President Yoweri Museveni has called for concerted efforts to bring the causes of disability under control, adding that the number of People with Disabilities (PWDs) should not grow beyond 4.4 million, the figure contained in the 2014 Census.

The President made the remarks over the weekend during celebrations to mark International Day for People With Disabilities, locally held at Kamwenge Primary School grounds in Kamwenge district, Western Uganda.

“We need to block all the possibilities of disability and to prevent more disabilities like we did to eradicate polio and measles. Even accidents are preventable,” he said during the celebrations held under the theme: ‘Employment of Persons with Disabilities is key to Sustainable and Resilient Society for All’.

According to the National Population Census of 2014, the population of PWDs in Uganda stood at 4.4 million, and addressing the issue of employment opportunities, President Museveni called for the establishment of more vocational training institutions with emphasis on equipping the PWDs with the relevant skills.

He remarked that when the National Resistance Movement Government took power in 1986, it instituted affirmative action, gender balance and women emancipation that has so far resulted in the introduction of slots of representation in Parliament of women, the youth, the disabled, soldiers and workers.

He also commended the excellent performance of some PwDs in society advising them to focus majorly on self-employment. Further, the President said that the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) programme at household level is another way of improving their livelihoods using the special grant from the government.

The Minister of State for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo, said that the forces and causes of disability are diverse and constitute a hindrance to accessing social economic development. She reported that the 2040 national vision prohibits any further discrimination of PWDs with a view to addressing issues of inequality among the vulnerable persons.

“The Government Special Grant for the PWDs since 2009/2010, has supported them to improve on their livelihood and affirmative action has enabled every PWD to access the Fund,” she reported.

The Minister also observed that advancement in technology sets a challenge to PWDs with regard to ICT. She, therefore, appealed to the Government to develop an ICT policy on disabilities. She called on development partners, UNICEF, UNDP and the media, among others, to supplement and uplift services to PWDs.

The Chairperson of the National Union of Disabled People of Uganda (NUDIPU), Ms. Night Grace, said that the celebration of the day constitutes recognition of the potential of PWDs to achieve great success in whatever they undertake, promotion of their cause and drawing attention for all not to be discriminated.

“The PWDs should be recognized for their sustainable contribution to development in society,” she stressed.

During the celebrations various PWDs, both young and old hailing various district unions and the national umbrella organizations, displayed a variety of commercial and income generating products like handicrafts, fabrics, artwork, assistive devices, among others, to depict that disability is not inability. They also showcased different presentations of entertainment. 

She appealed to the Government to consider PWDs for all inclusiveness for employment opportunities and also to increase the budget of the responsible Ministry for the benefit of people with disability. 

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The East African Development Bank (EADB) in partnership with the British Council and the Royal College of Physicians have concluded yet another medical training of selected medical practitioners in Western Uganda.

The training which took place in Mbarara, is part of a medical training programme that EADB is carrying out across four East African countries aimed at curbing the increasing dangers of cancer while also sensitizing communities in these countries.

EADB’s aim is to train 600 medical professionals within a period of four years, to specialize in the treatment of cancer and neurological disorders.

Dr. Abrahams Omoding, a Specialist Medical Oncologist with the Uganda Cancer Institute and also one of the programme trainers says that cancer now kills more people than HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined.

Although the signs and symptoms of the disease are still not well-known in many communities, there have been tremendous efforts to sensitize people and train medical practitioners in early identification of cancer cases, he adds.

The programme continues to focus on early detection, research and treatment of cancer and neurological disorders especially in communities where access to qualified professionals remains a challenge.

“This course is key in down staying late cancer detection. By training the doctors on the most important information on the signs and symptoms of cancer, we shall improve the ability to identify cancers at an early stage,” said Dr. Omoding.

Ms. Vivienne Yeda, the Director General of EADB reiterates that EADB’s course objective is to upgrade the ability of the target group of physicians to be able to better manage the patients with common neurological disorders.

“We are receiving positive feedback from the doctors who have so far taken part in the trainings. Through these doctors, we are surely having an impact. The fight against cancer should be taken up by all of us and as EADB we shall continue to train doctors until we meet our target of training 600 medical practitioners in four years,” Ms. Yeda added.

The East African Development Bank’s Medical Training and Fellowship Programme (METAF) is an EADB initiative to build capacity in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in the fields of neurology and oncology, and this is the fourth training taking place in Uganda. It follows similar trainings that were held St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya, at the Uganda Cancer Institute, Mulago in 2016 and in Soroti earlier this year. Other trainings have also taken place in Kenya and Tanzania.

EADB’s mission is to promote sustainable social-economic development in East Africa by providing development finance support and advisory services.

Through the Medical Training and Fellowship (METAF) Programme, EADB aims to increase capacity towards early detection, research and access to treatment of cancer and neurological disorders by increasing the number, quality and deployment of medical doctors in public service with specialty training in the treatment cancer and neurological disorders of in the East Africa region, especially in communities and areas where access to qualified professionals remains a challenge.

There has been a recorded increase in the number of cancer patients in the region, and close to 80% of these patients find out when the cancer is in its late stages.

Doctors who attended the medical training programme in Mbarara acknowledged the increased need for such trainings across the region.

“I have learnt a lot of new things and through this training, I will now be able to look at medical cases from a different aspect so as I can be able to diagnose my patients with utmost surety,” said one of the doctors that took part in the training.

Important tips

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors are an emerging problem in East Africa although the focus has mostly been directed to infectious diseases to a greater extent, experts say.

EADB is thus extending a supporting arm so as to raise awareness of the severity of NCDs that are mostly driven by forces that include ageing, rapid unplanned urbanization, and the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles.

For example, globalization of unhealthy lifestyles like unhealthy diets may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids, and obesity.

These are called ‘intermediate risk factors’ which can lead to cardiovascular disease, a NCD.

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