Blessing Uganda Foundation has offered support to a total of 28 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Eastern Uganda, the Executive Director Joseph Ojaatum has told TNN News.
Out of the 28 PWDs the organization has managed to take 8 of the students to do courses including medicine and other skills courses. Others have been given wheelchairs.
Disability in Uganda is defined as permanent and substantial functional limitation of daily life activities caused by physical, mental or sensory impairment and environmental barriers resulting in limited participation.
The national policy categorizes; Difficulty in hearing, Difficulty in speaking and conveying messages; Difficulty in moving around and using other body parts; Difficulty in seeing; Strange behavior; Epilepsy; Difficulty in learning; Leprosy; Loss of feeling as disabilities.
The wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices for enhancing personal mobility, which is a precondition for enjoying human rights and living in dignity.
Winfred Apolot, one of the beneficiaries from Magoro Sub County in Katakwi District is optimistic that the support she has received from Blessing Uganda Foundation will enable her access to various services now that she has managed to get a wheelchair.
Mr. Ojaatum says that the support that has been rendered to PWDS will assist people with disabilities to become productive members of their communities and also aid their movement to schools and churches.
He further urged the people with disabilities to utilize the special disability grants given by the Government of Uganda in order to improve their livelihoods.
In Uganda, PWDs face difficulties in accessing education, health and sports facilities, places of employment, cultural sites and other physical infrastructure. They are denied access to most buildings such as schools, hospitals, courts of laws, stadias.
The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 10% of any population is disabled. It also estimates that of the 10% only 5.8% of persons with disabilities need to be provided with services.