings together different ministries including, the ministry of infrastructure (MININFRA) that works on efficient and safe transport of PWDs.

“The disability policy was established in May, 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic as people were not allowed to meet. We have people from the grass root level and the media who are aware of this policy and we want to make this information effective to the citizen at the village level.” She said.

She said that the four-year long disability policy is expected to be implemented though joint efforts to tell the community that PWDs are able to perform everything and to enjoy their full potentials as far as human rights are concerned.

Beth Mukarwego, President of NUDOR, Lecturer at University of Rwanda said that the policy is very important but it still needs improvements. She noted like Education where children need to be facilitated to join special schools to enjoy inclusive education.