Stakeholders drawn from various institutions, organisations and agencies in the country on Wednesday brainstormed on the draft integrated national disability policy document 2009-2018 at the Paradise Suites Hotel during a day's validation forum organised by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The policy document, which is said to be the first of its kind, aims at promoting equal opportunities for enhanced empowerment, participation and protection of the rights of the persons with disabilities irrespective of gender, age and type of disability. This is in recognition of the fact that persons with disabilities can perform to their full potential under the same conditions and opportunities irrespective of their social, economic or cultural background.

Prominent among the objective of the policy document, which is said to be at its final stage of validation, is to advocate for a conducive environment for the participation of persons with disabilities in sports and recreational activities, inclusive education and training rehabilitation, health care services as well as employment. It also seeks to ensure that resources for initiatives that target persons with disabilities and care givers are mobilised and effectively utilised, as well as to promote timely access to information for persons with disabilities using all forms of communication.
 
Officially opening the validation forum on behalf of the minister for Health and Social Welfare, Alhagie Saikou Jammeh, the acting permanent secretary at the same ministry, observed that over the years, there has been a policy vacuum in the area of disability. As a result of their partnership with the Gambia Federation of Disabled, and the Voluntary Service Overseas, this policy vacuum is now being addressed.

Acting Permanent Secretary Jammeh reminded the participants that the validation is the final one, and implored them to contribute meaningfully so as to enhance the credibility of the national policy document. Speaking earlier, Fanta Bai Secka, director of Social Welfare, said the meeting is important for the government of The Gambia, as it is the first time in the history of the country that they are putting in place a policy for persons with disabilities. She urged the participants to critically look at the document and provide the technical input with a view to finalising a policy document that will go a long way in addressing the welfare of persons with disabilities.

She noted that the document will help them as a department to put in place necessary structures and program of activities that will address the welfare of persons with disabilities, and protecting their human rights. For his part, Muhammed Korah, president of the Gambia Federation of Disabled, delved into the important role of the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in the policy document. He told the forum that the VSO has been the non-governmental organisation that engages in disability programs. The GFD president commended the government and the VSO for their continuous assistance to persons with disabilities.

Haddy Lamin Njie, the country director of the Voluntary Service Oversea, said her organisation felt honoured in contributing to the first national draft policy on disability, maintaining that the said policy is in line with the VSO's global aim to support persons with disabilities. The need to include persons with disabilities and active participants in all spheres of national development, according to the VSO country director, is more significant now than ever. Expressing hope to see the adoption of the policy, the VSO country director hailed the government for their stance in addressing the issues affecting persons with disabilities.