Professor Augustina Naami, an Associate Professor of disability and social work at the University of Ghana has urged Ghanaians to support mothers of persons with disabilities to thrive due to the peculiar challenges associated with nurturing children with disabilities.
“Mothers of children with disabilities and mothers with disabilities face challenges that limit them in many ways including parenting. Many women in these categories even struggle to work and earn a living,” she said
She also suggested that resource centres for mothers with disabilities should be established to bring women with disability together, facilitate their inclusion in leadership and in the policy space.
Prof, Naami made the call when she chaired a Mother’s Day event organised by the Voices of Women and Children with Disabilities in Ghana (VOWAC, Ghana) to honour the strength, resilience, and courage of women with disabilities and caregivers of children with disabilities
She called on the government to speed up the re-enactment of the Persons with Disability law as well as ratify the African Disability Protocol
Mr Edwin Andoh, Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities, paid glowing tributes to mothers with disabilities and caregivers of persons with disabilities, saying, Mother’s Day celebrations should go beyond just celebrating mothers to putting in policies and structures that supported mothers with disabilities and caregivers of children with disabilities
Mr Andoh reiterated the call for a collective effort, especially in supporting mothers of children with disabilities.
Ms Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson who represented the Vice President of Ghana and the Minister of Gender, said the event was not only to celebrate mothers with disabilities and caregivers of children with disabilities but a call to action as well.
She said the government recognised the important role caregivers played within our society and the broader care economy.
Government she said would continue to engage stakeholders on measures that promote caregiver support services, mental health and psychosocial support, community-based care systems and public awareness on shared caregiving responsibilities.
Ms Muslim reiterated Government’s commitment to pursuing key measures aimed at improving inclusion, protection and accessibility and added that the celebration wasalso a reminder that every mother deserved dignity, equalopportunity, and the necessary support to care for herself, her family and her community without barriers or discrimination.
Ms. Christiana Nkrumah, Board Secretary of VOWAC Ghana, noted that disability should never be a barrier to parenting, leadership, care, dignity, or participation in society.
She called on policymakers, service providers, civil society organisations, development partners, families, and communities to work collectively toward creating an inclusive Ghana where mothers with disabilities and caregivers receive the support, respect, protection, and opportunities they deserve.
About 30 Mothers with disabilities and caregivers of persons with disabilities were honoured for defying the odds in motherhood
Source: GNA
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