The government has reiterated its commitment to building inclusive economy that does not isolate people with disabilities, calling the stakeholders to contribute in helping needy people especially children with disabilities acquire better education for the betterment of country’s development.

The statement was made by the Deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) responsible for matters of persons with disabilities, Hon. Ummy Nderiananga, during her tour to hand over different items donated jointly by the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA)  and PMO to different schools in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma.

She said that children with disabilities have similar capabilities like those without disabilities, therefore if provided with special care including access to quality education; can greatly contribute in furthering the country’s development.

“I thank OSHA in partnership with the PMO for visiting three different schools which are taking care of pupils with disabilities and donating various items including fire extinguishers, sanitary towels, computers and braille papers to mention a few. For a long time OSHA has been comforting people with disabilities by addressing a number of challenges encountered by this special group,” said the Deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office dealing with persons with disabilities, adding:

“I like to see all people with disabilities being included accordingly in all aspects of economic activities and this is a reason why I have been urging decision makers in different areas including education, employment and health to make sure all people with disabilities access chances in different opportunities provided by the government.”

Furthermore, Nderiananga said, the government will continue working with different stakeholders including non-governmental organizations and private companies in helping the disadvantaged so that they can be able to contribute in building the nation.

Chief Executive for the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), Khadija Mwenda, whose office donated the school items in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the donation is part of implementation of OSHA’s Strategic Plan to help people in areas such as education, health, natural calamities and improving safety and health at workplaces.

“We have come in these schools to donate different items in support of pupils with disabilities as well as to comfort our fellow workers who are responsible to take care of the children who apart from facing other hazards are encountering psychological hazard and therefore need to be encouraged so they continue doing their job better,” said the OSHA Boss.

For their part, pupils and teachers of the schools which were given the donation expressed their gratitude to OSHA for the support and called upon other individuals and organisations to consider helping in addressing some challenges facing schools for children with disabilities.

“Personally, I am very much happy as I didn’t expect if OSHA could come because they only asked me over the phone about the challenges at our school. I also thank the Deputy Minister, PMO (People with Disabilities), Hon. Ummy Nderiananga for partnering with OSHA to visit and give us these gifts which including a fire extinguisher which we never had it ever since our school was established. More importantly they have given us a computer which would be of much help in preparing exams,” said Kajika Gallan, the Headteacher at Mazinyungu Primary School.

The donation given to all three primary schools that included conducting electrical safety and health inspection at some schools is valued at 15 million. Schools which benefited from the donation are Uhuru Mchanganyiko Primary School in Ilala-Dar es Salaam, Mazinyungu Primary School in Kilosa-Morogoro and Buigiri Blind in Chamwino-Dodoma. The items included computers, fire extinguishers, sanitary towels, braille papers, cleaning equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).