Disability awareness
WE must try to minimise the discriminating culture and promote disability awareness, says Fiji Vocational Technical Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities (FVTTCPD) student Wakesa Navukitu.
Speaking during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) celebration at the National Council for Persons with Disabilities Complex (NCPD) in Suva yesterday, she said disability awareness would help remove the stereotypical mindset of society.
“As a society it is our utmost duty to allow people with disability to experience a life they deserve,” Ms Navukitu said.
“We are all different but very much the same. “Disability awareness signifies educating our society regarding visibility and how else that individual can bring about necessary change.”
She said studies showed that people with disabilities experienced discriminatory attitude in all sectors of society including health, social economy, employment and justice.
“We often see discrimination towards people with disabilities and that can lead to undesirable outcomes to communities as a whole.
“Therefore for a better future, we must try to minimise the discriminating culture and promote disability awareness through platforms.
“Nowadays we see communities changing, accepting diversity which helps making our work easy.”
Permanent secretary for Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Jennifer Poole said 13.7 per cent of people in Fiji had a disability.
“This comprised of individuals aged three and above who reported at least one functioning challenge (disability),” she said.
“Nevertheless, our focus is not on the disability but in the abilities of these individuals.
“Such focus complements the implementation of the mandate for persons with disabilities through strengthened and enhanced resources and mechanisms to ensure the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Fiji.”
Ms Poole said Government had committed $11.7 million towards this sector in the 2022-23 financial year.