AFRICA/UGANDA - National and diocesan Caritas wants more inclusion for disabled persons

Thursday, 26 April 2018

Internet

Kisubi (Agenzia Fides) – Co-workers and staff of Caritas Uganda are in Kisubi for a formation seminar on inclusive development (DID) to promote full integration in society for people with a disability (PWD).
Some 50 participants, including Caritas Uganda staff, diocesan Caritas Programme and Advocacy Managers from all 19 dioceses, together with representatives of national and local government are reflecting on the Gospel from Matthew: “Get up, Pick up your Mat and Go” .
A recent statement sent to Fides by Godfrey Onentho, Caritas Uganda Coordinator for research and policies encourages the inclusion of vulnerable persons in Caritas programming and service. “This is unlike gender mainstreaming and programming that seems to receive widespread attention within Caritas programmes at both diocesan and national levels. The training will run concurrently with a study commissioned by Caritas Uganda to identify key disabilities issues and current responses in at least eight of the 19 dioceses, and best practices and challenges within Caritas work in this area” said Onentho.
The Catholic bishops of the countries of east Africa AMECEA said: “The participants are expected to review on Caritas’s current projects focusing on persons with disabilities, focusing on how the project can be made even more inclusive; as well as reflections on how participants can apply the learned principles in their everyday practice of their respective professions. All diocesan and national Caritas staff are also expected to immediately adopt disabilities-sensitive programming in their respective Dioceses after the training
The World Health Organization estimates 10% of the world’s population to be disabled. According to the Uganda’s National Census report of 2002, 4 out of every 25 persons in Uganda have disabilities, thus making it a development concern. Persons with disabilities are more likely to experience adverse socioeconomic outcomes than persons without disabilities, such as less education, poorer health outcomes, lower levels of employment, and higher poverty rates.
According to the National Population and housing Sector 2014 Report, overall for population aged two years and above, the disability prevalence rate was 12.4% while the equivalent for five years and above was close to 14%.
Gender differentials revealed that disability is higher among women compared to men. It also showed that the disability prevalence rate was higher among those living in the rural areas compared to those in the urban areas. Some of the common disabilities in Uganda include visual and hearing impairment, physical and multiple disabilities, mental and psycho-socio disabilities as well as intellectual disabilities and albinism. (AP) (26/4/2018 Agenzia Fides)


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