Disabled people demand equal treatment in society
September 21, 2014 (YEI) – Persons living with disabilities in Yei River county of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state have appealed for equal treatment in society.
Speaking to reporters in the county, Sam Data James, one of the disabled persons, complained of neglect and that they are often not given opportunity to speak in public forums.
“There are a lot of insults, people do undermine us, and we are not allowed to express our views in the community. One may feel like giving the idea that he or she has on the mind it can be said that you are unable to give an appropriate suggestion,” he said.
Data, who lost both legs, usually finds it hard to move as he looks for survival means.
“We have a lot of challenges, there are movement problems, yet we have families and children who are supposed to be sent to school and there is no way,” he says, adding, “It is not easy to get work in order to get money.”
Rose Nighty, another person with disability, urged the government to consider them in decision making since disability was not inability.
“I want the government not to leave us behind. What I know is that if we are bad from the legs, our minds do work,” said Nighty.
“The community should not run away from people with disability,” she added, while speaking against the practice of discrimination.
Santo Paul Lasuba, the mayor of Yei municipal council, said government was commitment to protect the disabled and plans were to form an association that will assist them with their problems.
“People with disability should form an association and let them come through the civil society organisation so that if there is a help or something that is needed to be addressed should have channel, not that we do to individuals,” said Lasuba.
The commissioner of Yei, on the other hand, said doors were open to every citizen with genuine concern, including persons with disability.
“I hate if tomorrow I don’t become a person who welcome persons living with disability to come to my office. Even if he is an individual or not, I have the ability to meet his or her needs,” said Cosmas Bidali.
(ST)