Today, Sunday, I have been reflecting on the overall situation regarding people suffering some degree of disability in the Solomon Islands, on their needs, welfare, attitudes to disability and their attainment of social integration and social equality.
A few months ago a series of well written articles by Irwin Angika of the Island Sun newspaper shone some light on how local people with disabilities were coping and struggling in their lives.
There were images featured of elderly people finding it hard going walking up steep terrain to their homes, others with blindness and those incapacitated and confined to wheelchairs.
The disabled were getting on with their lives as best they could and generally cheerful although not fully coping.
I believe the numbers of people with some degree of disability numbers ia close to 40,000 and it has been said the deaf community are considered the most wanting and claim to have been neglected.
The Prime Minister has most recently told us about plans afoot for inclusive development for the country and I’m sure all will welcome the news, but my concern moving ahead will be for the “inclusive development,” closer integration and social equality of PWDS at home.
The Solomon Islands does not have a formal national social security system to adequately support PWD’s, family members, often caregivers, who may themselves need assistance coping with looking after PWDs.
The population of the Solomon Islands is believed to be 700,000 and growing each year.
Disability will become more a natural part of the human condition due to the population increasing, ageing, the increase of chronic diseases, and medical advances that preserve and prolong life. In such circumstances, I very much hope to learn of the government’s inclusive development plans to incorporate some form of social security support and material help for the PWDs and their care givers.
The wantok systems which traditionally gives support cannot continue to sustain the disabled people and COVID-19 is evidence of how people are struggling to get by on little income.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
