Persons with disabilities have lamented their challenges in accessing sports programs in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state’s Aweil town.
They said more funds should be invested in enhancing their access to sports and other social activities.
Abuk Ayok said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Friday that they were in great need of sports activities.
“I am a member of the Union of People With Disabilities, and we do not have sports activities at all in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state,” she said.
“I don’t know whether other people are enjoying the sports or not,” she added.
Martin Wek Mayol said their bid for competitions always ended in vain because they lack training equipment.
“Last year, we tried to have wheelchair netball competitions but failed because there were none to replace the old ones,” Wek complained.
The secretary-general of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Union of People With Disabilities, Marko Madut Mou, said there was no playground or equipment to promote their skills.
“We don’t have any single sports activity in the state because we don’t even have a playground, plus sports materials such as basketballs and wheelchairs,” he said.
He urged the government and partners to release funds for their support.
“My appeal to the government and partners is to support us with sports materials in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state,” he said.
The chairperson of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Union of People With Disabilities, Moses Kiir Yum, said their sports initiatives had failed, unlike their counterparts in Western Bahr el Ghazal, who enjoy more privileges.
“There is no organization to empower us, unlike our members in Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, where the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is active,” he said.
State Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports Bol Akuar Gamar acknowledged the challenges and lack of funds to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
“Northern Bahr el Ghazal state is experiencing challenges like the other states. We are facing difficulties because our financial capacity is too poor to facilitate the programs,” Akuar said.
A state-based senior advocate, Bulis Nguag Deng, defended the participation of people with disabilities, saying South Sudan’s constitution grants everyone rights, including access to social and sports activities.
“Persons with disabilities have rights according to the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan (2011), as amended. There are guarantees for equal participation, and they have the right to be treated like other citizens,” he said.