Former Speaker of the National Assembly and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Dr Tulia Ackson, has urged communities to report children with disabilities who are unable to attend school due to a lack of wheelchairs and other assistive devices, saying timely information is key to ensuring support reaches those most in need.
Speaking in Mbeya on August 6 during the distribution of 14 wheelchairs to people with disabilities, including children, Dr Tulia said many vulnerable individuals remain unreached because local leaders and support organisations lack accurate data on their circumstances.
She called on residents to inform street chairpersons, executive officers and other local leaders whenever they identify a person with a disability in need of assistance.
“One of the biggest challenges is the lack of information. Local leaders should know the people with disabilities living in their areas so that when support becomes available, it reaches the intended beneficiaries without delay,” she said.
Dr Tulia noted that some parents caring for children with severe disabilities are often overwhelmed by the demands of daily care and may not be in a position to actively seek assistance.
She said local government leaders should maintain updated records of people with disabilities instead of waiting to identify beneficiaries after aid programmes have already been launched.
According to her, some children are forced to rely on family members to carry them to school every day because they do not have mobility equipment.
“There could be a child among those receiving wheelchairs today who has been carried to school daily by a parent. As the child grows, that becomes increasingly difficult. If we identify such cases early, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to access education,” she said.
Dr Tulia also encouraged members of the public to work closely with local authorities by reporting cases of people with disabilities requiring support so that the information can be forwarded to relevant institutions.
One of the beneficiaries’ parents, Ms Alinksya Mbembela, said her nine-year-old son, Elisha Mbembela, developed disabilities affecting his head, arms and legs following complications during pregnancy.
She said the child is unable to walk or sit independently, forcing her to carry him on her back for much of the day.
“Sometimes I have to lay him down when I become too tired because he depends on me for almost everything,” she said.
Ms Mbembela also said the child’s father has not been involved in raising him.
Meanwhile, Haruna Kasare, who spoke on behalf of the Director of the Tulia Trust Foundation, said 14 people with disabilities had been identified to receive wheelchairs, including seven children.
He said the foundation continues to face difficulties identifying all those in need due to inadequate information from local leaders, a challenge that often delays the delivery of support to deserving beneficiaries.
Mr Kasare said strengthening cooperation between communities and local authorities would help ensure that assistive devices and other services reach people with disabilities more effectively, particularly children whose access to education is limited by mobility challenges.