Disabled Children (Africa) (Hansard, 20 May 1998)

§ Clare Short

We are not currently funding any activities for disabled children either in Sierra Leone or in Rwanda. Details of our support in Uganda, Kenya and Malawi is as follows:

(a) Uganda

British-Uganda Partnership Scheme 1997–1998 Baliita Centre for the Blind, Luwero: construction materials for a resource centre and workshop for the blind, £4,420. This is in addition to previous support for construction materials for a 4 room dormitory building, latrines, ablutions block and kitchen area for the Centre, £5,800. Ruharo Eye Centre, Mbarara: teaching materials and assessments for the blind, £2,200. Buginyanya Disabled Association, Kapchorwa: a maize mill, carpentry tools and sewing machines for an income-generation scheme for the disabled, £4,700.

Heads of Mission Gift Scheme 1997–1998 Mulago Hospital, Occupational Therapy Unit, Kampala: training videos for occupational therapists, £1,700. Uganda Association for the Mentally Handicapped, Kampala: hortcultural tools for their agricultural programme for the mentally handicapped, £230. Uganda National Association for the Blind, Kampala: batteries for tape recorders to assist with educational programmes for the blind, £110. Butambala School for the Deaf, Mpigi: construction materials for a maize mill, £1,760.

DFID Small Grants Scheme 1998–1999 District Disabled Persons of Lira: construction of a workshop for the repair of appliances and provision of welding and hand tools, £5,500. The above projects aim to give support to the disabled, in general, and not specifically disabled children. However, the children will no doubt benefit either directly or indirectly from this support.

Contributions through the Joint Funding Scheme Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC): Community Orientated Rehabilitation Activities, Uganda. USDC run a disability programme which aims to improve the decentralised support systems and service provision for disabled children in West Nile—Province of Uganda. Start Date: 1 April 1994 End Date: 31 March 1999 Offered: £476,818.

Action Health: Occupational Health Training Programme, Uganda Action Health are supporting a training programme for Occupational Therapists (OTs) at Mulago Hospital. Aim is to train OTs to serve health needs in Uganda and particularly to work with handicapped/disabled families to help them lead a more productive life in their communities. Start Date: 1 April 1997 End Date: 31 March 2000 Offered: £43,410

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Action on Disability and Development (ADD): Deaf Community Development, Uganda Project addresses the needs of deaf people who are socially and economically marginalised due to their limited oral communication and low level of education. Project targets children and women who are particularly isolated within communities. Start Date: 1 April 1996 End Date: 31 March 1998 Offered: £227,456

Bilateral Programme We have also supported the work of the Uganda Society for Disabled Children; this community based rehabilitation project, which started in October 1994 and ended on 31 March 1998, has helped disabled children to lead more independent and productive lives in Luwero and Arua districts, £320,700.

(b) Kenya DFID Small Grants Scheme 1998–1999 Kaptwai Primary School for Physically Disabled Children: construction of and equipment for two workshops, £11,000. Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf: rehabilitation of a borehole, £1,550.

(c) Malawi British-Malawi Partnership Scheme 1997–1998. Sue Ryder Foundation: traction bars, £6,080. DFID Small Grants Scheme 1998–1999. Sue Ryder Foundation: project vehicle costs, £1,250.