Disability in Lesotho
Magnitude of Disability in LesothoDisabled people in Lesotho are among the most marginalized and disadvantaged groups in the country. They
are often forced to be dependent on relatives or other care-takers. According to the Lesotho Demographic Survey (2001), 4.2% of the population has some form of disability and about one-third of these are children under 15 years. However, due to unreliable data these statistics do not objectively present the situation, magnitude and prevalence of disability in Lesotho. Challenges Faced by People with DisabilityEducation
The current education system does not cater for the needs of disabled people. School infrastructure is often not accessible to people with physical and visual impairments, for instance classrooms may still be accessed via stairs rather than ramps. The medium of communication used in schools may exclude deaf and visually impaired learners due to a lack of teachers with Braille and Sign Language skills. However, the most important barrier for disabled learners is the discriminatory attitudes within their local communities and the education sector, which lead many disabled learners to drop out of school and miss out on formal education. Read a real life story Employment Factors such as limited access to formal education and discrimination amongst employers in a country with a very high unemployment rate mean that people with disability find it extremely difficult to obtain employment, particularly in skilled or professional fields. As there is little social protection for people with disability, LNFOD estimates that more than 65% of disabled people depend on their immediate families and neighbours for their daily livelihoods. This is despite the fact that the majority (more than 60%) are able to engage in daily activities without assistance. Read a real life story Health Access to health services is one of the most important factors in a person’s life. Those living in remote areas of Lesotho have to travel long distances to reach a health service, often by foot over rugged terrain due to the lack of, or high cost of, public transport and taxis. For disabled people, accessing health services is an even greater struggle, sometimes involving transportation by ox-cart. Lesotho lacks trained healthcare professionals to adequetely diagnose and prescribe disability management treatments, meaning that many individuals have conditions which are made worse by inappropriate care. Due to the rugged terrain and lack of safe pedestrian infrastructure, wheelchair access is made especially difficult. There are few local wheelchair production facilities and ones donated internationally are often inappropriate for the local environment. Read a real life story |