How the pandemic has affected the PwD community in Nagaland
Morung Express News
Kohima | December 2
December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) - a day to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
As the world across commemorates the day with the theme ‘Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World’, we reflect at how the COVID 19 pandemic has impacted the PwD community in Nagaland.
In Nagaland, PwDs have faced specific challenges due to the COVID-19 response measure, views M Nangpa, who runs the True Inspiration Foundation- an NGO in Mon providing free training vocational training to PwDs.
“Lockdowns create significant disruption and additional risk on our autonomy, health and lives. Since most PwDs are dependent, the movement restrictions on transport, social distancing in outdoor movement has also had a worse impact on PwDs especially those with low visual, blind, intellectual and developmental disabilities who require in-person care,” he informs.
Simple tasks such as buying groceries continue to be a challenge for disabled people who are solely dependent on others for support and transportation. According to him, not many people are ready to provide such support due to the pandemic.
“Even though the government has issued a guideline ‘Leave no One Behind in COVID-19 Prevention, Response and Recovery’, the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to set back progress particularly on persons with disability,” he says. Like many struggling sections in the society, the PwDs have also been affected financially, economically, physically, mentally and psychologically,
Due to lockdown, many self employed PwDs are confronted with financial problems impacting their daily economy, mental health and lives.
“Most PwDs fear that the disproportionate burden we are bearing during this pandemic is unending,” rues Nangpa.
During the initial lockdown, some PwDs were not able to get their regular medication and therapies due to closure of pharmacies and other medical facilities, informs Kezha Zecho, President, Nagaland State Disability Forum (NSDF).
Further, it is not just the PwDs but their families who survive from hand to mouth basis, who has been gravely affected. Even after the lockdown was lifted and most people started adapting to the new normal, many PwDs with certain conditions are not able to venture out due to the risk of COVID infection, mentions Zecho.
Although the entire population in Nagaland has undergone new challenges due to the pandemic, Ashe Kiba, General Secretary, NSDF views that the pandemic and subsequent lockdown has had an even worse impact for PwDs.
Kiba who was on relief duty during the lockdown shares that among the many categories of disabilities, the ones who falls under the category of mental health issues have been affected the most. “They are the ones who faced maximum challenges. They have to go under medication, and some have to periodically visit the doctor to change their prescriptions. Without medication, their conditions get worse. Because of the lockdown, they could not go out of their homes. And with most district hospitals undergoing COVID 19 duty, they could not access timely healthcare,” says Kiba.
Kiba and her NSDF team with the support of the State Commissioner for PwDs helped out in delivering medications to those who sought help. However, delivering medicines was problematic with the shortage of medicines during the lockdown, compelling the team to find alternatives. After collecting the medicine prescriptions from health professionals, transportation of the medicines to the districts and villages was another challenge as the team had to undergo several processes to get the medicines delivered.
Despite the new challenges for the PwD Community, Kiba is optimistic of the future in a post COVID world. “Awareness is being created. We can see changes in the community’s approach towards us and I really appreciate it. I look forward to the society’s support towards the PwDs and I hope that concerns will grow more,” Kiba shares.
