Data needed to help disabled

THE Callan Services for disabilities in Mt Hagen is training people with the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programme to reach rural areas and collect data on disable people and their needs so devices like wheelchairs and other support is provided.
On Thursday, 14 people attended a four-day course and left to collect data so that people living with disabilities (PLWD) could be supported.
Callan Services is now working in collaboration with district community development officers to reach out to PLWD.
CBR programme coordinator Daniel Pamunda said disable people were missing out on benefits.
He said the programme would help disabled people to participate in the nation’s development.
Pamunda said Callan has equipment like wheelchairs to support the disabled but the problem is they do not have the proper data.
He said Western Highlands has many disabled people but with no proper data, Callan Services cannot reach out to them.
“With this training the participants can now go out and collect data on the number of disabled people so we can rprovide the required services,” Pamunda said.
He said the training was important as it would help parents and caregivers to take ownership and provide assistance.
Pamunda said MPs should consider appointing a representative of disabled people to be a member of the district service improvement programme committee.
“These people are the taxpayers and they have every right of taking part in doing anything,” he said.
“The training is aimed at reaching the wards and that will show us the exact number of people.”
Pamunda said they will continue to run the course to help send more people out to address issues and collect data of people living with disabilities.