Hello
I hope you are well and am glad to meet you through this email.As rural
disabled people it is extremely difficult for us to establish the
accessibility of health care services for children with severe
disabilities. Disabled children particularly those with severe disabilities
have been treated as a burden to caregivers, since most of these children
come from very poor families where they cannot even afford a bicycle the
death of such a child would be viewed as relief. Its very rare that such
children would be assisted to have specialised health support. There is
need to support caregivers and parents of children with disabilities. They
have in mind that they are wasting resources that should have been used by
other children who will contribute something towards the family when they
are grown. This attitude needs to change. If only these caregivers can be
assisted with tricycles to be able to take these children for health care
services. Even a communal one like they do with bicycle ambulances to help
pregnant women to take them to a health facility for delivery.
Thanks
Bosswell Mboozi
Coordinator
Chikankata Ngangula Disabled Farmers Association
CHIFA Profile: Bosswell Mboozi is Child Rights Campaigner and Resource Centre Director, also a Biomedical Technologist at the Chikankata Mission Hospital, Mazabuka, in Zambia. The resource centre provides books and other materials for health workers, patients and children. Chikankata Mission Hospital also promotes children's rights in cooperation with PLAN Zambia, sports and recreation.
bmboozi AT chikankata.org.zm