For the second time in weeks, the hopes of the struggling people with disabilities in Liberia have been raised by the CDC-led government.
In her second meeting with the disabled community in Liberia since the January 22, 2018 inauguration, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has said the CDC-led government takes seriously the plight of physically challenged people in the country.
Coming to power on a “pro-poor agenda” she said she and President George Weah, VP Taylor said the government remains committed to shouldering the responsibilities of disabled people.
But a press release from the VP’s office said “it behooves the heads of disabled organizations in the country to consider collaborating, with the objective of addressing the plights of people with disabilities.”
Liberia’s first elected Vice President convened a meeting with heads of Disabled Organizations recently, when she emphasized the need for collaboration within the disabled community.
VP Howard-Taylor called on leaders of Disabled institutions to change their mindset on the objectives of forming these organizations and focus on the positive impact for all.
In the past according to the VP, these organizations were formed for the purpose of sourcing donor funding, a situation she noted, no longer exist, thus allowing government to fully shoulder such responsibility.
She assured that in fulfillment of this commitment by government, she is considering the employment of female and a male in her office.
The Vice President is quoted as saying that she has no intention to marginalize people with disabilities nor use them to gain popularity.
She then set up a small committee from the heads of Disabled Organization to investigate and submit findings of qualified persons with disabilities for possible employment into government or other sectors.
The VP promised to host another meeting in a week for the purpose of finding a way forward on the plight of people with disabilities.
During the meeting, Ivin jacks, a Liberian journalist now visually impaired, called for the increase in the budgetary allotment of the National Commission on Disability, to help built the capacity of people with disabilities.
Samuel Dean, a Physically Challenged and head of one of the Disabled Organizations, stressed the need for public institutions to consider the accessibility for people with disabilities in the country.
Also speaking was Beyan Korta, head of the Christian Association of the Blind (CAB), who stressed the need for government to consider the inclusion of the disabled, not only at disabled institutions but other institutions without restriction.