Matia Samuel
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A Member of Parliament representing Eastern Equatoria State’s Lopa County Naomi Hisiaha tabled a motion to help People Living with Disabilities access public utilities.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Hisiaha said the House should be equipped with language interpreters and buildings must be designed to allow such people to gain easier access through ramps and elevators.
“I humbly submit this motion and urge this August House to resolve to summon the Minister of Housing and Public Utilities to explain why many public buildings lack ramps, elevators, or accessible entrances, special crossing for pedestrians with wheelchairs in hospitals, government offices (facilities), and public transportation,” she said.
She called on the assembly to lead by example, saying: “I urge the Transitional National Legislative Assembly to lead by example by reconstructing assembly entrances with facilities that will ease accessibility for people living with disabilities and elderly people such as wheelchair users, including entrance to this main hall and Assembly restaurant.”
According to her, the TNLA should equip the August House with direct interpretation facilities, sign language, and interpreters.
“In South Sudan, people with special needs or disabilities are feeling neglected and marginalised where they have concluded that only the International Community through Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are caring for their needs,” she added.
She noted that Regulation 151 of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly Conduct of Business stipulated that the speaker or chairperson of a committee shall take all the necessary steps to ensure that persons with special needs are facilitated in their participation in the proceedings of the House or its Committees.
“We are bringing to the attention of the Government of South Sudan through Parliament the frustration and plea of people living with disabilities and elderly people.”
In response, the speaker of the Assembly, Jemma Nunu Kumba, said the administration of the parliament would install an elevator for people with disabilities in the parliament and would summon the ministries of housing and public utilities and gender to their plans for the matter.
“We are going to call them (ministry of housing) to tell us whether there is a space where we can put a lift. Then if they approve that there is a possibility, we will have a lift added to this building. This is a commitment from the leadership and we are going to work on that,” said Kumba.
She added: “A policy needs to come out that any new building coming up should consider it the issue of people with disability “
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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