Disabled mothers in Moyo district have tasked the district to explain why health facilities in the district are constructed without catering for the needs and demands of the disabled persons in the district.
They are particularly angry that health centre beds and other facilities in place do not address the need of the disabled mothers.
Terezina Lindrio, a disabled woman in Moyo town council says it is unfair to treat disabled mothers like any other person. Lindrio, a mother of three, says she has had a rough time each time she visited the district hospital for either antenatal care or for delivery. She says the beds are too high and the toilet facilities are not friendly. Lindrio wants the district engineering department to demolish the buildings and other facilities and better ones be constructed.
Josephine Amadriyo, another disabled mother says the situation is unfortunate. She says she has opted to deliver the last two of her children from home instead of suffering in health facilities that do not help them. She says in addition to poor facilities for the disabled mothers, the nurses are abusive.
Amadriyo has singled out nurses at Moyo hospital and Laropi Health as the worst. She says the first time went to deliver at Moyo hospital; she received insensitive treatment from the nurses. She says if conceives again, she will prefer to deliver in a private health facility instead of going to a government hospital.
Amadriyo has also challenged the district leadership to put facilities in place that address the needs of the disabled mothers.
Jane Batiyo, the female councillor for persons with disability in Moyo town council, blames the political leadership for the mess. She says prior to the elections, politicians promise to address the issue of the disabled persons, but disappear after the elections.
Batiyo has challenged the office of LCV to take up the matter seriously and ensure that such facilities are installed in all the health centres.
She also tasked the contractors in the district to design buildings that are friendly to persons with disabilities.
The chairperson for persons with disability, Constant Adriri says most public institutions; apart from primary schools toilets are unfriendly which make the children to face difficulties in accessing them.
He says unless there is political will, nothing can be done to change the situation.
Moyo district LCV Chairperson, Jimmy Vukoni Okudi has committed the district to ensure that user friendly facilities are installed in all public institutions to address the needs and demands of the persons with disabilities.
