Govt committed to integrate PWDs

Caption:   Minister Toni-Kouza making her address


By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, September 15, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)



THE government is serious about addressing the issues associated with People With Disabilities (PWDs) to enable their equal participation and integration in their communities.

That was the message conveyed by the Minister for Community Development Youth and Religion Loujaya Toni-Kouza, last week at the opening of the Papua New Guinea Rehabilitation Centre’s new conference facility.

Minister Kouza emphasised the government’s commitment to take ownership of the situation, and she thanked her Secretary Anna Solomon and her department in providing the technical expertise to identify ways in which the government can assist PWDs in the country.

She also made special mention of the work the Kapi Foundation has been doing in regards supporting PWDs in the community through the founder and Rehab Centre President Brown Kapi, disable himself, who she said was in the driver’s seat in advocating PWD issues.

“Our focus will be in the areas of training, income generation and sustainability in line with the Ratification United Nations in the Convention on People with Disabilities that will be signed at the UN Headquarters in New York next week.”

The minister also challenged the Kapi Foundation to not stop with their TV Program “Wheels of Change” that runs on Wednesday nights on Kundu 2, but to expand to EMTV by having sign language included in their news telecasts.

“Let us challenge the businesses community to integrate PWD friendly planning in their place of business, like having ramps constructed for access by wheelchair users.”

“We will look at ways to enable financial inclusion for PWDs, through IBBM (Institute of Business Banking Management) who will be able to identify which businesses PWDs can be included in,” she said.

She said with the training that will be undertaken in the new conference centre, the state would identify and assist to those with products to move them into the SME sector.

“The PNG Government is serious in doing these things, and it is our obligation as a member of the international community.”

“There will also be consultative reviews in the districts for people to give input into how best the government can improve the lives of PWDs.” She added.