MACOHA in need of K40m to train 60 persons with disabilities in vocational skills
Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) has disclosed that it is in need of K40 million to adequately reach out to 60 persons with disabilities who are undergoing various vocational skills training across the country.
The council has since appealed to the public to donate generously towards the cause through this year’s Flag Week activities.
Every year, MACOHA observes a Flag Week with the aim of creating awareness on various disability issues and also to raise funds for its programmes and services.
The 2021 Flag Week was inaugurated by the State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and its proceeds are being channeled towards training of persons with disabilities in vocational skills in Karonga district.
MACOHA public relations officer Harriet Kachimanga said 60 persons with disabilities are being trained in tailoring, carpentry and joinery, welding, bricklaying as well as motorcycle mechanics.
“As MACOHA, we are happy that the Flag Week has started bearing fruits. We hope that with more donations, more persons with disabilities will benefit. This year too, the K40 million we envisage to raise will go towards persons with disabilities in vocational skills and purchasing business start-up tool kits after successful training,” said Kachimanga.
MACOHA is a government agency that was established by an Act of Parliament to provide rehabilitation services to person with disabilities in the areas of health, education, livelihood, social inclusion and empowerment.
Its goal is to facilitate the empowerment of persons with disabilities to enable them to actively participate and integrate in social economic development activities of their communities and the country. MACOHA works in collaboration with other service providers to ensure that persons with disabilities are included in the society since disability is a cross cutting issue.
In a press release shared with Nyasa Times, MACOHA says over the past 50 years, it has made strides in health, education, social inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
It adds that throughout the years, thousands of persons with disabilities have accessed assistive devices.
“Persons with albinism have been provided with sun screen lotion, patients with epilepsy have been provided with epileptic drugs. The Council has also been providing physiotherapy services to persons with physical disabilities and children with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. All these interventions are accomplished with funding from our partners and in are tandem with international legal instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as well as the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi,” reads part of the press release.
As per the tradition, President Chakwera is expected to inaugurate the 2022 Flag Week by buying a flag.
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