Disability data campaign launched

A campaign raising awareness on the importance of collecting data on people living with disabilities was launched in Windhoek this week under the theme ‘Disability Disaggregated Data Benefits All’.

Namibians living with disabilities have been overlooked for the longest time, and that is why this campaign is so important - not only to individuals with disabilities, but the general public at large.

This according to Alexia Manombe-Ncube, the deputy minister of disability affairs, who said the aim of the campaign is to meet the needs of people with disabilities through collecting and using data to promote and strengthen their rights, advocate for improvements in disability disaggregated data and strengthen the collection of information on services inclusive of people with disabilities.

The campaign will also promote participation by organisations of people with disabilities in efforts related to data collection and decision-making processes, highlight the role of disaggregated data in identifying challenges and solutions to improve the lives of people with disabilities and build capacity and improve the use of data in line with National Disability Council Act, she said.

Lack of resources

At the moment, there is an alarming lack of resources, including specialised teachers, school facilities and professionals in the sector, Manombe-Ncube said, adding that this is putting a strain on the few individuals who are specialised in the field, but also makes it more challenging to progress as a country in regards to meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Ndunge Iiyambo, a student educational psychologist, mentioned that at Dagbreek School for the Intellectually Impaired, they only allow 10 learners in each class and they have a long waiting list. This, she said, is a clear indication that there are only a few schools available for children with disabilities and some teachers at these schools are only trained in mainstream education.

Organisations and companies such as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the National Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN) and the National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia are working together to ensure that the campaign’s goals are reached.

“I cannot overemphasise the importance of partnerships, because without people who take your hand, life’s burdens become unbearable,” said the deputy minister said.