It is obvious that disability occurs in many cases due to accident, natural or other factors. Although disabled persons have a potential to engage on various types of works, they have not been given the opportunity to contribute to their country’s development. The disabled, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia, could not actively participate in national and decision making issues, perhaps because of the cultural bias among societies.
Asalifew Ahmedin, Disabilities Affairs Director at Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs told The Ethiopian Herald that the number of disabilities in the world has reached over one billion in 2011, according to World Bank and World Health Organization. Out of this, 80 percent of them are living in developing countries. In the same year study, out of 110 million populations in Ethiopia, 17.6 percent or 18 million citizens are disables.
According to Asalifew, Ethiopia strives to support the disabled citizens to participate in economic, social and political affairs of the country. Unlike the non-disabled, the disabled have not been fully participating in all issues.
In this regard, much remains as homework, largely in higher level decision making positions. For example, in the ongoing reform, most of the decision making positions are equally shared among male and female in the cabinet; but no positions are given for disables.
Compared with the total number of disabilities in the country, only small number has got educational access. For example, 0.6 percent of the disables are attending their education in preschools; while the 9.8 percent takes the share in elementary and 2.6 percent in high schools.
After taking various actions during the past few years, more than 400 schools, which provide special need education, are established; while close to 12 universities are providing inclusive education out of the total 40 universities across the country. Since it is not enough by itself, efforts will continue to make the disabled persons participate in every educational attendance and career positions.
In cooperation with donor organizations, the government has to give due attention to disabled citizens, in terms of formulating a law that the includes the disabled. Supporting materials like wheelchairs should be available since it is the basic needs for the disabled.
Currently, Disabilities Affairs Directorate is established under Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs so as to address the challenges that the disabled persons face. The integration of pertinent stakeholders has significant role in bringing about bright future for disabilities in Ethiopia, he added.
Liya Solomon, Program Director at Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) on her part said that the organization was established in 2011. And the main purpose is helping disability and to ensure their active participation in every societal issues.
According to Liya, ECDD is a local non-governmental organization established to support disabilities irrespective of their age, sex and physical conditions.
Since its establishment, the organization has carried out many activates during the past few years. Among the various activities, preparing five year strategic plans, particularly in inclusive healthcare services, life skill, economic development, humanitarian and emergency issues are the key priority areas that the ministry is working with concerned bodies in order to address challenges of disabilities.
As to her, apart from lack of due attention to disabilities, creating conducive educational environment, providing educational material and the like are serious challenges which hinder to ensure the benefit of disabilities during the past many years in Ethiopia.
Because of these and other reasons, vast majority of disabled persons are unemployed. According to the study conducted recently by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the country loses more than 7 percent of GDP each year due to the exclusion of disabilities from employment opportunities.
Above all, ECDD is starting to help the associations through providing different training and technical support so as to ensure capacity building for disabled citizens. It has been also playing indispensable role in enabling the disabled to be part of the decision makers, Liya noted.
The Ethiopian Herald December7, 2019
BY MESERET BEHAILU
