National Disability Commission to start house-to-house survey
The National Disability Commission (NDC) will commence a house-to-house survey to gather information on persons with disabilities in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), with the project slated to begin in September.
This was disclosed by Beverly Pile, Executive Secretary of the NDC at the National Toshaos’ Conference (NTC) Meeting at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, on Friday.
Members of the National Toshaos’ Council at the National Toshaos’ Conference
Due to the remoteness of Indigenous communities, Pile said it is difficult for persons with disabilities to be properly catered for. The survey, according to Pile, will be conducted in every region, but “it will take some time in which we will do it.”
The NDC Secretary added “we are situated in Georgetown, and if we don’t come out of our offices and come to places like these, to meet the Toshaos and the persons who are very close to those persons with disabilities in the indigenous areas, we wouldn’t get them,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) quoted her as saying. Pile noted that the NDC grabbed the opportunity to participate in the NTC to get closer with the leaders of the various communities, to collect valuable information on what is happening within. Once the information is gathered, the needs of the people can be catered for efficiently, Pile asserted.
Additionally, she said that the survey will help the NDC craft policies which would attend to the needs of persons with disabilities. These include “the right to employment, the right to education, to right to health, the right to recreation and sport, the right to housing and water, and the right to (be involved in) political issues,” Pile explained.
Members of the NTC asked about the systems in place to assist persons with disabilities who have to travel to collect their public assistance. The Secretary explained that the NDC works in collaboration with the Social Protection Ministry to assist such persons. Further, the Toshaos raised concerns of parents who work and leave their disabled children with overseers. The Toshaos noted that it is costly and asked that something be done to ease the parents’ burden.
Pile told the Toshaos that while nothing is currently in place, she will be taking up the issue with the Social Protection Ministry.
