Militancy has increased the number of disabled persons in the country and added to the burden of families and institutions taking care of the victims of the war by and against the terrorists.
This stark reality was stressed at two functions held in connection with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities here on Friday. Speakers there noted that the man-made problem seemed to outstripping the people disabled by natural afflictions.
“Militancy has been at the centre of the growing number of disabled persons in the country, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjacent tribal area,” said Dr Mahboobur Rehman, who is the provincial coordinator for physically disabled persons in the KP.
Speaking at the function held at the Habib Physiotherapy Complex Hayatabad, he said they had received 944 people for physical therapy of which 441 belonged to Malakand Division or Fata where the US-led war against terrorism was in progress.
The militancy, he said, hadn’t spared women and children as about 200 of those patients were women and children.
Majority of the people coming from the violence-hit areas were cursing militancy because they had received spinal cord injuries, head injuries and traumas due to which they were destined to remain confined to their homes.
“The government is starting physiotherapy centres in the war zone to provide free medical and physical therapy services besides rehabilitation services,” said Dr Mahboob.
Every patient undergoing operations required physiotherapy services, he said, adding, the province was facing acute shortage of physiotherapists.
Another event which was held at the Paraplegic Centre Hayatabad also spotlighted the causes of disability and held the soaring militancy responsible for rendering more people physically handicapped. Chief Executive Officer of the Paraplegic Centre Syed Mohammad Ilyas said the centre had provided rehabilitation services to about 6,500 patients since its establishment in 2004. He said more such centres were needed to cater to the growing needs of the disabled population.
A race among the special people on wheelchairs was also held and the winners were awarded souvenirs. The handicrafts prepared by the disabled persons were also decorated in different stalls which elicited interest of the visitors.
TIMERGARA: A local NGO, Development Empowerment Women Association (DEWA), on Friday organised a function to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The function was sponsored by the UNDP in collaboration with ‘Sada’, an organisation working for welfare of special people in Lower Dir. DCO Islam Zeb was chief guest on the occasion.
Addressing the function, Mr Zeb said special people would be given representation in all government jobs.
Representatives of DEWA said, root causes of the conflict could be eradicated through collaborative strategy taking on board all the beneficiaries and stakeholders.
A speaker Khurshed Alam demanded of the government to provide offices and other facilities to the physically challenged people. He stressed that two per cent job quota specified for physically handicapped persons should be implemented in letter and spirit.
MANSEHRA: Speakers at a seminar on Friday stressed upon the government and all segments of society to create awareness about complications during pre and post-delivery process to avoid over 60 percent disabilities caused owing to the prolonged labour and complications during pregnancy.
“We should create awareness about the importance of the skilled birth attendants as among 100 PWDs (persons with disabilities), 60 are due to complications during pregnancy and deliveries,” said one of the speakers while speaking at the seminar, which was jointly organised by Helping Hand, UNDP and Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme. Children with disabilities also performed on songs and presented skits.
EDO (health) Dr Mohammad Javed said though the disabilities and casualties in calamities could not be averted but precautionary measures could be taken to avert 60 per cent disabilities.
At the end of the seminar the PWDs were provided with shields and certificates. Various NGOs also distributed crèches and other equipments among the needy people.
MARDAN: Speakers at a seminar on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities urged government to provide healthcare facilities, education, employment and rehabilitation opportunities to persons with disabilities so that they could not feel any discrimination.
The ceremony was participated by ACO Fazal Mohammad, district social welfare officer Ifthikhar Takar, civil society members and a large number of persons with disabilities.
The speakers said the government should not ignore the people of said community and take steps to ensure recruitment of the special persons in different government departments as per their quota already decided by the government to include them in the national mainstream.
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