Civilians living with disabilities in Yei River State are calling on the government for support. It comes as the local government has struggled to support the country’s disabled.
“We need skills on knowledge and agriculture so that we can be the same like other people. That is the empowerment we need to enable people with disabilities to feel together with able ones,” said Jacob Taban, a resident.
The high discrimination and lack of support has been a challenge for the Yei government, Apai Zabib, inspector for Yei County Gender and Social Development said.
“Most people still have negative attitude towards people with disabilities. Another challenge is a lack of devices like wheelchairs, canes, and trained teachers,” Zabib told Radio Tamazuj.
South Sudan’s government should give people with disabilities a free education, Malish Bosco told Radio Tamazuj.
“We have brains better than those able ones. We should be granted free education so that tomorrow we can take our country forward like other people,” Bosco said.
Another disabled man Mandela Arike called on NGOs and civil society organizations to fight for their rights.
“We need the NGOs and the Government to stand with us to push us ahead because we want to stop begging in the streets or markets,” he said.