A SITUATION ANALYSIS ON CHALLENGES UNDERMINING FUNCTIONING AND PARTICIPATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES
IN BISHESHE SUB COUNTY, IBANDA DISTRICT
1.1 Background
According to the World Health Organization disability is defined as an umbrella term of impairment, activity limitation together with participation restriction or loss of opportunities to take part in the normal life of the community on equal level WHO (2001). More than one billion persons in the world live with some form of disability. Of this number, nearly 200 million experience considerable difficulties in functioning. The prevalence of disability increases as war, conflict, and poverty increase. In the years ahead, disability will be an even greater concern because its prevalence is on the rise WHO (2001).
In Uganda, someone with disabilities face challenges for example serious stigmatization and torture. In some parts of the country persons with disabilities are locked in the house while as others are tied on trees or other objects as if they are animals. Some suffer from discrimination on many levels, within their families and communities. Most disabled people suffer from some discrimination or/and exclusion, but the degree and severity often depends on the nature of their impairment and their varying personal situations; this often leads to low participation of Persons with disabilities in community programs (Mersland, 2005). PWDs also face challenge in accessing health services as they usually get humiliated by health providers, while health centers’ infrastructure pose obstacles for them to reach the areas, there is gender imbalance of employment opportunities to PWDs as men with disabilities are more employed than that of their counterparts and that the working environment are not friendly to PWDs. (CCBRT, 2010)
Persons with Disabilities face challenges as denial of employment, economic marginalization. They are regarded as people who cannon contribute to anything, are dependant and always wait to be helped (Jimmy, 2013), lack of physical power. PWDs also lack physical energy to fight sexual aggressors, poverty. Most of people with disabilities are poor so they look for money and get HIV/AIDS in the process. Limited access to information; they are marginalized groups who are not easily reached by health information sites, for example many people with disabilities do not have the opportunity to access where HIV/AIDS discussion, blood screening and sensitization take place. In the same manner they deliberately have unprotected sex with them. Wrong belief that women with disabilities are not HIV/AIDS infected. Some men tend to assume that women with disabilities are less likely to have HIV/AIDS and so involve them in sex relations (Jimmy, 2013).
To overcome the negative consequences of agricultural reforms, the government of Uganda, with support from the World Bank and other donors, restructured the country’s extension system, as part of the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA), from unified public extension to a public-private partnership (PPP) extension system. The reforms of the agricultural sector culminated in 2001 with the establishment of the National Agricultural Advisory Services Organization (through an act of Parliament, the National Agricultural Advisory Services Act of 2001) as a semiautonomous agency of the MAAIF, to manage the 25-year National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program.
In economic terms, a severe situation of asymmetric information was blocking the necessary interaction between the “disability world” and the “microfinance world”; this had lead participation of PWDs in microfinance initiatives. To overcome the situation of asymmetric information it became an objective in itself to bring together important stakeholders. The Association of Microfinance Institutions of Uganda (AMFIU) and the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) responded positively to NAD’s initiative of a joint project efforts. The role of AMFIU was to promote inclusiveness in MFIs while NUDIPU was to inform the disabled population about microfinance. NAD would bring in technical expertise and funding (Lewis, 2004). It’s upon this background that the study seeks to examine the low participation of PWDs in community development programmes.
Aim of the analysis
- Challenges undermining functioning and participation of People with Disabilities (PWDs) and their families
Specific objectives
- To identify community development programmes for PWDs in Ishaka town council, Bushenyi district.
- To examine challenges the PWDs face in accessing community development programmes in Ishaka town council, Bushenyi district.
- To design strategies to increase accessibility of community development programmes by PWDs in Ishaka town council, Bushenyi district.
Methodology
A number of studies have been conducted relating to PWDs in Ishaka town council. These studies have been conducted by institutions both inside and outside Ishaka town council. The sub county administration provided the documents that were reviewed as part of this study. In addition to review of situation analysis, the study also involved the review of policy and legislative documents prepared by the government of Uganda and other stakeholders. Key sector Ministries’ representatives were interviewed to find out their involvement in the implementation of disability services and the challenges that exist in mainstreaming disability across the sub county. Interviews were also conducted with officials from Ishaka town council. The interview guide that was used in these interviews is in appendix 1.
Results
The analysis was carried out in Bisheshe sub county, ibanda district-western part of Uganda. Bisheshe Sub County is located in Ibanda district, 6km from Ibanda district headquarters. It covers an area of 112 square kms with a population of 20933. It shares boarders with Ishongororo town council, Kanoni sub county, Nsasi sub county, Ibanda town council and Kashangura sub county.
All the parishes (Kaninyoru, Bugarama, Kibaare and Kikatsi) have indulging hill slopes.
