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focus ON DISABILITY: The Rehabilitation Model

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:36:16 GMT

Monday, October 27, 2008

In many ways it was the consequences of the two world wars that led to the development of this new approach that put emphasis on repair of functional repairments. According to the re/habilitation model, the main problem was the impairment of the individual, and his/her lack of skills.

Therefore, the main aims of re/habilitation were to be attained through the development or recovery of functional skills (e.g. activities of the daily living) and employment (productivity). Because the problem resides in the individual, the key to resolving the problem is through professional intervention such as physician, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation counsellors, psychologists, social workers, etc. In this model, the social role of an individual with disability is that of patient or client. The focus of the control always lies with the professionals, typically by a physician.

Therefore, the re/habilitation model is a medical-industrial model with a therapeutic and recuperations technology that transcends the traditional paradigm by seeking to change the prospects of the persons with disabilities. It is a consequent application of the industrialist and positivist ideology, and as a result the approach takes the persons with disabilities as an object of study. In line with the ideology of industrialization of society, people are evaluated with the framework of “useful-unuseful, or able-unable”.

The ideology from the medical rehabilitation, which is the core of the paradigm, was established during the Second World War by rush, and is still maintained. It is a philosophy of medical responsibility, striving towards the goals of individual restoration and optimal level of self-care and functional performance. The following quotation from Spanish legislation is evidence of the emphasis on the individual repair –“all have the right to correct or modify his/her state” (when this is an obstacle to be integrated into society).

In many ways, the re/habilitation model represents a major step forward, and has led to improve life for many people. It has inspired the invention of many different forms of equipment and techniques, and thereby contributing to the productivity of people who would otherwise have been institutionalised or would languish in the old convalescence systems.

However, it is important to realise that much of re/habilitational work is still perform by professionals who “know best” what the needs of persons with disabilities are. These attitudes are typically linked to professional interest that over shadow the interest and preferences of the individuals. For example, the interest of the special teachers to remain in the institutions; and the learning of the skills that are needed in non-segregated society, amongst other things.

Author: DO

LIBERIA: Would you fight again?

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:43:51 GMT

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Female ex-combatants are twice as likely as men to take up weapons again to escape poverty, based on a recent US-funded survey of more than 1,000 former fighters in Liberia. Almost 30 percent of the people surveyed said they were willing to take up arms again to earn a living wage, family and community acceptance, and respect for their tribe or religion.

Researchers concluded that ex-fighters at risk of returning to violence can destabilise a country still recovering from war.

Surveyors with the US-based non-profit CHF International, formerly known as Cooperative Housing Foundation, focused mostly on former fighters in rural Lofa county. The former seat of recruitment for both government and rebel forces and current home to many of Liberia’s former fighters is 65km northeast of the capital Monrovia.

Ex-combatants answered the following questions, among others, for the US Institute of Peace-funded study, released in September 2008: “Is life better now than before the war?” and “What events might make you decide to fight again?”

Mary Die Die

Mary Tarweh told IRIN she joined the government’s Liberian Armed Forces (AFL) in May 1988, when she was 24 years old, and that she came to be known as “Mary Die Die” for her fearlessness in combat during both phases of Liberia’s civil war.

Now, the 38-year-old mother of three said she is “likely” to fight again to support her three children, if economically things do not improve: “If the suffering persists and there is no sign of hope and people laugh at [mock] me, then it is likely that I can accept.”

One-third of those surveyed by CHF International said both the army and rebels had promised them cash, education or jobs for fighting during the civil war. Among these 312 respondents, 19 percent said they would be willing to fight again.

Tarweh told IRIN things have become progressively more difficult for her since rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy forces killed her children’s father in 2001: “Although my current husband sometimes helps, he does not have a better [decent] paying job to meet all the family’s needs.”

She said her small business is not enough to feed her family, and she is looking for different ways to earn more money: “When someone approaches you and says, ‘I have a mission and I will give you US$15,000 or more. Here is at least US$10,000 of that amount let us go and fight,’ you could be moved by that,” Tarweh said.

Tens of thousands of Liberian fighters were registered with UN-led demobilisation, disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) programmes at the end of both waves of fighting in 1997 and in 2003. But a civil war in next-door Côte d’Ivoire that broke out in 2002, and deadly government protests in neighbouring Guinea, most recently in 2007, have presented restive Liberian ex-fighters nearby opportunities to make a living through violence.

