Rights, integration of PWDs upended

CHILD CARE --- HOM OIC-Executive Director Omar John Sinsuat delivers a talk on proper nutrition for the 1st 1000 days of life of every child as a primary intervention to prevent physical disability.

The chairperson of the Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) underscored the need to create an environment for the persons with disabilities (PWDs) to earn respect and be able to experience the sense of belongingness in the society.

RHRC-ARMM Chairperson Atty. Abdulnasser Badrudin said many PWDs are secluded because of attitudinal, social, and oppressive barriers that result to disabling them from exercising their rights.

Badrudin spoke before stakeholders to the culmination of the 38th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week last July 21 at the regional level.

“By eliminating these barriers, we may be able to practice our roles in advancing the rights of the PWDs,” he told the stakeholders such as the support agencies and institutions mandated to deliver the services to the concerned sector.

In her keynote address, Assistant Secretary Dayang Jumaide of DOH-ARMM encouraged every sector to raise issues and concerns in support and reinforcement of the rights of the PWDs as she cited numerous laws that serve to protect the rights and well-being of the PWDs but saddened by their non-implementation.

She cited Section 18 of the Magna Carta for PWDs (Republic Act 7277) which institutes a national health program aimed to attain: prevention of disability, whether occurring pre-natally or post-natally; recognition and early diagnosis of disability; and early rehabilitation of the disabled.

Other sections in the Magna Carta pertain to the rights and privileges of the PWDs in relation to an integrated system of special education, integrative and comprehensive health services, and access to public transport facilities, among others.

“Let us join hands with stakeholders, policy makers, and together with people who care, we can break the barriers. Individuals will be free from coercion, violence, and oppression. Equality is achieved when the power is equally distributed... despite their physical limitation. We challenge the duty bearers to contribute to the human rights and welfare of PWDs,” she appealed.

On the national perspectives on disability prevention and rehabilitation, the regional program coordinator of the National Council on Disability Affairs, Miguel Antonio P. Limon, mentioned that disability is an evolving concept, explaining that interaction with the environment affects person’s ability.  “It’s high time to promote the economic integration of this sector… Both public and private agencies should allocate one percent of the fund for them.

He said economic integration is important to all people and not just the PWDs’ concern as “sooner or later, it can happen to us and you might be the one asking for these rights that they are claiming now.”

Meanwhile, The Health Organization for Mindanao (HOM) directed its focus in discussing disability prevention, emphasizing on the right nutrition for the 1st 1000 days of life as it related the interaction between malnutrition and disability.

Omar John Sinsuat, HOM OIC-executive director, said the Philippines  is the 5th country in the world with the highest burden of low-birth weight and 25.2 percent  of its population live below the poverty line, including more than 10 million women.

These are exacerbated by frequent natural disasters, especially in the Visayas, and the tenured conflicts in Central Mindanao.

“This is alarming since the maternal health can have a major impact on children’s survival, growth, and development. Through the 1st 1000 day initiatives, the support sectors can help break the chain of malnutrition by increasing the level of awareness and promoting good maternal condition,” Sinsuat said as he challenged the policy makers to use this “knowledge” as a political window of opportunity to promote health for every mother and child.

Hadja Sambai Sali Suwaib, a representative from the Department of Social Welfare and Development said that while they are mandated address the needs and concerns of the PWDs, their agency resorts to referrals which other institutions can best serve in terms of financial capacity, citing the fund and service support from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Datu Rusman Sinsuat, Jr., said support to the sector includes provision of assistive devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, and eyeglasses, among others.  And “most importantly educational capabilities,” that will empower them to be part of society as they, too, can “contribute to the economic growth and sustainable development of the country.”

On its side, the Department of Health-ARMM expressed its mandate to render medical services to the PWDs, citing its mental health and eye care programs, among others, as it mentioned its plan to cascade the training of trainers of health providers.

For the amputees resulting from the armed conflicts in Mindanao, the Davao Jubilee Foundation, Inc. assured the provision of artificial limbs in partnership with Philippine Red Cross. In case of need, they can visit the office at #3 Veterans Drive, Pedro Colina Hill Rosary Heights I in Cotabato City.

The Davao Jubilee Foundation, Inc is a non-profit charitable organization designed to help disabled people in the Philippines. It has helped thousands of poor handicapped persons in Mindanao each year through its mani-fold services: community-based rehabilitation, physical therapy, eye and ear screening, audiological testing, prostheses, orthoses, custom-made wheelchair, referral network, medical missions, and vocational rehabilitation.

The HOM said the culmination activity serves as an eye-opener to the lawmakers, government agencies, and other stakeholders in ensuring that the rights of the PWDs are delivered to them.

“We must enable them to come out in the open and co-exist in an inclusive society, free from several barriers, stigma, and other forms of discrimination. Let them showcase their special abilities and contribute to the process of developing our country,” the HOM uttered its plea.

Several sectors, agencies, and stakeholders took part in the regional-wide culmination of the 38th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.

The activity was spearheaded by the Regional Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the National Council on Disability Affairs, Office of the Regional Governor,  Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education,  Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,  Bureau of Public Information-ARMM, Biosafet Clearing House of the Philippines, Department of Transportation and Communication, Civil Service Commission, other leaders and representatives from local government units as well as with other organizations such as  the Health Organization for Mindanao, International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, Moropreneur, Davao Jubilee Foundation, Inc., and Golden Hands Charity Foundation. (Norfa Mastura Guiaber-Tayuan, Information Management Officer, HOM – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)