By Stanley Senya
Accra, Feb. 25, GNA – Sightsavers Ghana, an international non-governmental organization has held a workshop to disseminate analysis on impact of climate on Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs), with a call on stakeholders to address challenges of climate change especially on women living with disabilities
The workshop funded by European Union (EU) brought together stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organization, non-governmental organization and (NGO) persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
The workshop outlined the adverse impacts of climate change on individuals with multiple vulnerability factors especially women.
Speaking at the event, stakeholders called for adequate measures to include PWDs in planning disaster response, emergency situations and evacuation.
Dr Miriam Iddrisu, a Consultant in Gender and Social Policy made a presentation highlighting various barriers affecting persons living with disabilities.
She said 48 per cent of people during the survey see limited educational access for women with disabilities, saying, facilities and services were not accessible to persons with disabilities.
She said government must integrate PWDs into the mainstream educational systems by planning structures like classrooms and hospitals to ensure easy access.
She also identified barriers, excluding PWDs from participating in decision making and economic constraints, “transportation barriers have been a major challenge affecting persons living with disabilities”, she added.
Dr Iddrisu recommended that government agencies and all stakeholders must develop skills-building to ensure inclusive education and healthcare services, financial literacy and job placement to aid PWDs.
She also recommended that, government agencies should promote political participation and improve accessible structural standards.
Mr David Agyemang, Senior Programmes Manager at Sightssavers Ghana, said the workshop aimed at disseminating the findings of two assessments; climate change situation analysis and GESI analysis to key stakeholders and build a network of stakeholders for the implementation of the findings.
He said Sightsavers was committed to working to promote climate resilience agriculture and enhance climate resistance in both rural and urban areas.
GNA