Matabeleland South persons with disabilities in harsh water accessibility
Matabeleland South persons with disabilities in harsh water accessibility
September 1, 2023
Choice News Africa Correspondent
Gwanda – Thousands of persons with disabilities in and around Gwanda district, are facing acute water shortages, with some having to walk long distances to look for the most precious need, because a person’s life is defined by water.
Nkomwa Foundation Trust, an organisation founded by Pick and with limited resources, is fighting tooth and nail to provide community based approach intervention to marginalised communities in the disability section.
NFT founder loading buckets of water for his vulnerable villagers. Choice News Africa
Their recently visits to the remote areas, realised the acute shortage of both water for drinking and other basic necessities that persons with disabilities are not basically affording.
NFT has embarked on home visitation to project participants, providing psycho social support.
NFT team is now spending much of the time assisting persons with disabilities in accessing water in Gwanda rural wards, from their limited resources that need a generous hand, to up their gear in helping their disability community, who are in dire needy.
Persons with disabilities continue to be denied the right to water. The issue of unavailability of water is a very serious issue that has negatively affected the lives of people with disabilities in Gwanda and surrounding areas.
NFT team upon realising the needy of the vulnerable persons with disabilities, took it upon themselves to assist Christabel Siziba and Doubt Ndlovu with physical and intellectual disabilities respectively. The water point is located about 7 km from their homes, a prohibitive distance for a person with disability to get water.
Caregiving for persons with disabilities often depress family members, as they experience burnout or even hopelessness. These trauma factors have a negative effect on the overall psycho-emotional health of persons with disabilities. In such instances, social support can act as a moderator, or a buffer, between stress and health.
Inclusive water systems for persons with disabilities are integral for achieving sustainable development goals.
According to Pick Nkomwa, NFT founder, people with disabilities face difficulties collecting water due to the distance they travel to the water pump.
Heavy pump handles and water containers, is one of the biggest challenges because of the condition of the disability.
Christabel Siziba express gratitude to NFT team for the relief and assistance, “Ngiyabonga khakhulu lingadinwa kusasa ngokungivakatshela.”
Doubt Ndlovu’s mother Lizzy Sithole, appreciated the love presented by NFT team. “Asazi singalibonga ngani, sikhulekhela kuJehovah alibusise ngomusebenzi wenu”
The NFT team leader Pick Nkomwa also said that the situation on persons with disabilities, in remote areas was just an iceberg, because persons with disabilities endure hard times on daily basis.
“People with disabilities may not be poorer if access to water is resolved at the household level, but may be poorer due to lack of access of basic necessities within their households. Programmatic work is needed to ensure WASH facilities are inclusive to people with disabilities. Accessible amenities, water storage facilities and inclusive policies can boost progress.” Added Nkomwa.