(SUNDIATA POST)-The year 2023 took an unexpected turn for Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organisation (WHO) when she lost her left eye due to brain tumour.
On that day in a bustling street in Johannesburg, the South African capital, Moeti said she suddenly became a maze of confusion as signposts blurred into obscurity.
What started as a routine visit to an ophthalmologist for what seemed like early cataracts turned into a life-altering revelation – a misdiagnosis that would forever change her perspective about disability.
Reflecting on the moment she realised something was gravely wrong, Moeti said, “I was driving, getting lost because I couldn’t read the street names.
“This is worse than my short-sightedness, I thought to myself, as panic began to set in.
“Upon revisiting my ophthalmologist, my concerns were met with urgency. An MRI confirmed the presence of a mini-tumor, a silent intruder disrupting my life in ways I never imagined,” she said.
She shared her experience with journalists covering the WomenLift Health Global Conference 2024, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Embracing her new reality, Moeti found solace and purpose in connecting with some other people facing similar struggles.
“As an advocate for disability rights, my focus will be on raising awareness, advocating policy integration, and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities.
“I envision myself engaging in vigorous advocacy efforts, speaking out, and actively working to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are not overlooked.
“It is crucial to recognise that women with disabilities often face compounded challenges as they balance multiple roles within their families and strive to pursue career advancement.
“Addressing these disparities requires a concerted effort to prioritise gender equity and inclusivity in policy-making and leadership positions,” she said.
According to her, while communicable diseases have dominated the healthcare agenda in Africa non-communicable diseases, including disabilities, demand greater attention and action.
She expressed her commitment to contributing her quota towards efforts to tackle the issue head-on, in spite of uncertainties and challenges.
“Although I may feel apprehensive about the road ahead, I am determined to learn and contribute to creating policies that ensure equitable opportunities for people with disabilities,” she said.
“These include advocating for inclusive policies, adequate funding, and representation at all levels of governance on the continent, ” she said.
According to UN, there are over 600 million people living with disabilities world wide. Out of this figure, 400 million are in developing countries while 80 million are in Africa.
Persons with disabilities face various challenges including education and lack of access to facilities that will make their lives better.
“People with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to deficiencies in health care services.
“Depending on the group and setting, persons with disabilities may experience greater vulnerability to secondary conditions, co-morbid conditions, age-related conditions, engaging in health risk behaviours and higher rates of premature death’’, says WHO.
Through her resilience and unwavering spirit, Moeti has successfully initiated, programmes and policies that have improved the lives of people with disabilities.
They include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a comprehensive civil rights law in the US prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities, leading to increased accessibility and inclusion.
There is also the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), an international treaty promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities worldwide.
Similarly, notable figures such as Judith Heumann, a disability rights activist from the U.Shave played significant roles in advancing disability rights globally.
In Asia, countries like Japan have implemented laws such as the Act for Eliminating Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Additionally, the Asian Network of People with Disabilities has been instrumental in advocating for disability rights and inclusion in the region.
In Latin America, the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities has been a key instrument in promoting the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Notable figures such as Catalina Devandas, the first UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, have worked to advance disability rights in the region.
The disability rights movement in Africa has seen significant progress over the years, with key milestones.
These include the adoption of the African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018.
This protocol aims to promote and protect the rights of individuals with disabilities across the continent.
Legislation such as the Disability Act in Nigeria and the Persons with Disabilities Act in Kenya are important steps towards advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities in those countries.
Notable figures in the African disability rights movement include Maleni Chide, a disability rights activist from Zimbabwe, and Alhassan Nuhu, a disability rights advocate from Ghana.
In spite of these advancements, challenges such as stigma, discrimination, and lack of access to education and employment opportunities still exist for individuals with disabilities in Africa.
Mrs Lois Auta-Udonkanta, President Network of Women with Disabilities, highlighted the compounded discrimination faced by people of colour with disabilities.
According to her, they suffer systemic racism and ableism, leading to disparities in access to healthcare, education, employment, and social services.
Auta-Udonkanta also emphasised the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women and gender minorities with disabilities, who may experience higher rates of violence, limited reproductive rights, and barriers to healthcare.
According to her, individuals with disabilities may face challenges related to stigma, discrimination, and limited access to inclusive healthcare and support services.
She said that they also faced barriers to education and employment opportunities, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ms Susan Attigah, Executive Director, Disability Rights, Ghana, underscored the importance of developments in assistive technologies and accessibility features in enhancing the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities.
Attigah also highlighted the need for strengthening and enforcing disability rights legislation, adopting new policies, and promoting collaboration among advocates to address systemic barriers and promote inclusion, among others.
In spite of facing other societal challenges and discrimination, individuals with disabilities exemplify the power of resilience in overcoming obstacles and advocating for inclusion and equal opportunities.
It is important that disability advocacy is being championed by persons with disabilities. No person knows where the shoe pinches better than the person wearing it.
However, it is the responsibility of all and sundry to ensure that the best atmosphere is provided for persons with disability to hit their maximum potential.
Advocacy for persons with disabilities has enormous benefit to humanity.
“Advocacy can help change societal attitudes and increase awareness about disability issues, leading to more access to education, employment, and community participation.
“People with disabilities who advocate for themselves or others can effect change that will benefit their community and society as a whole’’, says an advocacy report.
The global recognition of disability as a multifaceted issue by organisations like the WHO highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the rights and healthcare needs of persons with disabilities.
Moreover, with initiatives such as the African Disability Protocol gaining momentum, there is hope for transformative change in Africa’s approach to disability rights.
Advocacy efforts should emphasise education, and inclusive policy-making as essential steps towards building a more equitable and inclusive society for all.
Africa’s policy makers and implementers should deliver on the African Disability Protocol which seeks to ensure that no one is truly left behind. (NANFeatures)
