My World Vision colleagues and a child protection committee in Busia have rescued an 11-year-old, deaf boy from starving to death. At the time of rescue, Jimmy (not real name) was dirty, stinking and skinny.

Jimmy had become "a burden" to his stepmother and father and was taken to live with a paternal uncle. Unfortunately the uncle decided Jimmy should be starved to death. The boy is steadily recovering through nutrition therapy. He has been provided play items and is having fun and exercise.

By their indifference, this community literally sentenced Jimmy to death. A sense of collective and community responsibility should have compelled that community to respond earlier. This scenario seems only a tip of the iceberg of how inhuman society can become and how Children With Disability (CWD) suffer in this country.

It is wickedness for anyone to desire profiting from the plight of CWD. In South Eastern Uganda, shrewd people registered 200 children for sponsorship. To appeal to compassionate hearts 200 children were made to close their eyes while posing for photographs. A Dutch NGO decided to visit the community to verify the tragedy but they did not find even "ghosts" of the 200 "blind" children. The problem of mistreating and profiteering from children's vulnerability is not just a Ugandan one. A colleague of mine from Burundi notes that disabled children in Burundi are commonly used to attract funds from charitable people by either sending them to the street or collecting and keeping them in an institution.

We have relevant laws that should guarantee CWD: social care and access to services, protection, fullness of life, and aspiration toward self reliance. These include; the UN Convention on the rights of children, Uganda Constitution, Children's Act and the Penal code. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 10 per cent of any given population lives with some form of disability. The WHO report on disability, 2009 estimates that 200 million of the 650 million disabled people world over are children. This could mean that at least one out of every ten children is disabled.

The number of CWD is high. Recognise CWD rights and give them equal opportunity. Let us affirm, build their self esteem, identify and encourage them to grow their talents. Consider the story of Nick Vujicic, born in Australia without legs or arms. Nick graduated with an accounting and Finance Degree. He is an international inspirational speaker and president of an International Charity; Life without Limbs.

If his parents and teachers had isolated and neglected him he could not have made it. He is making a great contribution. In a poor family, CWDs are likely to experience worse consequences of poverty. Therefore intentional planning not only to meet their needs but assuring their right to inclusion and participation enables addressing their interests, aspirations and experiences in a community development agenda. Let us prevent disability from occurring by immunisation, nutrition and avail Vitamin A for mothers and children. Partnership among government and civil society is crucial for assuring CWD access to education, health and protection from exploitation, abuse and violence.

Affirmative action, strengthening equal access to opportunities for CWD, working with disabled people's organisations to implement context specific community-based rehabilitation can empower CWD to lead fulfilling lives. Above all, like the blind man in the Bible shouted for Jesus' attention, CWD seem to be screaming to parents, policy makers, and civil society organisations: "see, hear, touch and speak to me. Allow me space to be among the community, hold my hand and let us go."

The writer is Associate Director, Children in Ministry, World Vision Uganda