400+ children with disabilities in Misungwi benefit from ESRAC
MWANZA: OVER 400 children with disabilities have shown up for medical assessments at the newly renovated Mitindo Education Support Resource and Assessment Centre (ESRAC) in Misungwi District, from 2023 through this year.
The assessments aim to determine the extent of their disabilities. Following the tests, the children are provided with assistive devices and registered for schooling, in a concerted effort to promote inclusive education at the primary school level within the district.
The renovation of ESRAC was part of a four-year project (2022-2025) under the ‘Disability Inclusive Development Task Order 51 (DID-TO51)’, a collaborative initiative between the Tanzanian government and partners, including Sense International, Action on Disability and Development – ADD International and the Tanzania Cheshire Foundation.
The project is funded by the United Kingdom to the tune of 629,611 Euros (about 1.7bn/-) The District Special Education Officer for Pre-Primary and Primary Schools, Mr Charles Pamba said there have been a positive response from the public, as many parents have brought their children to ESRAC.
He said by doing so, their children are automatically enrolled in various learning institutions. “As per Tanzania’s education policy, no child should be left behind,” Pamba explained.
He added: “This is why Misungwi, together with our partners runs a program to visit children with severe disabilities at home.”
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He went on to explain that the initiative, known as the home-schooling program, takes place on Fridays.
It involves not only registering children for school but also providing counseling to parents on how to best care for their children.
Mr Pamba said the program primarily targets children with mental disabilities, whose mobility is severely limited.
“We continue to encourage parents not to keep their children indoors, but to ensure they receive the support and care they need,” he said.
Mr Pamba was speaking during a recent tour of ESRAC by the project partners. Currently, Misungwi has approximately 738 children with disabilities.
While some were identified before the renovation of ESRAC, the number has increased thanks to the availability of modern medical testing equipment and other services.
An eye specialist and registrar at ESRAC, Mr Charles Kibugi noted that initially, the center primarily served children from Misungwi. However, it now caters to children from across the Lake Zone and neighbouring regions, particularly Tabora.
He emphasised the need for increased public education to ensure all children in need receive support, especially given the conducive environment provided by the government and its partners for children with disabilities.
Some parents in Misungwi, such as Mr Maduhu Isaya, expressed their appreciation for the services provided by ESRAC.
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Mr Isaya explained that the center not only offers medical testing but also health insurance for their children.
His daughter, who has both visual impairment and mental complications, has benefited from medical care at Mwanza Regional Hospital-Sekoutoure.
“She was registered for school after the center became operational,” he added.
The project Manager at the Tanzania Cheshire Foundation, Mr Menance Mhombwe confirmed that alongside ESRAC’s renovation, the ‘DID-TO51’ project has been training primary school teachers on how to better support children with disabilities in the classroom.
He said the teachers also act as ambassadors by identifying children with disabilities in their communities.
“The project is being implemented here in Misungwi and parts of the Shinyanga region,” Mhombwe explained.
We are grateful for the public’s response and we encourage all parents to bring their children in for medical assessments.
Assistive devices are only provided to children whose disabilities have been properly identified,” he insisted.
