Disability in Papua New Guinea
Since the ancient times, people with disabilities have been considered negatively.
Within PNG context, we have an estimated population of approximately 6 and a half million. Almost 85-87% of people live in rural areas and isolated villages with inaccessible terrain, poor communication infrastructure, road networks and transport. This makes access to social services such as health and rehabilitation, mobility equipment, employment and education extremely difficult and limited.
There are no official statistics for the number of people with disabilities but the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15% of the world’s populations have some form of disabilities or impairments. This will be approximately 975,000 people in PNG who are living with some form of disability or impairment. Of this group about 2% or about 19,500 people receive services. This means that the bulk of people with disabilities i.e. the remaining 98%, or 955,500 people, are not receiving any support.
There is distinct lack of knowledge and resources for managing disabilities in some communities, and the cultural and traditional perspectives have a great influence over lives of people with disabilities. People with disabilities are unable to join community life, go to school or work. They are not able or not allowed to leave their homes due to shame, as disability is associated with violations of cultural norms.
Generally, the status of people with disabilities within PNG is extremely low and their voices unheard. The key underlying causes are the attitudes and structures that exist in society that not only negatively affect the health and social well-being of people with disabilities, but limit their opportunities and participation in society. Existing power structures do little to foster the participation, or challenge views that result in the stigmatization and exclusion of people with disabilities in PNG.
Factors such as education and remoteness contributes further to people with disabilities and their communities lacking information on the rights the persons with disabilities have. And as Disabled People Organizations are still basic and not yet strong. Information about disability issues is lacking and there is no institution or agency that is working as an information dissemination centre in the whole of Papua New Guinea.
There is a felt need for more resources and disability advocacy awareness initiatives on disability rights issues in the country thereby increasing the likelihood for person with disability to actively participate in community life and to develop and demonstrate individual capabilities because many people with disabilities need support through empowerment to enable them to express themselves and to stand up for their human rights. NDRAC is therefore established as an effective advocacy and awareness centre, which would help people with disabilities, achieve their potential, reintegrate into society, and find access to facilities and resources while in collaboration with NBDP and PNG Assembly of Disabled People.
Within PNG context, we have an estimated population of approximately 6 and a half million. Almost 85-87% of people live in rural areas and isolated villages with inaccessible terrain, poor communication infrastructure, road networks and transport. This makes access to social services such as health and rehabilitation, mobility equipment, employment and education extremely difficult and limited.
There are no official statistics for the number of people with disabilities but the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 15% of the world’s populations have some form of disabilities or impairments. This will be approximately 975,000 people in PNG who are living with some form of disability or impairment. Of this group about 2% or about 19,500 people receive services. This means that the bulk of people with disabilities i.e. the remaining 98%, or 955,500 people, are not receiving any support.
There is distinct lack of knowledge and resources for managing disabilities in some communities, and the cultural and traditional perspectives have a great influence over lives of people with disabilities. People with disabilities are unable to join community life, go to school or work. They are not able or not allowed to leave their homes due to shame, as disability is associated with violations of cultural norms.
Generally, the status of people with disabilities within PNG is extremely low and their voices unheard. The key underlying causes are the attitudes and structures that exist in society that not only negatively affect the health and social well-being of people with disabilities, but limit their opportunities and participation in society. Existing power structures do little to foster the participation, or challenge views that result in the stigmatization and exclusion of people with disabilities in PNG.
Factors such as education and remoteness contributes further to people with disabilities and their communities lacking information on the rights the persons with disabilities have. And as Disabled People Organizations are still basic and not yet strong. Information about disability issues is lacking and there is no institution or agency that is working as an information dissemination centre in the whole of Papua New Guinea.
There is a felt need for more resources and disability advocacy awareness initiatives on disability rights issues in the country thereby increasing the likelihood for person with disability to actively participate in community life and to develop and demonstrate individual capabilities because many people with disabilities need support through empowerment to enable them to express themselves and to stand up for their human rights. NDRAC is therefore established as an effective advocacy and awareness centre, which would help people with disabilities, achieve their potential, reintegrate into society, and find access to facilities and resources while in collaboration with NBDP and PNG Assembly of Disabled People.