ZAPD challenges persons with disabilities on stigma

PERSONS with disabilities have the right to fully participate and be included in various activities in society, says Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) North western Province coordinator Osco Mondoma.

Mr Mondoma observed that for stigma to be eliminated, there was need for persons with disabilities to start engaging in social activities.

He told the Daily Nation that persons with disabilities needed to understand their rights and actively participate in social activities.

Mr Mondoma said according to the Persons with disabilities Act section 4, all persons with disabilities have the right to fully participate and be included in various activities in society.

‘’So, it will take the people themselves to start actively participating in some of these social and economic activities if stigma is to be completely eliminated,’’ Mr Mondoma explained.

He also urged persons with disabilities to demonstrate to the public that they were able to compete and work side by side with able bodied persons as this would reduce discrimination towards them.

He further urged the general public not to exclude persons with disabilities from their programmes and economic ventures as they were able to work in favorable working environment.

‘’Apart from that, I want to call on building owners in the province to ensure as they are carrying out the designs for their buildings, to put into consideration persons with disabilities because most of the buildings in the province were designed in a way that they could not accommodate persons with disabilities,’’ he added.

So, it will take the people themselves to start actively participating in some of these social and economic activities if stigma is to be completely eliminated.’’ — Mr Kalolo.