By Chrispin Kapindira
Joshua Mkwehiwa, the Chief Disability Affairs Officer said that the kasungu district council has to consider persons with disabilities when providing services so that they also remain proactive in development.
He said this in an orientation meeting of councils on the persons with disabilities Act 2024 which has been enacted by the government replacing the Disability act 2012 and the handicapped persons act 1971, which came in operational on 15th April,2024.
"The enforcement of the act and the law will ensure that all malawians and persons with disabilities live happily and provision of services will improve as everyone can participate in activities" he said.
George Mtengowadala , the chief planning officer(CPO) for kasungu district council said that all stakeholders have to collaborate in identifying the challenges faced by persons with disabilities and coming with their solutions.
He then urged all organizations dealing with persons to collect and provide data for the disabled which can be used by the councils in providing their services ; he said this is their responsibility.
He also said that persons with disabilities should be treated with empathy and understanding, and that there is more to being disabled than the physical attributes people see.
Rhoda Banda the secretary for kasungu district disabilities forum(DDF), who is also one of the persons with disabilities said that business people especially min bus drivers have to take into consideration for the disabled and that deports should be constructed in a friendly manner to everyone.
"People have to work together and in Public places like toilets have to be considerate and be reserved from other people since people, do not care for the disabled" she said.
"For a while, the affairs of the disabled had not been taken care of, and now they have where they can make complaints and file reports especially now that they have been given a chance to get registered and be known" said Albert kachiwala a volunteer for Malawi Council for Disability Affairs(MACODA)
He said that the Disability fund that was there in other acts was not active, but now with this new act it will be important to the disabled "
He then encouraged persons with disabilities as citizens, to make sure they get registered and are in groups to take part in different developments in the country.
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