Africa

LUSAKA: Zambia will review a policy on disability and domesticate the Geneva Protocol on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities in its efforts to uplift the standards of people with disabilities, the government sources said on Monday. Joseph Katema, Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, said the government will work with cooperating partners… Continue Reading »

ITSOSENG, SOUTH AFRICA: Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu said action was required to ensure that people with disabilities benefited from good concepts designed for them. Bogopane-Zulu said this at the launch of the Universal Access campaign in Itsoseng, outside Mafikeng, on Thursday, which marked the beginning of national disability month. “Our target is that by 2014,… Continue Reading »

Kenya Re has launched a campaign that is expected to help people with disabilities participate more actively in both the economic and social life. The Niko Fiti – Ability beyond Disability campaign will run for three years and is expected to sensitize the general public about people with disabilities, as well as ensure that they are engaged at… Continue Reading »

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA: As National Disability Month begins, organisations representing disabled community said South Africa still had a long way to go before it can become fully accessible to people with disabilities. The Association for the Physically Disabled (APD) said public transport was still not easily accessible to people with physical disabilities. “While the Gautrain… Continue Reading »

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA: Government is to use this year’s National Disability Month to intensify its programme of empowering people with disabilities. Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana will on Thursday launch Disability Month at Itsoseng in North West province, where a National Accessibility Campaign will be unveiled. The accessibility campaign, expected to… Continue Reading »

KENYA: The government plans to establish more schools for people with disabilities, Gender PS James Nyikal has said. Nyikal said through his ministry the government is also working on increasing the number of staff for the group. “My ministry is working with the Education ministry among other government ministries to ensure that people with disabilities… Continue Reading »

KANIFING, GAMBIA: Gambia Organisation of the Visually Impaired (GOVI) launched a 100 thousand pound sterling project at its head office in Kanifing. The objective of the project, according to GOVI’s Executive Director, Mamud Touray is to make primary school education accessible to every children with visual disabilities. He described the project essential, saying it hopes… Continue Reading »

GHANA: Cabinet has approved a training programme under which 5,000 people with disabilities are to be equipped with employable skills in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), mobile phone and computer assembling and repairs. The government/private sector collaboration, which will commence next month, is expected to cost GH¢21,741,410, with rLG Communications Limited, a communications company, absorbing… Continue Reading »

Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) introduced the Braille version handbook of international human rights conventions ratified by Ethiopia. The commission prepared a total of 256 Braille version documents of the international human rights conventions at a cost of 124,000 birr, according to Birhanu Abadi, EHRC’s Communication Information Directorate Director. At a ceremony organized… Continue Reading »

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and other stakeholders, has been advised to ensure road infrastructure and signs are accessible to people with disabilities. Speaking to reporters at a press briefing in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, Dar es Salaam road safety committee deputy chairman Jerome Ringo said people… Continue Reading »