Government through the Ministry Of Community Development and Social Services says it is working tirelessly to address the challenges of accessing assistive devices for persons with disabilities.

The 2015 National Disability Survey indicates that only 16.5% of persons with disabilities have access to assistive devices in the country, which Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ms. Angela Kawandami has assured that the government is expeditiously working to bridge that gap.

The government has since partnered with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), to provide over 450 assorted assistive devices worth over K2.5 Million.

Ms Kawandami acknowledged that the high cost of buying assistive devices, coupled with inadequate quality assistive devices and inadequate skilled training on the assessment, assembling and prescription of the specific assistive device for a particular disability type have posed significant challenges.

She was speaking when she closed a training of occupational therapists on wheelchair management, following the arrival of the assistive devices in the country, and expressed optimism that these challenges with be addressed through this strategic partnership with the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints as well as through UNICEF support and commitment to disability mainstreaming.

And head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mr. Blessings Mushala, said the church anticipates continued support through additional training and donations to foster a positive impact on persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Disability Inclusion Program Specialist, Mr. Alick Nyirenda said access to assistive technology is a human right and a precondition for equal opportunities and therefore requires a decentralized approach to identification, screening, assessment and distribution of appropriate assistive devices.