Mozambique: Using the International Day of Disabled People to Lobby
By Francisco Manuel Tembe
The estimated number of people with disability in Mozambique is about 1,500,000. However, the real number of people with disability in this country could be higher than estimated if we take into account the question of land mines and the situation of extreme poverty to which this part of Southern Africa is subjected.
This year, the Mozambican Forum of Associations of Disabled People took the celebration of the International Day of Disabled People as a high moment for lobbing and advocacy.
Under the theme of "Health and Disability", we celebrated the international day during the week of 26 November to 3 December, 2001.
This theme was chosen because people with disabilities continue to face serious problems related to medical care and even in terms of repair and technical aids.
In Mozambique, there is no defined policy for production or ways of obtaining means of compensation, like wheelchairs, tricycles, canes for blind people and other aids and equipments. This means that disabled people who need these materials are lacking independence and freedom of circulation
Numerous children with disabilities, even if they could have access to education, could not actually attend school due to the lack of aids and equipment.
On the other hand, when these aids and equipment do exist, they are far too expensive for most disabled people because they live in a situation of extreme poverty.
Therefore, people with disabilities in Mozambique chose this theme in order to call the attention of the State in general and to the Health system in particular to the serious problems that they face and which deny them their rights as Mozambican citizens.
During the period from 26 November to 3 of December a lot of activities were organized, such as lectures in public hospitals, sports, awareness raising in residential areas about the day ( 3 December) and the lives of disabled people in Mozambique, a workshop about "policy and legislation in the area of Health", theatrical activities, music, debates on the radio and television, a march along the streets of Maputo city and placing a the crown of flowers at the monument of Mozambican Heros.
Some of the findings of the workshop were:
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In Mozambique, there does not exist statistics about the number, the conditions and the level of lives of people with disability.
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A major part of disabilities in Mozambique are preventable , nevertheless, that does not happen due to scarcity of and inadequate health services.
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In general, families and even communities do not provide adequate medical and sanitary assistant care which can worsen the situation of persons with disability.
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The State has responsibility in the area of Health, and therefore must organise the medical and sanitary assistance system which would benefit all Mozambican, by the development and promotion of psycho-social and other types of rehabilitation activities.
However, people with disability have many difficulties of access to these rights and to have medical - sanitary benefits, a situation that worsens disabling conditions.
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In this workshop, they talked also about policy and legislation in the area of health as follows:
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There are serious problems of communication for deaf people in the health centres or in the hospitals which create many difficulties for diagnosis and treatment when they are sick.
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The great majority of health personnel do not know about the policies and the legislation which exist to assist and protect people with disability.
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There is not a priority for the people with disability in health centres or in the hospitals when they need medical assistance.
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There are not reserved place in the health centres or in the hospitals where people with disability can wait for diagnosis or treatment.
Therefore, it was concluded that there are three main actors to be involved in the promotion of health and well-being of people with disability, namely: the health system, families and or communities and the Associations of Disabled people through the Forum - FAMOD.
However, there is a need for FAMOD to continue to pressurize the Government in general and the health structures in particular in order to regulate the policies and legislation which assist and protect the persons with disability. For example, it should be a priority to post in health centres and in the hospitals some information related to people with disability.
On the other hand, FAMOD must do awareness raising among the families and in the communities about issues related to the health of persons with disability; above all for the children with disability which means to change attitudes of families in order that they can become more responsible for their relatives.
Lastly, FAMOD must take the active role in the dissemination of policy and legislation which protect people with disability.
On 3 December, FAMOD organized a march accompanied by music of a military band, which culminated in placing the crown of flowers on the Mozambican Heros monument, followed by a party with music, theatre and dancing.
An interesting aspect of these celebrations, was the great involvement of media which covered the majority of the activities and also promoted debates on the radio and television with participation of several sectors of Mozambican society, including members of Government.
On the other hand, we note that celebrations in this year were marvellous because happened for the first time in all Country, organised by FAMOD
As can be seen from this report, the celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons was an important step forward in lobbying and advocacy that disabled people are developing in order to gain our rights and independence.
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