NGO WASH Forum Advocates Equal Access To Safe, Inclusive Water, Sanitation And Hygiene
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Zambia NGO WASH
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Mongu, Saturday (December 7, 2024)
MEDIA STATEMENT
The NGO WASH Forum joined other stakeholders in participating in this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated under the theme “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities and Sustainable Future”, which took place in Mongu on the 3rd of December.
The NGO WASH Forum underscores its “unwavering commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to safe and inclusive water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
“We firmly believe that persons with disabilities must be active participants and leaders in shaping WASH policies and programs that affect their lives. Their lived experiences and unique perspectives are crucial in designing sustainable and equitable WASH solutions for all,” NGO WASH Forum National Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe said.
At the event, Western Province Permanent Secretary Akapelwa Simomo conveyed the works of President Hakainde Hichilema that stressed the need for mainstreaming and inclusion of disability in national policies and strategies for sustainable development and ensuring accessibility in public buildings through Cabinet Circular No. 30 of 2024.
He said the prevalence of disability in Zambia is estimated at 7.7% of the total population, translating into approximately 2 million people.
The Head of State pointed out that the majority of these people still experience stigma and discrimination, especially when accessing public services, preventing them from fully participating on an equal basis with others.
Mr. Hichilema mentioned various strategies and interventions, such as the Constituency Development Fund, which has increased since 2022, and social protection interventions like the emergency cash transfer program, which saw significant increases in beneficiary households with persons with disabilities in 2023 and 2024.
Earlier, Zambia Agency for Persons With Disabilities (ZAPD) Director General Franckson Musukwa highlighted the importance of empowering persons with disabilities to take on leadership roles and actively participate in shaping policies and practices that affect their lives.
He mentioned that the theme aligned with the broader goals of the 20th-Century Agenda for Sustainable Development and the upcoming 2025 World Summit for Social Development.
Dr. Musukwa reminded everyone that this year’s observance served as a reminder to work towards breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and creating a world where persons with disabilities could fully participate on an equal basis with others.
He said President Hichilema has already addressed 14 out of 17 requests, with the remaining ones in the process.
Dr. Musukwa expressed gratitude to all partners, including the United Nations, Zambia NGO WASH Forum, Restart Blind Mission, Sight Savers, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for their assistive devices to support mobility.
Meanwhile, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission and Chair of the UN Leave No One Behind Theme Group Keisha Livermore, representing UN Resident Coordinator in Zambia Ms. Beatrice Mutali, remarked that the UN is supporting the government of Zambia in developing accessibility standards for infrastructure.
She highlighted the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing various services and mentioned the collaboration with the government on the Social Protection Phase Two program and the development of the National Disability Process Policy.
The NGO WASH Forum Secretariat joined and attended the IDPWD celebrations through the support of the Water Voices United Project.
The Water Voices United is a transformative four-year project, co-funded by the European Union and Danish People’s Aid and spearheaded by SNV in partnership with the NGO WASH Forum. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities and synergies among WASH Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Zambia.
By fostering the CSOs role in WASH governance, the project supports the Zambian Government’s efforts towards the progressive realization of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation.
Together, we are not just aiming for change; we’re ensuring a sustainable and equitable future where access to clean water and safe sanitation becomes a reality for all.
This is contained in a statement issued by Zambia NGO WASH Forum National Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe-Mumba.
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