It has two rainy seasons of march – May and September – November. The main economic activity is agriculture (both crop and livestock farming). The selection of the area of study is based on the poverty levels of people in the sub county.
To identify community development programmes for PWDs in Ishaka town council.
According to the table above, most of the programmes were well known to the people, NAADs with 100%. All participants had knowledge on the existence of NAADs programme in the sub county. It was well known to them that one of the participants had to say “NAADs, has for long been in the community and we have benefited from although it is no longer a progressive programme as it used to be. NAADS Program is not so much instrumental in the community development because of it’s low implementation in Ishaka, the programme has almost been abolished in Ishaka due to poor management.
Most participants had also knowledge of SACCOs in the community with 96%. There was presence of SACCOs that target all people but in Ishaka town council for instance Ihamba rural empowerment programmes; this SACCO gives loans to people who want to start small businesses. It has formed groups for PWDs and given loans to organized groups.
About 21 respondents with 91% said that youth livelihood programmes have been instrument in Ishaka in community development not only to abled youths but also to those with disabilities. These programmes have supported many youths in the community by providing with employment opportunities and have generally created youth empowerment in the community. Youth livelihood program was implemented by the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development to empower all the youth in the country
Also study findings as indicated in the table above, 78% of the respondents had knowledge of the existence of education programmes in the community. People with disabilities are able to access education within an inclusive setting of the regular schools in Ishaka town council.
One participant said “education of PWDs has inadequate funding yet all its services are costly. There is little Government support in form of Subvention Grant which is irregular in the community. The inclusive schools have been heavily affected since there is no special support given to them by Government to cater for the PWDs in those schools.
“UPE program is not worthy to support a Child with Disability, per term each Child in UPE School is funded 4,000/= which cannot even be used to buy one ream of Braille papers for a blind child”.
Some respondents also indicated that there are some income generating activities in the sub county, most of whom were supported by various SACCOs by giving them loans; It was reported that most of the PWDs in Ishaka town council depend on subsistence agriculture, poultry keeping, animal keeping where they get food and the surplus is sold to earn them income to derive a living as one respondent reported that;
“As you see me if I do not dig, I cannot survive.
I store some for eating and I sell some for
A number of respondents reported that many of the PWDs engage themselves in small scale businesses as their Income Generating Activities like shop keeping, selling of things like charcoal, food staffs, butcher men, selling of water and many other related activities. Such activities were majorly carried out by strong persons and all these were supported by these CDPs in Ishaka town council.
“I am a 67 year disabled old woman who survives by selling Matooke and charcoal where I earn some little profit that I use to buy basic needs like paraffin, drug”. All I can give thanks are the Ihamba SACCOs for the groups loan they give us. She added
Another respondent said that;
“It’s through this small kiosk that I opened up as a result of Ihamba SACCO, where am able to earn some money.
One respondent also said that;
“It was hardly enough to buy food and meet other basic needs, so I had to sometimes beg from well-wishers, but ever since I joined this SACCO in this community, my life has changed, now I can sustain life with basic needs”.
He has been so successful that he’s been able to leave the shoe repair job that he was in for many years and fully dedicate his time to the eatery which he opened after getting a loan from Ihamba. He employs his wife and two other youths on a full-time basis and has two part-time employees for days when the market is very busy and the workload heavy. “He further said that my life has greatly changed – I sit here exchanging ideas with my customers and reading newspapers as I keep an eye on the business,”. “My wife is currently on maternity leave, but I am not worried about emergencies that may arise since I have money to pay for medical services and provide for her needs.”
He concludes, “My peers now respect me and listen to my advice. I am no longer the pauper and disabled shoe repairman!”
Some respondents reported the education programme for PWDs in Ishaka town council. Nyarukomo Secondary School with the help of some NGO has opened up a programme that facilitates education needs for PWDs.
“If it was for Nyarukomo Secondary School, I would have not completed my senior six. The school administration handpicked me from home in Nyabusozi where I stay with my parents and said they would offer me to go to school from six one as I had finished my primary level but was unable to go secondary but my parents were unable to pay for me”.
4.4 Challenges the PWDs face in accessing community development programmes
According to the table above, all respondents (100%) said that lack of access to financial resources is a major that causes the low participation of PWDs in CDPs. A participant said that access to funds to PWDs is a factor that has hindered many PWDs in Ishaka town council, because they cannot do anything as they are helpless and cannot access resources to cater for themselves and engage income generating activities.
