Andrew
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
IN this article, I continue to unpack the provisions of the National Disability Policy which was launched by President Mnangagwa on June 9, 2021.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, led by Honourable Minister Professor Paul Mavima oversees the implementation of the National Disability Policy, thus moving the provisions of the policy from paper to the real world. This makes a positive difference in the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.
The focus of this article is on Section 3.12 (Disaster Risk Management) of the National Disability Policy (2021), which is set out as follows:
3.12.1 A strategic plan or guidelines for the protection and safety of persons with disabilities within the context of risk, including situations of armed conflict and natural disasters, must be formulated.
3.12.2 Humanitarian operators must be trained to appropriately address issues facing persons with disabilities in disaster situations at all phases (preparedness, response, early recovery, recovery and reconstruction), including ensuring the participation of persons with disabilities in these phases.
3.12.3 Disability training within the context of disaster risk management training programs must be approved by the Department of Disability Affairs – Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
3.12.4 The rights, requirements and concerns of persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, must be considered in all phases that are related to situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.
3.12.5 Assistive devices along with necessary medications that may have been lost during situations of disaster must be timeously replaced.
3.12.6 The physical layout and infrastructure of temporary shelters and other services for displaced persons, including water sanitation and hygiene facilities, access to food and non-food items, must be set up in such a way that they are accessible to persons with disabilities.
3.12.7 Humanitarian operators must ensure the availability of signage to points of services in appropriate formats.
3.12.8 Persons with disabilities must not be grouped together with everyone else under the umbrella of “the most vulnerable” in policy, law, planning and implementation of programmes because persons with disabilities may have unique needs that are related to disability.
3.12.9 Sexual and reproductive health services including distribution of sanitary pads and contraceptives in temporary shelters should not overlook persons with disabilities.
3.12.10 Persons with disabilities must be included in mental health programmes, including rehabilitation services, psycho-social support, and other health-related programmes, as well as in disaster risk management committees.
3.12.11 Employers must consider the requirements and concerns of persons with disabilities within the context of workplace emergencies that may occur, such as fire outbreaks.
3.12.12 Committees of Disaster Risk Management must comprise persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities, and parents and guardians of children with disabilities at all levels.
So what does it all mean?
Zimbabwe is prone to extreme weather conditions including droughts, floods and cyclones. It is projected that this variability in weather will intensify with expected effects of global warming.
Addressing issues of disability in disaster risk management at all stages (planning, response, early recovery, recovery, reconstruction) is of utmost importance. Research has indicated that the involvement of persons with disabilities or parents and guardians of children with disabilities in programme design itself can strengthen disability-inclusive disaster risk management.
For example, this can be done by using different methods of communicating disaster risk messages that include Sign Language for Deaf persons and braille for blind persons.
In any case, Guiding Principles, Section 19 (d) of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), state that:
“Disaster risk reduction requires an all of society engagement and partnership. It also requires empowerment and inclusive, accessible, and non-discriminatory participation, paying special attention to people disproportionately affected by disasters, especially the poorest.
A gender, age, disability, and cultural perspective should be integrated in all policies and practices and women and youth leadership should be promoted. In this context, special attention should be paid to the improvement of organised voluntary work for citizens.”
Since 2015 Zimbabwe has registered progress in meeting the requirements of the Sendai Framework that seeks to boost the resilience of countries in the face of disasters.
The country is also making efforts to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all stages of the disaster risk management process (planning, response, early recovery, recovery, reconstruction).
The bottom line is that disasters and pandemics such as Covid-19 tend to have a more disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities due to disability and associated poverty and limited access to services.
Disruption to physical, social, economic, and environmental networks and support systems during disasters affect persons with disabilities much more than the general population. There is also potential for discrimination on the basis of disability when resources are scarce in a context where priority may be given to persons without disabilities.
For example and with reference to Cyclone Idai, a grandmother in Chimanimani said:
“The cyclone was frightening, I just grabbed my three grandchildren who are not disabled and ran to Ngangu primary school for shelter. I left the grandchild who is disabled because I saw that I was unable to ‘carry’ all of them at the same time, so I thought that it’s better to save the lives of these children who are not disabled than the life of the disabled child.
Luckily we returned the following morning and found out that our house had been destroyed by the strong wind, rain and mud, but still my disabled grandchild was alive, how he survived is a mystery, I just thank God for saving the life of my grandchild.”
The above quote signposts the need to raise awareness in communities on the rights of persons with disabilities including children with disabilities to life. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs states that mainstreaming disability into emergency responses and preparedness, by making disability issues and persons with disabilities visible in actions plans and policies, is essential to ensure equality and human rights for all.
Research has indicated that facilitating the voice of persons with disabilities at all stages of the disaster management process, and especially during planning and preparedness, can significantly reduce their vulnerability and increase the effectiveness of response and recovery efforts.
If we fail to adequately plan for or to include persons with disabilities or parents and guardians of children with disabilities in disaster risk management initiatives, severe inequities in access to immediate response, as well as long-term recovery resources for persons with disabilities prior to the disaster and those who acquire disabilities as a result of the disaster, may persist.
As indicated by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts must not only be inclusive and responsive to the needs of all people, including persons with disabilities, but they should also include the participation of persons with disabilities, to ensure that their needs and rights are voiced and respected.
Women and girls with disabilities are a particularly vulnerable group whose needs must be included at all stages of recovery and reconstruction efforts.
In order for us to Build-Back-Better in post-disaster reconstruction and recovery, disability inclusion must be ensured in initiatives that seek to improve the physical, social, environmental and economic conditions of communities – the creation of more disability sensitive and resilient communities in effective and efficient ways is of utmost importance.
Dr. Christine Peta is a Disability, Policy, International Development and Research expert who is the National Director of Disability Affairs in Zimbabwe – she can be contacted on: [email protected]
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