DDRR

The study’s authors concluded past DDRR programmes did not focus adequately on post-war trauma.

Tarweh said she has only a faint memory of trauma counseling. “I can remember when I was in the DDRR camps, counseling was provided [to] us for only five days. I do not think this is enough because some of us face physical and mental trauma.”

The authors noted that economic integration tends to train fighters for a market that does not have enough jobs. “Most rehabilitation and reintegration programming places immediate emphasis on skills training and only secondary emphasis on job creation,” CHF International wrote. “This order of operations is intuitive, but perhaps misguided…a push for immediate, state-supported job creation may be the best way to reduce the risk of impoverished, idle ex-combatants slipping back into violence.”

Tarweh said she briefly participated in both DDRR programmes’ skills training classes in tourism and typing. She dropped out of both before completion, discouraged with the low prospects of unemployment.

The World Bank has estimated Liberia’s unemployment rate to be as high as 70 percent, which government officials have disputed.

Tarweh told IRIN regardless of how many people are poor in Liberia, there are former fighters who are ready to resort to violence for the right price. “Money can convince people especially when [they] are not employed and the suffering is too much.”

IRIN

Mandina Lamin Kanteh on tesito work

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:02:38 GMT

Friday, October 17, 2008

The community of Madina Lamin Kanteh in Niani District, CRR North, on Saturday, October 11, embarked on Tesito rehabilitation of a two kilometer road. The road links them with many villages around the area.

The deputy governor of the region, Lamin Darboe, thanked them for their good work, noting that patriotic citizens always participate in national development. He urged them to further strengthen their unity and cooperation without which they cannot achieve development. He said the government cannot do everything alone, so patriotic citizens should come up and help.

The Seyfo of the district, Pierre Bah, spoke on the importance of communal work, noting that communal work is part of our traditional and cultural values and urged them to strengthen it for the betterment of the district. He called on the community of the village to strengthen their unflinching support for President Jammeh.

The Alkalo of the village, Faburama Kanteh, commended the Kuntaur Area Council for providing them with fuel and appealed for more in order to complete the work. He hailed the efforts of the village youths for their hard work and dedication.

Among the speakers were Aja Seya Sillah, women president, and Bolong Drammeh, youth leader.

Author: by Lamin SM Jawo

Concerns over decrepit building in Serrekunda market

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:24:44 GMT

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Residents and business people in Serrekunda market have expressed their concern over a decrepit storey building located in the market; the property of one Alhagie Jannah.

The Daily Observer visited the place, yesterday morning, to sound the opinion of the people concerned.

Sarjo Fatty, a businessman selling within the said building, told the Daily Observer that he has occupied the place for over 9 years, and that the landlord [Alhagie Jannah] had already issued notice to all the tenants, indicating his intention to rehabilitate the building, by January 2009. He argued that even though the building was dilapidated, the pillars were still strong and can effectively hold the building together.

Bakary Jaiteh, another businessman, concurred with Fatty, arguing that the building, regardless of its present condition, can still be useful for a while, stressing, however that it would need rehabilitation in the near future.

Aminta Mbye, a busineswoman in the same area, said she had been living in the storey building for a number of years until recently, when they were issued a notice that they should vacate. According to her, she spent 16 years selling in the vicinity; and called on the owner of the building to rehabilitate it before it collapses.

However, the Daily Observer also made efforts to reach the director of Physical Planning, in Banjul, Mr Kebba Ceesay, to seek his department’s opinion on the issue. But Mr Ceesay told this reporter that civil servants are not allowed to talk to the press. The Daily Observer also tried to reach the permanent secretary at the Department of State for Local Government, Lands, and Religious Affairs but to no avail.

Author: by Assan Sallah

Nianija community embarks on ‘Tesito’

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:18:45 GMT

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The community of Nianija, with the support of the Kuntaur Area Council, recently embarked on a Tesito (a Mandinka parlance, meaning community service) exercise for the rehabilitation of a two-kilometer road from Bakadagi to Jailand in the Nianija District, Central River Region North.

Speaking at the exercise, Alasan David Cham, the chief of Nianija district, commended the people of the district for their positive turn out.

He said government cannot do all for her people, which makes it is also an obligation for citizens to venture into development initiatives.

The Bakadagi-Jailand road, Chief Cham added, was eroded by heavy rains recently.
He thanked Kuntaur Area Council for supporting his community with fuel and cement to facilitate the work there.
He then revealed that similar works are also underway in Njau and Gui Jahanka.

