Ömer Suay: Families of disabled people are struggling to get by
THE families of disabled people are struggling to get by because of the economic effects of the Covid19 pandemic.
That was the warning issued by Ömer Suay, the head of the Disabled People’s Solidarity Association.
He stated that since the beginning of the pandemic, the prices of adult nappies have increased by “40 to 50 per cent”.
Mr Suay said that the 1,000TL monthly cost of caring for a disabled person has gone up to 2,000TL, while a disabled individual whose monthly needs cost 2,000TL, now needs 3,000TL.
Due to the pandemic, disabled individuals and their families are “mentally worn out and experiencing psychological problems” in addition to their economic problems, he stressed.
Mr Suay said that his association tries to regularly help out by providing families with items such as patient beds, disabled ramps, nappies, wheelchairs, supplies and hygiene packages.
He said his organisation had also received pleas for help from non-disabled people who are “unemployed and in a difficult situation”.
“Even though we are an association for disabled people, we tried to help everyone in need,” Mr Suay said, adding that they have distributed 6,000 packages of provisions.
“As non-governmental organisations, at this point we must fulfil our duties by asserting the understanding, mission and vision of the welfare state,” he said.
“It is not enough for only one stakeholder to work on a solution if there is a problem in understanding the welfare state.
“Every institution, every stakeholder and every organisation should take responsibility in finding solutions for societal problems.”
Pointing out that the Labour and Social Security Ministry periodically provides some contributions for families who are in a difficult situation due to the pandemic, Mr Suay said: “We need much more serious social policies.”
The “serious problems in becoming a welfare state” have become “more evident with the pandemic” he noted.
He also said that disabled people have become “imprisoned in their own homes” because of “social pressure to stay at home”.
“I have been visiting disabled people for years, telling them that they have a life outside the home and encouraging them to have a social life,” Mr Suay said.
“Disabled people should be outdoors and they should participate in life outside and they have been struggling with this for years.
“While we are working on this issue and have come a long way, the pandemic has negatively affected us.”