By Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily
Harare, Zimbabwe – The COVID-19 regulations that have been put by the government have apparently taken a huge toll on People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in the southern African country.
Many PLWDs are now bearing the brunt of the current lockdown regulations which have made it difficult for them to trade and move.
This has relatively resulted in many PLWDs having to heavily rely on well wishers and their families for support during this precarious moment.
“People with disabilities are facing more critical challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Already they face marginaliaation in society so as they struggle to make ends meet they can not fully access basic needs since the lockdown only see the physically fit doing pressure in race for everything.
The government has tried in some areas its a great stride they have taken in assisting through food aid but to some disability societies they have not reached yet.
Moreso, very little assistance is forthcoming from the civil society as their source of income also got paralysed due to the lockdown period.
We need urgent intervention in addition of nutrition value to the disability community as they are having serious challenges in aquiring food .
Also as a result of COVID-19 we are experiencing more gender based violence mainly verbal and emotional abuse,” said Loveness Mainato, director of the Albino Association.
