Family, community support vital for disabled: MP

FAMILY and community support are vital in improving the welfare of people living with disabilities (PLWDs), says deputy Opposition leader and Bulolo MP Sam Basil.
He was speaking during the launching of the Bulolo District Disables Association (BDDA) and its website last Friday in Bulolo, Morobe.
Basil said many people with disabilities lacked family, community and government support and these affected them emotionally.
He said the association was a way forward and would cater for the needs of people with disabilities throughout the district.
He told The National that 10 per cent of the district’s population was made up of PLWDs, however their needs were not recognised and met by the Government.
“Disabled people struggle to gain access to our public transport, health and education facilities,” Basil said.
He said the association would greatly help in linking all these people throughout the district so they would be included in development plans for the district.
“For now we will find a temporary place to use as your office, however we will build a permanent one which can also be used as your resource centre,” Basil told the association.
He said he gave K5000 earlier to help set up the association and he would give another K5000 in a month’s time
“Bulolo is a very large district, however, we get limited funding from the Government so we only spend wisely on important things, therefore proper acquittals must be given back to me before I give another funding,” he said.
President for BDDA James Wanaki said PLWDs were part of the community and deserved to be included in the Government’s plans.
Wanaki said they created the association to identify needs of PLWDs and to protect their rights.
“We want a resource center to educate and to empower us because many lack family support,” he said.
He said Bulolo students studying at Divine Word University had created a website for the association and would link them to internet soon.