Govt urged to put measures to curb disability

A Government official yesterday told Parliament that disability could be lowered through putting in place measures against malnutrition, environmental pollution, poor hygiene, inadequate pre-natal and post-natal care, waterborne diseases and accidents of all types.

Acting director in the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry Isaac Mukaro also told the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Millenium Development Goals that as other measures government should fight diseases such as poliomyelitis, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, and to a lesser extent tuberculosis that cause disability on people.

Mukaro told the committee that the Disabled Persons' Fund was only allocated $1 million this year and had so far received a paltry $200 000 from Treasury.

He said it was now mandatory for designs of new buildings to make provision of ramps and other facilities to make them accessible to people living with disabilities.