Colombia: Disability Acquired because of Landmines and other Explosive Devices: A Puzzle to Assemble
By Disnnet, with Adriana Restrepo Leongómez
After one year of studying 15 departments and 66 municipalities, the Integral Rehabilitation Center of Colombia (Centro Integral de Rehabilitación de Colombia, CIREC), prepared an assessment on the situation of persons having a disability as a result of armed conflicts in this South American country.
The Center's report indicates that 1514 persons have acquired their disabilities as a consequence of violence in Colombia. It also mentions how many of these persons have been abandoned, mainly because of a lack of opportunities for rehabilitation and social integration in their communities.
With the participation of the government of Colombia and international cooperation, the Center provides Community Based Rehabilitation programs for those injured by landmines and other warfare artifacts.
The Seeds of Hope Project (Semillas de Esperanza)
During the past years, the Center has operated a program called Seeds of Hope (Semillas de Esperanza). It is a community based rehabilitation program. Liliana González, the Director of the Center says: "Persons with disabilities are active participants in their own rehabilitation process. They also work with other persons with disabilities who came to the program and now work for the program."
During her presentation at the Second Encounter on the Attention of Landmines Survivors (Segundo Encuentro de Atención a Sobrevivientes de Minas Antipersonales) held last May in Colombia, the Director of the Center mentioned that the Seeds of Hope program and the study conducted are fostering social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Colombia. Representatives from all regions participated in this event.
A process of inclusion
The Centers worked with several persons who have acquired their disability because of landmines and related explosive devices. The purpose was to gather information and first hand insights regarding the present living conditions of these individuals. Plenty of attention was given to assess the conditions of hospitals and exiting support services, including the potential of rehabilitation centers for persons with disabilities in Colombia.
The Integral Rehabilitation Center of Colombia (Centro Integral de Rehabilitación de Colombia, CIREC), made public its study, Landmines: a Puzzle (Las minas antipersonales, un rompecabezas por armar). It provides very valuable information and insights regarding the situation of people who have acquired a disability because of landmines and similar devices. This study also provides diagnostic and intervention strategies for the social and vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities victims of violence. The whole program suggested points to the community approach as the best way to achieve the proposed results.
The investigation emphasized questions such as: What types of emergency medical interventions, psychological and social attention do victims of violence receive, to ensure their physical and vocational rehabilitation?
As Luz Dary Mesa, a researcher of the project told us: "The idea began after the Center became aware of the need to expand its services in order to reach persons injured by landmines and similar destructive devices, particularly those most need victims who do not have access to rehabilitation programs."
|
