The follow post was submitted by POA Online Volunteer Cassandra Chin.

In celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities earlier this month, an official from Central Equatoria stepped forward to support people with disabilities in Sudan.   Deputy Governor and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Central Equatoria state Manase Lomule Waya donated 15,000 pounds sterling in the Southern Sudanese capitla of Juba. The donation is to be shared among three groups: the physically disabled, deaf and blind; each getting 5000 pounds.

Under the theme of “Disability is not Inability,” Waya emphasized justice and equality amongnst those with disabilities and those who don’t; everyone deserves to be treated with love and respect. This also includes training in all fields in order to enable them to become self-supporting rather than left to go around and beg.

During the commemoration, organizing chairman Cornelio Wani Lado asked the Government of Southern Sudan and the state government to allocate five per cent of all job positions to persons with disabilities. Lado also urged provision of wheelchairs and hearing devicess, as well as easing restrictions on freedom of expression and opinion.