Kaliati warns against discriminating physically challenged children in Malawi

Malawi government has warned that it will pounce on any parent who discriminates physically challenged children.

The warning was issued on Tuesday by Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati when she visited beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer Scheme in Chitipa East Constituency.

Kaliati expressed concern that some parents who are ashamed of their disabled children ill-treat them.

Said Kaliati: “We are aware that some parents with physically challenged children are discriminating them. We warn you to stop mistreating the children”

Beside denying them education, some parents in Chitipa go an extra mile to lock up their disabled children when they want to go for other social assignments.

But Kaliati warned that government will prosecute any parent or guardian found beating or chaining the children to the pole and denying them access to education.

She , however, expressed happiness that Chitipa District Council gives priority to people with disabilities when distributing resources under safety nets programmes.

District community services officer for Chitipa Haji Mvula said currently, out of 37 651 beneficiary households, 1 160 are households headed by physically challenged people.

Chief Mwenemisuku and member of Parliament for Chitipa East, Chizamsoka Mulwafu commended government for implementing programmes that promote the welfare of people of the district.