Government has assured persons with disabilities of the utmost support to uplift their welfare, especially during humanitarian crises.

Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Permanent Secretary, Ms. Angela Kawandami has observed that persons with disabilities are the most affected during crises such as the current drought emergency which the country is experiencing.

Ms. Kawandami was speaking when she, and Cabinet Office Permeant Secretary Special Duties, Mr Kennedy Kalunga, met with the Persons with Disabilities Networking group from Muchinga Province led by its chairperson, Mr Godwin Mubanga, to discuss wide-ranging issues affecting them.

Issues of socioeconomic inclusion in areas of education, health, agriculture, and education among others, were discussed, with government assuring to strengthen the already existing systems to promote efficiency and effectiveness in addressing the plight of persons with disabilities.

Ms. Kawandami further disclosed that in collaboration and consultation with the Ministry of Education, government is looking at possible ways of ensuring learners with disabilities are prioritized in line with their request for a cash allowance for learners with disabilities.

And Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary Special Duties, Mr. Kennedy Kalunga, said through a one-government approach, persons with disabilities will be incorporated in various socioeconomic sectors for them to equally contribute to national development, adding that the New Dawn administration is leaving no one behind.

Meanwhile, Persons with Disabilities Networking Chairperson Mr. Godwin Mubanga appreciated government’s commitment to issues of persons with disabilities and hoped that the discussions would yield more positive results and uplift their welfare.