The Chamber of Deputies has resolved to summon the Minister of Local Government so that he provides explanations on issues that were identified in the implementation of programmes meant for the welfare of people with disabilities’ development. The summon was announced on Thursday as parliament adopted a report on MPs’ three-week countrywide tour. The tour ran from November 17 to December 04 and intended to assess the implementation of some public projects with a view to be proactive in preventing their mismanagement or public funds misuse. While presenting the report, Edda Mukabagwiza, Deputy Speaker in charge of parliamentary affairs at the Chamber of Deputies said that while visiting the projects intended for the development of people with disabilities, MPs found that some of them were grouped in associations and cooperatives, and some were supported by districts and other partners, as well as given loans to carry out business. However, she said that, among issues observed, people with disabilities’ cooperatives expressed concern that the 5 per cent interest rate on financing (loan) from the National Council for Persons with Disability, was higher compared to 2 per cent charged on loans given to the vulnerable people through the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA). The money loaned to the people with disabilities is channeled through the Umurenge Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs). Also, Mukabagwiza said, there is an issue of children with multiple disabilities, who are unable to study in ordinary schools (classes), and teachers who lack the capacity to teach them because they were not trained, which inhibits their education. Connected to that is a problem of insufficient, and expensive schools for children with autism -- a developmental disability consisting of neurological and developmental disorder, MPs found. Another challenge is that some of the people with disabilities do not get support for treatment including prostheses -- artificial body parts such as used to replace amputated limbs. Again, MPs reported the unavailability of some drugs for people with mental illness in the nearby health facilities, and some expensive medications that are not covered by the community-based health insurance scheme -- Mutuelles de Santé. For the people with skin disability (albinism), Mukabagwiza said, the issue of expensive sunscreen body lotions and creams was observed. Through MPs' observations, she said that it was identified that the youth with disability need to be supported to acquire vocational skills based on the nature of their disabilities. Rwf50,000 stipend for ex-combatants with disabilities needs a review Mukabagwiza said that soldiers who were inflicted disabilities while on the battlefield, exposed an issue that the Rwf50,000 they have been given monthly since 2008, is a small amount compared to the current value of the franc. MP Aimée Sandrine Uwambaje said that given the current prices, “you realise that they (soldiers who suffered disabilities from the frontline) are getting worried.” “That money could help them pay someone to push them in a wheelchair (back in 2008). But, given the current prices, they are unable to afford him/her. Therefore, they want to get supported through increasing the financial assistance,” she said.
