MALE, April 15:  Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has revealed there are around 24,000 disabled people in the Maldives.

According to the Commission’s Baseline Assessment on Activities Addressing Rights of Persons with Disabilities, eight percent of the Maldives population do not receive social and economic rights due to disabilities.

The report noted that the first ever disability screening in the Maldives conducted in 1981 showed that 1,390 persons were disabled people, while the number has now reached to an all time high of 24,000.

The number of disabled men is slightly higher than that of women with persons reported having mostly visual disability, speech disability, and
mental health disability, the report noted.

Human Rights Commission stressed that although assistive devices are available from the government, there is limited information made available to persons with disabilities, and emphasised that there should be transparent and accountable government procedures for the purchase of equipment and assistive devices for persons with disabilities.

The Commission criticised the government’s action of changing the policy of providing devices such as spectacles and hearing aids directly through the government authorities to Madhana health insurance scheme and noted that the devices should be made more accessible.

Inadequate and inequitable financial assistance, lack of employment opportunities, lack of access to quality residential care, lack of health facilities and services, and limited opportunities for education were also highlighted as challenges faced by disabled people.

HRCM also proposed recommendations for improving the condition of disabled people  in the country, including a continuing programme to raise
societal awareness to instil respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, developing a national strategy for the reduction of risk factors contributing to disabilities during pregnancy and childhood and taking preventive steps such as premarital confidential testing for diseases like thalassaemia.

In addition, the proposed recommendations included the implementation of a well-designed early identification and intervention initiative for
disability, especially during pregnancy and for children 0 to 3 years of age, providing urgent sign language training to staffs of Family and Child Services Centre, Maldives Police Services and Ministry of Health and Family.

Implementing a plan for the execution of the Special Education Policy in the context of inclusive joint education of children and young persons
with and without disabilities, implementing an employment strategy with clear focus on preparing and supporting persons with disabilities entering paid employment or leaving school, conducting a nationwide disability survey to establish a reliable baseline of disability in the Maldives have also been cited in the report.

The report will be presented to the parliament, Ministry of Health and Family, and President’s Office, the Commission said.

Source: http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english