Little access to assistive devices

 THE number of people living with disabilities that need assistive technology (AT) is likely to increase quickly because of the high incidence of the non-commutable diseases in the country.

Benson Tegia of the PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNGADP) told The National in Port Moresby last week that there was a risk that the number of people that needed assistive devices would continue to increase without PNG having to meet the needs of what was already there.

“Globally, they say 85 to 95 per cent of people who need the technology cannot access one. 

“Research has shown similar kind of result in PNG. That shows that we are not very far from what a lot of other countries are facing,” he said.

“So the steering committee has the responsibility to oversee and guide the direction of the first-ever professional assistive devices for persons with disabilities in PNG.”

Tegia said the steering committee that was made up of members from the departments of Health, Education and Community Development were working together to ensure that promoting the profession of the appropriate AT would reach the right people. 

“It has to meet the users’ needs and the conditions in which they live and work, or where they are schooling,” he said. 

“It has to be safe, durable and available in the country. It has to be obtained and maintained at an affordable price.”

Tegia said it was important for the steering committee to develop the guidelines because the people with disabilities had not been able to access AT because of so many different reasons. 

“AT is a mandated right for people living with disabilities. It is not something that they do out of their heart. It is a right,” he said. 

“The Government has a responsibility. It is under the convention that the assistive devices are right. That every person with disabilities has to have it.”

He said lack of assistive devices, training and product impact on access and participation in education, employment, community and national development were some of the things that people with disabilities missed out on.

“It is happening almost every day in life. A lot of people now are actually missing out on these very vital services because the support to have access to these facilities is really not there,” he said.