Taking action to prevent covid-19 for persons with disabilities in my community

Most persons with disabilities especially in our communities in African need a lot of assistance in going about their normal live. Part of this is because of the complete lack or inadequate supply of assist devices. 

With the coming of the corona pandemic,  Many  preventive measure have been recommended by World health Organisation. But then how feasible are these measures for persons with disabilities in our African context.

Most persons with Visual impairment are always touching surfaces so they can feel where they are going. Some who use crutches Lean them against surfaces when they want to wash their hands or carry out activities. Some of them may not be stable enough yo wash the crutches after that , secondly they might not be have sanitisers to use.

Talking about maintaining social distance its also a challenge. Most of the time persons with hearing impairment need to be touched to get their attention. 

Persons who are visually impaired need a guide in order to go about and sometimes some can't afford the white cane and so need to be held by their guide. Wheelchair users need to be assisted into and out of their wheelchair especially in our contact in Africa where assist I've devices are limited. Even those whose wheel chairs are not motorise need to be pushed about.

Therefore it is advisable to focused on hygiene. Washing their hands as often as possible and using sanitisers to sanitise their hands and mobility aid.

But then we are also aware that corona pandemic have only come to add their plight as persons with disabilities. It has affected everyone economically. How many of these persons can afford these kits? 

Therefore we feel its time to take action to assist these our brothers and sister in their struggle to prevent covid-19. 

My Organisation on the 9th of July distributed hand washing buckets to 11persons with hearing impairment and 4 Vulnerable persons and IDPs. Each of these 16 persons comes from a house hold of at least 8 persons . Therefore 124 persons benefited indirectly from this activity In addition these buckets were accompanied with soap and face mask. Immense thanks to Mr. Lenin Akum who funded this activity.

I want to use this opportunity to plead for more donations from anyone who is moved to assist these Vulnerable persons so we can together end this deadly pandermic