Also the study findings indicated that low representation of PWDs in decision making with 96% is a major challenge that has led to low participation of PWDs in CDPs. One participant said that the representatives of PWDs in the political structures in the community are supposed to be consulted in the budgets and planning process. This is because it would create the involvement of PWDs in CDPs, which has not been the case in this community, thus the voices of PWDs have not been heard in the community thus low participation. Respondents also said that people with disabilities have been represented lowly in local governments; therefore less engage in decision making in these communities. This hinders their participation in community development programmes.
Another participant lamented that the challenge with the representation of PWDs in the different structures is that some of the PWDs do not have the skills to lobby effectively for implementation of programs in favour of their communities.
Respondents with 87% said that absence of CDPs. Community development programmes empower PWDs, their absence therefore means PWDs would be left out. A participant said that one of the short-term benefits of household participation in NAADS was access to extension services for example access to credit by agricultural households. Farmers participating in NAADS were encouraged and supported to form and operate SACCOs at the sub county level, then linked to microfinance institutions and commercial banks for access to credit products either as individuals or in groups, however with the absence of NAADs, PWDs cannot have access to such benefits.
Also findings as indicated in the table above show that 70% of the respondents said that beliefs is another challenge that limit the participation of PWDs in CDPs.
One said respondent said that;
Attitudes of other people towards PWDs limit their participation in community development programmes. She added that some people perceive persons with disabilities as those who cannot perform anything perfectly, thus may be left out due to that negative attitude or belief.
Another participant said that “disabled people are generally discriminated from other people in the community. Community ignorance towards the usefulness of PWDs has increased the negative attitude towards them. People with Disabilities get traumatized in the process and end up not participating.
And finally respondents said being far from offices is a major challenge that limits participation of PWDs in CDPs. Most PWDs find it hard to move to offices where most CDPs are located. Feeder roads in Ishaka are not friendly for wheel chair users because they are full of potholes. Thus, PWDs find it hard to access offices leading to low participation in CDPs.
To design strategies to increase accessibility of community development programmes by PWDs in Ishaka town council, Bushenyi district.
In regard to this objective, respondents were asked what should be done to increase participation of PWDs in Ishaka and were also asked to mention them. The following results were obtained;
According to the findings in the table above, most respondents said increase funding with 100% is a good strategy to increase accessibility of CDPs by PWDs. A participant said that financing CDPs would widen their usage and monitored for effective accountability.
Creating awareness of CDPs with 96% is also a good strategy to increase accessibility to CDPs. One respondent said that when people have knowledge of the existence of a program, its benefits; they tend to get involved in it.
Also study findings indicate that 91% of the respondents said formulate strategies. A participant said that formulating and implementing national policies, programmes and legislation to promote the full and equal participation of PWDs in all community development programmes.
Further study findings revealed that 83% of the respondents said that Increase formal and informal employment for PWDs. One participant revealed that employment for PWDs has the potential of increasing revenue for PWDs, by increasing the number of employment opportunities for PWDs in the community.
On the side of the pogramme
The role of CDPs for people with disabilities in order to increase their participation should be to:
Identify needs and priorities of people with disabilities in workplaces and communities and communicate to them. Participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of people with disabilities. Contribute to public awareness and advocacy for change. As instruments of self-help, provide and promote opportunities for the development of skills in various fields, mutual support among members and information sharing. Perform their advisory role in many different ways, such as having permanent representation on ward and other committees, municipal and local government structures and boards of government-funded agencies, serving on public commissions, and providing expert knowledge on different projects.
The general opinion;
Local government has the responsibility for ensuring participation of people with disabilities in local government forums, committees and all community development programmes to facilitate greater inclusion and for the realization of a society based on equal rights.
Ensuring accessibility to buildings where community meetings are held and the sharing of information in an accessible manner, including in Braille and sign language, will be a means towards creating a barrier-free society which would ensure increased participation of PWDs in community development programmes in the sub county.
- Conclusion and recommendations
3.1 Conclusions
Participation means being actively engaged in community life and achieving a sense of belonging to the community. This study aimed at investigating the reasons for low participation of PWDs in community development programmes and designed strategies to increase their participation in Ishaka town council, Bushenyi district. The first objective was to identify community development programmes for PWDs and the findings showed that there were NAADs, various SACCOs, Youth livelihood programmes and education programmes. The second objective of this study was to examine challenges the PWDs face in accessing community development programmes and the findings showed that on a daily basis, people with disabilities are faced with barriers which effectively exclude them from participating as equal citizens as a result of lack of access to finances, absence of CDPs, low representation of PWDs in decision making and being far from offices and the third objective was to design strategies to increase accessibility of community development programmes by PWDs and findings showed that to increase participation of PWDs, there is need to increase funding of CDPs, create awareness about the benefits of CDPs, increase formal and informal employment, promote and protect rights of PWDs and promote self representation of PWDs.
