Page 14 - Rapport-2008

“Disabled children lack support”
COMMUNITY Development and Social Services Minister, Catherine
Namugala has said that children living with disabilities
particularly those suffering from cerebral palsy are not
getting enough help from the community.

And a child living with disability from Kabulonga High School
has said the limited number of facilities for the disabled
children is one of the difficulties they faced.

Ms Namugala challenged traditional leaders and parents of
children living with disabilities not to hide their children
but be proud of them and register them with the social welfare
department whose offices are found all over Zambia.
She said disabled children needed support from both the
community and their parents to enable them feel accepted and
positively contribute to the development of Zambia.

The minister was speaking in Chisamba on Sunday when she
officiated at the handover ceremony of K20 million worth of
foodstuff from the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) to Munu Ka Yumbwa
Cerebral Palsy Association.

The donation, which included rice, powdered milk and salt was
aimed at assisting children suffering from cerebral palsy at
Kabulonga Boys High school as well as those at Laura Quarmby in
Kitwe.

Ms Namugala said due to some traditional beliefs that
associated cerebral palsy to witchcraft and evil spirits, some
parents and guardians were hiding their children from society.
She commended the association for its assistance to the
children with cerebral palsy and their parents and pledged
Government’s support to programmes aimed at alleviating
difficulties among the disabled persons.

And 21-year-old Temba Mwimo from Kabulonga High School said
because of inadequate facilities, many disabled children were
failing to enjoy equal rights with able-bodied persons.
Temba urged the Government to devise ways in which both
individuals and agencies would be attracted to get involved in
rehabilitating disabled children by putting up many schools for
them.

Earlier, association chairperson, Esther Mwimo said the
organisation had managed to procure a 20-hectare land and
appealed to the Government to help secure a title deed.”

TOUS NOS PROJETS SONT D’INITIATIVE ZAMBIENNE ! 14