General News
Myanmar attaches importance to rehabilitation of disabled persons
YANGON, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar attaches importance to the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and has been carrying out community-based rehabilitation (CBR) work widely highlighting the disabled persons to ensure their equal rights and active participation in the society.
Myanmar stressed on Thursday's ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities the need to introduce more CBR program for the entire community including that of the disabled persons.
Accordingly, Myanmar's Department of Social Welfare, in cooperation with the Leprosy Mission International, is making efforts to develop the country's plan of action on the disabled persons and the disability survey has been conducted at 108,000 households in 120 townships across the country.
The persons with disabilities are taking leading role in organizations to implement measures for the interest of themselves, handling their own affairs.
Instances show that Myanmar's Physically Handicapped Association is producing wheel chairs and supportive equipment for he disabled.
Loans are given to the disabled persons to run their own businesses and training on agriculture, livestock breeding and domestic science, according to the social welfare department.
With the concerted efforts of the deaf persons from the Mandalay Deaf School, Yangon Mary Chapman Deaf School, Mandalay and Yangon Deaf Clubs, Myanmar Sign Language Dictionary was developed in 2007 and then Myanmar Sign Language Basic Conversation Book was also developed this year.
The introduction of the standardized Myanmar sign language book, ompiled in line with Myanmar culture and tradition, marked a mile-stone of enhancing the life of Myanmar deaf persons.
Thanks to the implementation of inclusive education and the efforts of students from various disabled schools, 13 students passed the 2005 matriculation examination, seven passed the 2007 one, five students passed the 2008's and three others passed this year's. They have been provided with help for their higher education.
Moreover, the Myanmar Disabled Sports Federation is also nurturing people with disabilities to take part in not only local and regional sports and games but also the international ones.
Every year, the federation holds national sports and games for them, making more efforts to turn out outstanding disabled athletes.
The Myanmar ministry of social welfare has called for development of the community-based rehabilitation by realizing that disability issue is concerned with the entire society with the concept of social development and building of barrier-free facilities for the disabled persons to actively take part in the nation-building tasks.
The ministry also called for working together towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), laid down by the United Nations, by providing empowerment of the disabled persons in line with the theme of this year - "Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities round the world."
While the U.N. adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006 which covers civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights of the disabled, Myanmar's 2008 new state constitution states in its section-32 that the union shall care for the disabled.
Additional Information
Country: Myanmar
Website: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/04/content_12587670.htm
Email: N/A
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Source: Email from: MORI, Soya
When: 17/12/2009
