Persons with Disability to have improved community based rehabilitation services

Robert Nugue, Project Coordinator for the Callan Services Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) program in the East Sepik Province.

ROBERT Nugue is a Project Coordinator for the Callan Services Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) program in the East Sepik Province. CBR is reaching out to improve the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) through the provision of clinical services and assistive devices.

At times the work can be emotionally and physically overwhelming. There are so many people in need of help; but Robert does what he can to help, he loves his work and loves the remote communities he works in.

“I would like to see that in each of our communities there are good schools and good health services and in the area of assistance to disability services, there is a place to get eyeglasses, a place to get hearing aids, a place where people can get wheelchairs, crutches, and other aids for mobility. Then they can move around and live positive lives. So when we are teaching the hearing impaired children to communicate using the basics of sign language through our early learning programs, we can help them have a voice. They are no longer behind a silent wall” said Robert.

Today, Robert’s aspirations are closer to becoming reality with a K1.9 million grant from the Australian Government to the PNG National Board for Disabled Persons (NBDP), the National Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (NOPS) and the PNG Assembly of Disabled Person (PNGADP). Together, these groups are working to ensure assistive devices and other components of Community Based Rehabilitation, can be effectively delivered on a community level through a new action plan for the next four years.

NBDP Treasurer Rajesh Nanda said the grant from the Australian Government will allow 160 people (half of whom are Persons With Disabilities) to be trained in Community Based Rehabilitation and cover the procurement of 27,000 assistance devices for over 20,000 persons with disability across the country.

Mr Nanda said the provision of assistance devices to provinces and districts will improve the health conditions of persons with disabilities, enabling them to participate in community and economic activities and increase their access to basic services.

Robert was thrilled to hear this news. “For such funding assistance, I just cannot find the right words to say thank you because it is such a big thing to happen to us. This will ensure that our services will go direct to the people, right to their doorstep” he said.

At a national CBR meeting held last November in Port Moresby, Community Development and Religion Secretary, Anna Solomon and Deputy Secretary for Health, Dr Paison Dakulala have urged stakeholders, including the government, to place the best interests of PWD at the heart of decision-making and activity planning. This will also be a key focus of an action plan which will form part of the reviewed National Policy for Disability in PNG.

This is in line with the PNG government’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to ensure that PWD rights are realised through creating a barrier free inclusive society for all to live in.

“We are all in this together...and it’s good that all stakeholders are in line with the disability cause.” Dr Dakulala said.

Ms Solomon adds, “For the government, we are committed to work together towards improving disability services… and for disability to get the support and recognition that it truly deserves.”

Ms Solomon also said the Australian Government support has created new energy and greater collaboration amongst important stakeholders who are committed to improving disability services and making PNG disability friendly.

The Australian Government funding was made available through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program.

 

Callan Sevices staff conducting eye and ear checks for locals from the East Sepik Province.