Author: by Lamin SM Jawo in janjangbureh

Road Construction, Rehabilitation in Focus

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:27:39 GMT

Friday, June 27, 2008

All Gambians who use the various roads which have been constructed and repaired over the last ten years will no doubt appreciate governments efforts in this regard.

It is an undeniable fact that the Government of the Gambia has for the past years concentrated her efforts in constructing roads across the country. The Kombo Coastal road, Farafenni-Laminkoto and Serrekunda-Mandinaba are a clear testimony of these efforts.

However, the Secretary of State for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, Lamin Bojang, on Monday gave a break down of the cost and sources of funding of the roads constructed for the past 10 years, which amounted to US$82m.

Responding to a question raised by Hon. Sidia Jatta, Member for Wuli West, as to the roads that have been constructed for the past 10 years, their cost and sources of funding, Secy. Lamin Bojang said the Essau-Kerewan road project, a 51 Kilometre stretch funded the Republic of China on Taiwan and the Gambia Government cost US$7.2m.

According to the Works, Construction and Infrastructure Secy, the Kombo Coastal road project, a 168 Kilometre stretch funded by the Kuwaiti Fund, BADEA and The Gambia Government cost a total amount of US$14.6m.

He also revealed that the Farafenni-Laminkoto road project, a 115 Kilometre stretch funded by the Kuwaiti Fund, Opec Fund and The Gambia Government cost US$25.0m.

“The Kerewan-Farafenni road project, a 59 Kilometre stretch sponsored by International Development Bank IDB and the Government of the Gambia cost a total amount of US$18.5m while the Serrekunda-Mandinaba road project, a 28 Kilometre stretch sponsored by IDB and The Gambia Government cost US$16.7m”, he revealed.

On the total number of feeder roads constructed and completed from 2006-08, Secy. Bojang said between the year under review, three major feeder roads were constructed in the Western Region to boost standard.

For Secy. Bojang, a feeder road programme is being prepared to give a nation-wide coverage to the effect. The programme, he added, has been submitted to the EU for their consideration to fund.

Forex Bureau Rates:

M J Finance 9965635

Buying

GBP = D40.00

US = D20.00

5000CFA = D240.00

EURO = D31.00

Swedish Kroner D320

Danish Kroner= D370

Selling

GBP = D41.50

US = D21.50

5000CFA D 250.00

EURO D33.50

Kroner D350.00

Danish Kroner D425

Fund raising show at Bakau LBS

Tue, 20 May 2008 05:19:02 GMT

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Bakau Lower Basic School, on Friday, organised a musical fund raising show with the famous DJ Lamin Cham, of the Champion Sound system at the Bakau Lower Basic school ground.

The aim of the programme, according to Momodou Njie, deputy headmaster of Bakau Lower Basic School, is to raise funds for the rehabilitation of some of their classroom structures, buy new cupboards for the school, to construct new pit latrines, as well as purchase some learning materials for the school.

Mr Njie also complained the misuse of the school text books during the past years. He added that, the school has lost many text books in the past years, due to lack of store for keeping text books. He revealed that proceeds from such activities could be used to solve some of their constraints.

As part of the show, Afri Chips production Lt, supplied hundreds of parcels of chips to the school for a raffle draw. Each parcel contained a number of the raffle draw of the following valuable items. Motor cycle-5 pieces, walk man-50 pieces, bicycle-10 pieces. Football-400 pieces, telephone-5 pieces, wrist watch-100 pieces, TV game-5 pieces, VCD-10 pieces and 10,000 pieces of small toys.

Mr. Njie revealed that these raffle items are incentives for children, adding that they are useful to the children’s education.

Author: by Bekai Njie

Gambia Govt Signs US$10,850,000 for Airport Improvement

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:09:44 GMT

Monday, March 31, 2008

A loan agreement was on Friday signed in Banjul between the Republic of The Gambia and Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development. The Fund will provide a loan of 3,100,000 Kuwaiti Dinars, equivalent to about US$10,850,000, to assist in the financing of the Banjul international Airport Improvement Project (Phase II).

The loan agreement was signed on behalf of the Republic of The Gambia by Honourable Mousa Gibril Bala-Gaye, Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs and by Mr. Hamad S. Al-Omar, Deputy Director-General of the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development on behalf of the Fund.

