Garissa officials call for more opportunities for PLWDs

Garissa Culture, sports and youth executive Zeinab Abdi Digale has called for more opportunities for people living with disabilities. 

Dagale said they require education and other needs for an inclusive society.

She said equal rights for the special interest group was necessary for affirmative action that calls for prioritization of the special group.

Dagale spoke at the Garissa Special School for the deaf during the International Day for People Living with Disabilities.

The theme for this year was “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive accessible and sustainable post-Covid-19 world.”

She said the Garissa government was committed to giving opportunities for PLWDs.

People living with disabilities complained over marginalization and failure by the county to give them equal opportunities, something they said has disadvantaged them.

Girlkind chief executive Fatuma Hakar said even though progress has been made in providing them with opportunities, more needs to be done.

Ahmed Bulle, Garissa chairman for people living with disabilities said the organization will remain steadfast in fighting for their rights.

“People living with disabilities have suffered for long. They are segregated, denied basic needs and this needs to change,” Bulle said.

“We are abled differently and deserve to be treated equally like any other person. The society needs to change its perception towards us.”

The executive said the county has built four classrooms for the Garissa Special School for the Deaf, employed ECD teachers and constructed toilets to promote equality and inclusivity of the people with disabilities.

She encouraged them to be role models and urged children living with disabilities who have drooped out to go back to school.

Dagale appealed to all stakeholders to involve people with disabilities in conversations around critical issues such as Covid-19.

In attendance was Northeastern Gender commission coordinator Abdiwahab Mohamed, Gender county director Abdullahi Idle Gure, Muhubo Hassan of Girl concern and Muli Steven of the Anglican Development Services.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris