By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, October 7, Mana: The Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) has warned parents and guardians who have persons with disabilities not to prevent them from accessing schools, churches, and other public spaces saying this is against the law.

Speaking in Salima district when Action for Progress donated 24 tricycle wheelchairs to people with disabilities, Director General of MACODA, George Chiusiwa emphasized that it is against the Persons with Disability Act, to conceal or lock someone with a disability inside the house.

"The implications of hiding someone with a disability are very severe, especially to their rights and health. Persons with disabilities have the right to enjoy every right that everyone enjoys, it is a serious contradiction to the law," he said.

He said denying people with disabilities the enjoyment of their basic rights should be condemned and as MACODA they are continually raising awareness against such acts.

On the tricycle wheelchair donation, Chiusiwa said MACODA is legally obliged to ensure that persons with disabilities are enjoying their rights, especially the right to mobility, because for them to ensure that they access other amenities mobility is very important.

Chiusiwa said: "Assistive devices are very important to ease challenges that persons with disabilities face. Persons with disabilities must live an independent life, they must access education, health services and also participate in developmental activities in society”.

Chiusiwa further urged guardians and caretakers to ensure that the wheelchairs are maintained and repaired to serve longer periods.

On this point, he said persons with disabilities continue to face mobility challenges therefore assistance from different organizations is highly appreciated and he called for more support towards the donation of wheelchairs.

Administrative Officer at Action for Progress Grivin Kasalika, stated that the donation aims to alleviate mobility challenges being faced by persons with disabilities.

"We hope that the donation will assist these individuals to participate in community development, and for others, they will be going to school and become productive citizens, in the country, we will continue distributing the wheelchairs across the country," he said.

Chikondi Samson, a Form One student at Salima Secondary School, expressed gratitude for the donation, noting how it will assist him in his school activities.

"I was struggling to attend classes in the absence of a wheelchair, therefore this donation will go a long way to help me enjoy my right to education and access education without fail," he said.

Action for Progress has donated 120 wheelchairs in Salima and a total of 3,000 wheelchairs across the country, significantly impacting the lives of persons with disabilities.