WINDHOEK, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia is now recognizing disability as a developmental and human rights issue, a deputy minister said Tuesday.
The deputy minister responsible for Disability Affairs in the Vice-Presidency, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, said this when she addressed a workshop in Windhoek.
The workshop was on the proposed Centre for Disability Services that was held at the University of Namibia (Unam).
Currently, there are more than 80 students living with disabilities at the university's 12 campuses. One of the focus for the workshop was t discuss the provision of professional assistance and facilitate the academic welfare of staff and students with disabilities at the university.
According to the 2011 census, Namibia's population of people living with disabilities increased from 42,000 in 1991 to more than 100, 000 in 2011.
Manombe-Ncube said these statistics not only show an increase in numbers of persons with disabilities, but they also show that as a country, Namibia is now recognizing disability not as a health issue but as a developmental and human rights' issue.
The deputy minister also said that the centre would support those living with disabilities to reach their optimal human potential.
"It is essential that a general awareness is created among staff and students on how they can appropriately respond to the needs of fellow students and staff with disability," she said.