The project aims at satisfying the increase in passenger and cargo traffic at BanjulInternationalAirport, and to further ensure its safety. Aimed at improving the operational standards of the airport, the project consists of rehabilitation and expansion of the existing apron, construction of two new taxiways and a building for fire and ambulance services, rehabilitation of the existing terminal building and the control tower, supply and installation of navigation systems, signs, pavement marking and apron lighting, fire rescue vehicle, in addition to consultancy services for the supervision of construction works.

The total cost of the project is estimated at about 776.66 million Dalasis, equivalent to about 10.1 million Kuwaiti Dinars of which the Fund’s loan covers about 31%. The main co-financing are the Saudi Fund and the OPEC Fund. The project is expected to be completed by mid 2010.

By concluding this agreement, the Fund would have provided to the Republic of The Gambia nine loans totalling about 22.8 million Kuwaiti Dinars, equivalent to about 79.8 million US Dollars, to finance projects in various sectors, in addition to five technical assistance grant and totalling about 770,000 Kuwaiti Dinars, equivalent to about 2.7 million US Dollars.

Old Jeshwang ward APRC candidate speaks

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:09:02 GMT

Friday, January 11, 2008

Sheriff S Sarr, the APRC-selected candidate for Old Jeshwang Ward in the forthcoming local government elections slated for January 24, 2008, has pledged to facelift his ward should he be elected by the people of Old Jeshwang.

Mr Sarr who is contesting the said seat for the first time said he will work hand in hand with the Kanifing Municipality to construct a standard community market for the women of Old Jeshwang.,

“The refuse collection, the rehabilitation of roads and drainage systems are my priority. I believe that if I am elected councillor, the problems of my ward will be history, God willing,” he said.

The 37-year old pledged to provide milling machines and street taps for the communities of Old Jeshwang. He said he is development oriented, adding that he will set up a committee, which will comprise youths from Old Jeshwang and Kanifing Estate to spearhead development programmes of the ward.

Mr Sarr is a high school graduate and has a diploma in accounting, business management, administration and building construction.

Author: by Buya Jammeh

UGANDA: Plan to reconstruct the north

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:11:26 GMT

Thursday, October 18, 2007

War-ravaged northern Uganda is to be reconstructed at a cost of US$600 million, according to the government.

The rehabilitation, announced by President Yoweri Museveni on 16 October, is intended to restore stability to the region after 20 years of warfare pitting the Ugandan government against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a brutal insurgency that often targeted civilians for murder, maiming and abduction.

Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and forced to live in crowded camps.

Most of the funding is expected to come from donors and a conference is being organised to secure funding commitments, according to David Wakikona, the minister in charge of the region.

"The goal of the plan is stabilisation in order to consolidate peace, recovery and rehabilitation of the north," Museveni said.

He said the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) for Northern Uganda would be implemented over the next three years. Some funds were, however, immediately available to help people who were maimed during the conflict.

In a related development, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for the first time in Uganda launched a food airdrop operation as part of an effort to reach tens of thousands of displaced people after heavy rains and severe flooding made aid delivery by road in northern and eastern regions of the country impossible.

An Antonov-12 cargo aircraft on 13 October started a month-long operation to drop food from the air to thousands of displaced people, according to a statement. Cereals, pulses, sugar and highly nutritious corn-soya blend were being delivered by air from stores in the northern town of Gulu.

"Resorting to food airdrops reflects the severity of the heavy rains and floods, which in some parts of Uganda are the worst in 35 years," said WFP Uganda Acting Country Director Alix Loriston. "There is simply no other way to get survival rations to isolated people.”

Flooding has directly affected 300,000 people in northern and eastern Uganda, while tens of thousands of displaced in the north of the country are still unreachable as floodwaters have cut off roads.

The northern Uganda rehabilitation plan's other immediate priority requirements include the provision of safe drinking water, rebuilding of schools, establishing health services and carrying out immunisation campaigns and HIV/AIDS awareness programmes. Other services envisaged under the plan include micro-finance facilities and the provision of farming implements.

In 2005, the number of displaced people's camps in the northern regions of Acholi, Lango, West Nile and Teso was put at 242, with an estimated population of 1.8 million. People have, however, been returning to their homes of origin as security improved following the stepping-up of military operations against the LRA and the ongoing peace talks in Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan.

By end-June 2007, it was estimated that 916,000 people remained in camps, mainly in the Acholi sub-region, while 539,000 had returned their villages. About 381,000 people had moved to new transit settlements near their villages, according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.

Source: IRIN