BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
MBABANE – Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has undertaken to build five houses for people living with disabilities.
Speaking during the International Day for Persons with Disabilities celebrations at the Mavuso Trade Centre, Dladla mentioned that her office had already identified some individuals who would benefit from this initiative.
She revealed that plans to start building a home for one blind beneficiary living with children at Siteki were already underway.
The DPM further mentioned that about E3.6 million had been allocated to her office for this project.
Furthermore, Dladla also shared that they were also working on building hostels for Mzimpofu as she said there were concerns that the schools were far away.
At the event, Dladla launched the Persons with Disabilities Qualification Registry and the second phase of the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) at the Mavuso International and Exhibition Centre.
The DPM announced that the Registry would be widely distributed and urged all institutions to appoint at least one person with disabilities and a female representative as members of the Board of Directors.
“The Office has put together a Persons with Disabilities Qualification Registry, which we are launching today. It will be distributed to all ministries and various entities. I am pleased that some government ministries have begun to include persons with disabilities on their Boards,” stated the DPM.
The DPM highlighted that Eswatini has made significant progress in promoting disability inclusion. She noted that the first phase of the UNPRPD program led to the implementation of crucial legislative frameworks, such as the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2018, and the creation of the national disability action plan, setting the foundation for integrating disability inclusion across government ministries and sectors.
The second phase of the UNPRPD program, which includes piloting inclusive service models at Piggs Peak Government Hospital and Mkhuzweni Health Centre for newborn disability screening, aims to address vital gaps and expedite the implementation of the national disability action plan through detailed costing and execution strategies.
Additionally, Dladla said this phase will improve data systems to incorporate disability indicators into national health and education management systems. It will also strengthen collaboration between the government, UN agencies, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring that persons with disabilities are central to decision-making processes.
The Minister for Tinkhundla Sikhumbuzo Dlamini assured that they were reviewing the Poverty Reduction Fund and Regional Development Fund to accommodate persons with disabilities.
Other speakers included Minister for Health Mduduzi Matsebula, UNFPA Eswatini Margaret Tfwala-Tembe, UN Resident Coordinator George Wachira, CANGO Bhekani Dlamini, Dr. Ngcebo MBuli and Manzini Mayor Goodwill Dlamini.
