×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Govt urged to put measures to curb disability

News
A GOVERNMENT official yesterday told Parliament that disability could be lowered through putting in place measures against malnutrition, environmental pollution, poor hygiene, inadequate pre-natal and post-natal care, waterborne diseases and accidents of all types.

A GOVERNMENT official yesterday told Parliament that disability could be lowered through putting in place measures against malnutrition, environmental pollution, poor hygiene, inadequate pre-natal and post-natal care, waterborne diseases and accidents of all types.

VENERANDA LANGA

Acting director in the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry Isaac Mukaro also told the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Millenium Development Goals that as other measures government should fight diseases such as poliomyelitis, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, and to a lesser extent tuberculosis that cause disability on people.

“There is need to track newly-born babies at the risk of disability and counselling of parents,” Mukaro said.

“Notable progress has been made at central, provincial and district health structures in early identification, referral and management of children with disabilities,” he said.

Mukaro told the committee that the Disabled Persons’ Fund was only allocated $1 million this year and had so far received a paltry $200 000 from Treasury.

He said it was now mandatory for designs of new buildings to make provision of ramps and other facilities to make them accessible to people living with disabilities.

“Our efforts have been on new buildings and we said that plans should not be passed by the Local Government ministry until there is assurance that there is provision for access by people living with disabilities. We need universal designs where people can also build houses that encompass visitors who might be on wheelchairs because tomorrow we might also end up in wheelchairs,” he said.