The government is urging the parents of children with disabilities to enrol them in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres as it also works to address the shortage of qualified caregivers and teachers to support their growth, according to Patrice Mugenzi, the Minister of Local Government. The minister said this on March 12 while addressing members of the Parliamentary Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs on issues in the 2023/24 Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) report. Inadequate care for children with disabilities, at just over 6 per cent, is one of the issues highlighted in the report. ALSO READ: Inside govt efforts to ensure inclusive early childhood dev’t for all Mugenzi noted ongoing efforts to improve their care and access to Early Childhood Development centres. One of the key issues is that many parents hesitate to acknowledge that they have children with disabilities. This has made it difficult to provide the necessary support, he said, noting that through a nationwide assessment, authorities identified 561,620 people with disabilities and categorised them accordingly. ALSO READ: ECD experts enlisted to assess autistic children We shared this data with our partners to raise awareness and encourage parents to enrol their children in ECD centres, he explained, and emphasised the role of community health workers and family support groups in assisting these children. We have trained community health workers and family caregivers across the country to ensure children with disabilities receive the care they need and are integrated into ECD programmes. They are children like any other and deserve the same opportunities. He also pointed to efforts to support parents of children with disabilities. We have established parent support groups where they receive training on how to care for their children, including methods to help straighten their limbs. ALSO READ: How Rwanda is faring in special needs education Regarding mobility aids, Mugenzi said that in the 2023/24 fiscal year, partners provided 450 orthoses (external medical supports) and prostheses (artificial limb replacements) to children in need. However, he acknowledged, challenges remain. Not all children who need mobility aids have received them yet. We are currently reviewing and categorising disabilities to ensure those in urgent need are prioritised in the ministry's plans. The minister also emphasised that all newly built ECD centres now follow accessibility regulations to accommodate children with disabilities.
