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Dear Editor,

DISABLED PEOPLE'S ORGANISATIONS AND COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION IN AFRICA


The number of disabled persons in the world is on the increase. The progress in technology, the efficiency of medical and surgical care and better methods of functional rehabilitation have all contributed to reducing mortality rates and to the presence of greater numbers of people with disabilities in the world today. Such people however, face new problems, such as being invalids and being dependent on others. In order to deal with these problems, it is necessary to promote appropriate rehabilitation activities aimed at the acquisition of functional abilities and integration of disabled people in society. For such rehabilitation efforts to be successful, the involvement of professionals from different sectors, as well as non-professionals, is necessary. There is also the need for the active participation of disabled people themselves.

People with disabilities in developing countries in Africa face many limitations, despite the proclamation of the UN Decade of Disabled Persons. Their human rights receive little or no respect, the general development programmes do not take into account the needs of disabled people or their participation in programmes, disabled people have little or no access to services offered to other citizens, they are unable to take decisions concerning their own future, and they are generally poor, living at the bottom of the social scale.

Community based rehabilitation(CBR) is seen as a strategy that is suitable for developing countries, to provide disabled persons with inexpensive and efficient basic services which they need. This approach does not view disabled people as objects or as passive consumers, but as persons in charge of their lives and of the changes that they need to bring about. CBR needs to be multi-sectorial in nature and to utilise local resources and experiences in order to promote equalisation of opportunities and social integration. Disabled people's organisations (DPOs) are formal groups of disabled people whose philosophy is to promote self representation, participation, equality of opportunities and integration of disabled people. In spite of the differences in origins and strategies, the DPOs and the CBR approach have similar goals : equality of opportunities and social integration of disabled people. It is thus important for these two movements to cooperate, engage in active partnership and reduce potential conflict areas, in order to meet the common goals. Such a partnership will require reciprocal awareness of both partners and of their needs to work together. It will also need to establish areas of activity aimed at achieving common objectives on the basis of mutual confidence and interest, with both partners bringing in ideas, experiences and resources. In Africa however, the conditions of poverty, the constraints in training opportunities, and lack of organisational efficiency reduces the effectiveness of DPOs' contributions to this partnership from the very outset.

Traditionally DPOs devote themselves to lobby for human rights. In developing countries and in Africa in particular, DPOs are more involved in public education and sensitisation about the problems and needs of disabled people, and in initiating and participating in different aspects of rehabilitation interventions. In some of these countries, apart from the departments of social affairs, it is the DPOs which are actively involved in rehabilitation interventions. DPOs have certain areas of expertise which can be of great use to CBR programmes. Disabled persons can express their problems better than anyone else. They can also function as militants, lobbying for other disabled persons. They can promote effective self help groups for experience sharing and motivating others. They can mobilise communities and exert influence on decision makers and professionals, to enhance the participation of disabled people in society. The major role of disabled persons thus would be to show and educate the community by example, that disabled people have the potential to become contributing members of society. DPOs can also help in research activities such as identification of the needs, problems and appropriate solutions for disabled people, organisation of debates at appropriate fora to exchange ideas, and evaluation of programmes initiated to improve them further.

The African experience has proved that disabled people can play a significant role in CBR programmes. The National Union of Physical and Mental Handicapped (UNHPM) in Mauritania is the promoter of the country's CBR programme. UNHPM has hired and trained many disabled persons as CBR workers. Traditional craftsmen have been identified and trained in the production and maintenance of aids and appliances locally. It has been active in fundraising and in the management and evaluation of the programmes. In the area of education, UNHPM has been responsible for the creation of special schools for children with disabilities. Other DPOs in Senegal and Mali have done this as well. In the field of vocational rehabilitation, DPOs in Africa have helped to disseminate information about employment opportunities in the local market, and have also helped to create and manage vocational workshops in sewing, shoe-making, secretarial work, computer sciences, etc. DPOs have been vocal advocates of employment of disabled people with trade unions, employers and the government. They have also helped to create employment through formation of cooperatives, and created support funds for employment and income generation activities.

It is thus clear that DPOs have contributed significantly to the liberation of many disabled persons. Decision makers and professionals need to acknowledge the important role played by DPOs, and help to encourage and sustain this in promoting rehabilitation.

Tambo Camara
BP 1754, Nouakchott, Mauritania

ASIA PACIFIC DISABILITY REHABILITATION JOURNAL (VOL.9, NO.1, 1998)

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