3.2 Recommendations
Based on the results of this study, a number of recommendations have been made in order to effectively mainstream disability:
3.2.1 Effective dissemination of disability information
In the disability sector, a lot of documents (e.g. the Disability Bill, the National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the draft National Plan of Action) have been produced. Some studies have also been done for example the Living condition for people with activity limitations in Malawi. These documents have not been disseminated adequately and others (including policy makers) even said that they were not aware of the National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for People with Disabilities. For mainstreaming to be successful it requires that stakeholders be given adequate information about disability and this has not been done adequately. An institutional awareness campaign therefore needs to be done for people to be aware of the disability issues and what role they can play. In these awareness campaigns the target should be government ministries, planners and implementers. The MoPWDE (with support from DPOs) should take the lead in ensuring that these documents are disseminated widely.
3.2.2 Review the National Disability Policy and enactment of the Disability Bill
The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for People with Disabilities was launched in 2006 by the MoPWDE. It was a five year policy and there is a need to evaluate what has been achieved since its implementation and review it. Anecdotally, it seems that a significant proportion of issues as contained in the policy have not been implemented much. The review of the policy itself will not have much impact but it should be accompanied by the enactment of the Disability Bill which will provide a conducive legal environment for the implementation of the Policy.
3.2.3 The Roles of the MoPWDE
The roles of the MoPWDE are clearly highlighted in the national disability policy: it is mainly responsible for the development of policy and monitoring and evaluation of the progress being made in the implementation of national policies and strategic plans. It is also supposed to advise other sector ministries and stakeholders on disability issues. Currently, the MoPWDE is also involved in the implementation of disability services. The implementation of activities, according to the policy, is the responsibility of the MACOHA. As the policy is being reviewed, it will be necessary to revisit these responsibilities and ensure that all the stakeholders are fulfilling their responsibilities.
3.2.4 Operationalisation of NACCODI
NACCODI is a forum where different sector ministries and other stakeholders meet to discuss disability issues. Unfortunately this was never operationalised despite the fact that it presents an opportunity for ensuring mainstreaming of disability issues. The Secretariat of NACCODI lies within the MoPWDE’ hence it should ensure that this is operationalised. This could also promote collaboration between a wider network of disability stakeholders.
3.2.5 Meaningful Investments in Disability
In order to mainstream disability there needs to be substantial financial and human investments in disability issues. HIV and gender, just like disability, are crosscutting issues. However, unlike disability, in HIV and gender there have been huge investments of financial and human resources. While advocacy is important, this needs to be complimented by corresponding investments in financial and human resources for moving forward the disability agenda. The MoPWDE therefore has the responsibility of mobilising resources for the disability sector. There is need to have well qualified personnel in the disability sector. This can only be realised if the MoPWDE and its key stakeholders introduce a degree course in disability studies. While this is the case, there will be other activities that will not cost much for example the dissemination of information to all stakeholders to construct structures that are disability friendly.
3.2.6 Develop a National Disability Mainstreaming Strategic Plan
The MoPWDE should take a lead in mainstreaming disability in the different sectors. Financial and human resources need to be mobilized to ensure that this is done. In order to ensure that disability mainstreaming is done, it will be important for the Ministry and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and costed disability mainstreaming strategic plan covering a period of 5 years which will spell out a detailed list of activities that will be implemented including a list of indicators to monitor progress.
3.2.7 Appointment of disability focal persons in the sector ministries
The National Policy on Equalisation of Opportunities for People with Disabilities recommended that there was a need for focal persons in each sector ministry who would be responsible for disability issues. It is also therefore recommended that in order to effectively mainstream disability there will be a need for desk persons for disability issues to be appointed in all the sector ministries and it will be the responsibility of the Ministry responsible for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly who will train these people.
3.2.8 The need for a follow up survey on Living Conditions of PWDs
The last comprehensive surveys on people with disabilities were conducted in Malawi in 2003 namely: the WHS and the Living Conditions survey. The conduct of these studies has enabled Malawi to have data on disability including levels of access to services. It is now close to 10 years since these studies were done. It is therefore important to conduct another more comprehensive study looking at the prevalence of disability where disability is determined through screening questions developed by the Washington Disability Statistics Group.
Interview guide
6). Are there some Community Development Programmes in this community?
If yes, mention some
If No. why not?
7). Do you face any challenge in accessing CDPs in this area?
8). What are some of those challenges that stop PWDs from accessing CDPs in this community?
9). What should be done to increase participation of PWDs in CDPs in this area?
On the side of PWDs
On the side of the program
On the government
- General opinions
- What other information would like to share with me?
Thank you for your cooperation
