FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Musa Barrow & Mamadou Dem
6 July 2009
The integrated National Disability Policy was on Wednesday 1st July 2009 validated at a workshop held at Paradise Suites.
Speaking at the validation workshop, the Director of Social Welfare, Fanta Bai Secka, said the drafted policy is important, because it was the first time in the history of the Gambia that a policy for persons with disabilities had been formulated.
She added that the government of the Gambia valued the support that has been given by donor partners especially VSO, through the lottery fund and also the support that has been given by the team of consultants and task force members who she said had worked tirelessly to put the document in place.
She appealed to participants of the workshop to scrutinize the document which she described as comprehensive and detailed, noting that it was a history making moment.
The Social Welfare Director further said that the document would help her department and government of the Gambia to put in place the necessary structures and programme of activities that would address the welfare of persons with disability and also to protect their human rights.
On his part, the president of Gambia Federation of the Disabled, Muhammad Kora,acknowledged the pivotal role played by voluntary service overseas in the formulation of the draft integrated National Disability Policy.
He said VSO is the only international organization that involves itself wholly and solely in the field of disability. As a result of VSO's partnership with Disabled People Organisations (DPOs).He said it was deemed necessary to come up with a National Disability Policy. Mr. Kora applauded VSO whom he said had been instrumental in the funding of the preparation of the documents.
For her part, the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Country Director Haddijatou Lamin Njie said the National Disability Policy is in line with VSO's global aim to support people with disability in emphasizing their rights and to promote their true inclusion and active participation as equal members of their families and the wider society.
She further said the need to include persons with disability as active participants of national development is more significant now than ever before.
She revealed that according to World Health Organization's estimate, ten percent of any population is disabled and that eight percent of persons with disability are living in developing countries.
The Acting Permanent Secretary Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, Saikou Janneh, said policy documents only provide direction and consistency within organizations and as such they only facilitate an end in themselves.
He said for policies to be worth any while, they must be translated into realistic and achievable strategic plans.
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