First Lady champions safety for disabled kids

FIRST Lady Esther Lungu says there is need to create an environment that is safe for children with disabilities.

Ms Lungu said a safe environment would enable such children to participate equally in self-identification, career setting and skills development.

Ms Lungu said parents and guardians of the children who are disabled needed care, respect and emotional support in to ensure holistic embracing of all citizens with disabilities.

In a speech read on her behalf by wife of Speaker of National Assembly, Ethel Matibini at an end of year Christmas party with children with disabilities from Cheshire Home of Matero in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Lungu said fathers should stop all forms of stigma, discrimination and abandoning children who are disabled.

Ms Lungu said Government together with private sector, civil society as well as cooperating partners had worked in pursuit of improved lives of every Zambian including persons with disabilities.

She said she was happy that the country was making huge strides in accepting persons with disabilities including children and providing them with the much-needed support so that they could not get discouraged or disappointed with life.

She said Cheshire Homes programmes had continued to ensure that children were actively included in the social life of the family, community and the nation.

She said this was important for personal development and accords children with disabilities the opportunity to participate in social activities thus imprinting a strong impact on their identity, self-esteem, quality of life and ultimately social status.

“As a nation let us continue to place renewed emphasis in reaching out to children with disabilities as well. I urge all citizens to desist from marginalising and rejecting those who experience disability challenges.

And Cheshire homes Board chairperson, Simon Botha said as a charitable Home it would continue taking care of the disabled and it should not hinder their progress.

Mr Botha said children with disabilities had a right to be included in all activities of the family and community as well as to participate in social life of the community because they had a right to enjoy.

He said this year’s Christmas theme which is “Removing all barriers that prevent children with disabilities from participating in leisure activities” was in line with the fight against a society which has continued creating barriers due to negative attitude and stigma towards children with disabilities.

“Society still isolates children with disabilities and their families who still hide their children by secluding them and think that they are protecting them,” said Mr Botha.