Lack of Govt support affecting more than PWDs alone

Caption:  Once bedridden Kelly Avosa undergoing rehabilitation exercises with Community Rehabilitation Field Worker John Daion.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 10, 2016 (PNG)

MAKING the call for much needed support from the National Government- General Manager of Cheshire Disability Services (CDS) Bernard Ayieko said direct support especially from the Health Department was seriously lacking which was affecting whole family units with People With Disabilities (PWDs).

He said despite some support from the provincial level through NCDC, the bulk of patients visiting the organization was growing everyday with the need for rehabilitation physiotherapy from major hospitals like the Port Moresby General Hospital being referred to CDS.

“I would like to make a call to the Government itself that at the end of the day it is the duty of every government to take care of its citizens and I think at the moment we are still facing a bit of challenge with the government coming in with consistent support some of our programs,” Ayieko said.

“I am aware that we had a good agreement with NCDC with the governor supporting the program and we still have to reach out to him to see how he can come in.”

“And also to other Members of Parliament who have got funding discretions with them. I want to challenge them to support people with disabilities.”

He said if they do not consider the care of people with disabilities or support- they become self-reliant then they will depend on care forever.

“And as much as they depend on you and their families it means that some that have the heart leave their jobs to look after them. So it means that it is a double tragedy,” he said.

“If a parent cannot go to work because they have to look after a child with disability or a family member with disability. It means that the income level of that particular household will always come down, because everybody has left gainful employment to look after somebody who is already dependent.”

“We need ownership especially from the government. This is the challenge that our leaders need to cooperate and look at and address.”

He said with the rehabilitation programs that are gaining momentum I rehabilitating PWDs to be more self-independent, it means family member and care givers are freed up for gainful employment that the whole country benefits from.

“Now the challenge we have is our physiotherapy unit that acts as a referral center has been attracting so many cases and most of them are actually from Port Moresby General Hospital after they have been discharged and we just don’t know how to deal with the big numbers.”

“With that you can be sure that we do not receive any support from the Health Department yet we take care of all these cases ranging from stroke, children with cerebral palsy.”

“Even still we find help from the corporate sector and foundations that support this cause when we really need to have important partnership with the Health Department.”