THE Malaita Provincial Disability Stakeholders Coordination Mechanism (PDSCM) was established during a half-day mainstreaming consultation meeting with the stakeholders at Auki Women’s center last Wednesday.

The Provincial Community Based Rehabilitation under the Provincial Health Service as the disability focal point organized the consultation meeting to bring together shareholders to discuss how best to mainstream disability across sectors in Malaita and also establish the disability coordination mechanism.

The function of the Provincial Disability Stakeholders Mechanism is to coordinate the multi-sectoral disability activities in the Province.

A total of 17 stakeholder representatives have attended the consultation. Speaking during the opening John Talo Pitamama the acting Provincial CBR Coordinator acknowledged the attendance of the stakeholders to the consultation and said there will be follow up consultation on both organizations who attended and also those not attending to further strengthen the partnership in the coordination of disability.

The Central Region President of People with Disability Mr George Bumae in his remarks mentioned that people with disability out in our communities need services and realizing their rights has prompted the importance of delivering services them.

The cutting of the cake in the opening of the consultation by Kiluufi Hospital Secretary Mr Terry Tugumana representing the Health Services and Mr George Bumae representing People with disability symbolized the beginning of the joint effort towards disability mainstreaming for Malaita Province.

Most of the participants have realized the importance of their sector’s participation towards disability mainstreaming and pledged their support towards mainstreaming disability in their actives.

The Provincial Health Director Dr Henry Kako as the Chairman of the newly established Provincial Disability Stakeholders Coordination Mechanism in his closing address emphasized that people with disability are members of our community, family, our tribe’s men and women therefore, their inclusion in the society is something worth thinking about as Christians to love our neighbors.

He said the Provincial Health Service as the Provincial disability focal point entrusted all stakeholders and seek their commitment in ensuring they fulfill the functions of the Mechanism.

Dr Kako said there would be many challenges, but it requires everyone’s effort and contribution both at the National and Provincial level to move the agenda of disability mainstreaming in Malaita Province.

–ELWIN TALOIMATAKWA

MHMS