Tanzania urged to strengthen inclusive systems that give good care to people with disabilities

DAR ES SALAAM: STAKEHOLDERS advocating for the rights of people with disabilities have urged the Tanzanian government and its institutions to strengthen inclusive systems in social services, economic opportunities, and policy frameworks to reduce the burden of caregiving for people with disabilities.

They said the challenge continues to disproportionately affect women, youth, and girls, who carry the largest share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities.

The remarks were made in Dar es Salaam by Susan Ngongi Namondo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, during a National Dialogue examining the intersection between unpaid care work and gender-based violence in Tanzania.

Namondo emphasized the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities are fully involved in decision-making processes so that policies and development plans are designed collaboratively with them.

“The inclusion of people with disabilities should not end with infrastructure or technology alone, but should also be built through social partnerships, economic opportunities, and development systems that empower them to contribute to national prosperity,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chairperson for People with Disabilities, Dr. Ali Omar, said people with disabilities still face major challenges in accessing daily services, education, healthcare, and income-generating opportunities because of unpaid caregiving responsibilities.

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He said the situation negatively affects the well-being of women, youth, and girls with disabilities in society.

Omar noted that the report presented during the dialogue would help guide improvements in services and raise awareness about the needs of people with disabilities. He also thanked various stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, for continuing to promote the welfare and rights of this group.

Speaking on behalf of disability rights stakeholders, Neema Kalole, said the research had opened new understanding about the challenges faced by caregivers of people with disabilities.

She explained that discussions often focus only on the person with a disability, while caregivers and service providers are overlooked despite their significant contribution to daily life.

“We often listen more to the person with a disability, but very rarely to the person assisting them. This study has taught us how to improve advocacy for disability rights and include caregivers in policies and development plans,” Kalole said.

Project Coordinator at United Nations Development Programme, Ghati Horombe, said the project is being implemented in Tanzania through collaboration among UN agencies including UNDP, UN Women, and United Nations Population Fund, with funding from the Global Disability Fund.

He said the project aims to build wider awareness among policymakers, government institutions, and disability organizations about the challenges facing people with disabilities and their caregivers.

Horombe added that research findings revealed several challenges, including a lack of services in rural areas where many people with disabilities live.

“We found that many essential services are concentrated in urban areas while most people with disabilities live in rural areas, making access to healthcare, education, and assistive devices more difficult,” he said.

UNFPA Population and Development Analyst, Ramadhan Hangua, said statistics show growing awareness about people with disabilities in Tanzania.

According to him, the 2002 census showed that two out of every 100 people had one or more disabilities. In 2012, the figure increased to nine out of 100, while the 2022 census indicated that 11 out of every 100 Tanzanians live with one or more forms of disability.

Hangua said the increase does not necessarily mean the number of people with disabilities has risen, but rather that awareness and recognition of the importance of identifying and counting people with disabilities has improved.

Assistant Researcher at UN Women, Perpetua Senkoro, said the study also identified major challenges in transportation systems, infrastructure, and access to assistive devices for people with disabilities.

She noted that the lack of suitable assistive devices limits independence and increases the burden on caregivers and service providers.

She further said economic challenges remain a major obstacle for people with disabilities and their caregivers, recommending improvements in policies, budgets, and loan systems to also benefit those who care for people with disabilities.