LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-People with disability are still having challenges in accessing financial support from several institutions as they are looked down upon, Disability Independent Living Center has disclosed.
Director for Disability Independent Living Center, Juliana Mabangwe disclosed this on Thursday, January 18, 2024, in Lilongwe during a women with disabilities advocacy meeting on access to disability trust fund.
Mabangwe said the meeting meant to reach many women with disabilities including mothers drawn from across the country.
The meeting also aimed at encouraging them on the importance of utilising the Trust Fund, “As they are mostly discriminated against when accessing loans in other lending institutions”.
She said there is a lot of stigma among persons with disability and the trust fund will play a role in uprighting the lives of persons with disability, especially women.
“We encourage persons with disability to apply for the loans as it is very accessible to them compared to other organizations where they are discriminated,” said Mabangwe.
In her remarks, Principal Disability Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Mayamiko Malembo said since 2020 close to 2000 persons with disability have access the funds as the 2022-2023 financial year allocates MK142 million.
Malembo said the 2023 -2024 financial year the disability trust fund has been allocated MK200 million.
She therefore said the disability trust is expected to be officially launched next month.
