Clearing a Path for People Living with Disabilities in Haiti
IOM is today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities,
underpinning its partnership with Handicap International (HI) with
a commitment by both organizations to work together to improve the
lot of the disabled in Haiti.
People living with disabilities in Haiti faced great challenges
before the earthquake of 12 January. While the dramatic quake
killed over 250,000, changing the face of Haiti in just 30 seconds,
it also left many more people disabled.
These victims were hurt by falling debris and suffered severe
life-altering injuries. Many of those disabled in the quake and
those already disabled were also made homeless. They face enormous
challenges living in camps where access to tents and shelters is
usually a muddy track. This lack of access has limited their
ability to rebuild their lives.
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The Hands of the Carpenter
Since the quake, IOM has been working closely with Handicap
International to improve inclusion and access to services for
people living with disabilities, especially in the 1,300 camps.
Where possible, IOM seeks to employ people with disabilities.
For example, 60 Information Kiosks installed in camps for
internally displaced people were manufactured by carpenters living
with disabilities under a project of Association Arche D'Haiti. A
second lot of 20 of these brightly coloured kiosks will be
delivered to Port-au-Prince and installed next week.
"When you employ a person with intellectual impairments, as IOM
did in this case, you reveal to that person the contribution they
can make to rebuilding their country, in spite of the challenges
and obstacles they face," said Jonathan Boulet-Groulx, the project
director for Arche in Chantal, Southern Haiti. "Moreover these
beautiful kiosks put a smile on people's faces when they see them
and that is so satisfying for our carpenters."
IOM has also provided transport assistance for patients with
amputations to access HI's Physical Rehabilitation Center. Between
70-80 per cent of the patients seen each week are taken to the
clinic by IOM's assisted discharge and referral teams. IOM also
provides referral assistance for patients referred by Handicap
International in need of specialized care or medical referral.
Handicap International has provided training to IOM camp
management operations staff on accessibility and inclusion of
people with disabilities while IOM teams frequently refer camp
residents who may be in need of assistance to HI Disability and
Vulnerability Focal Points for physical and psychosocial support in
collaboration with IOM's health unit.
There is a very long way to go to ensure that people with
disabilities are included in all aspects of camp life, and have the
same access to services and support as others. This collaboration
between IOM and HI has highlighted the importance of this issue and
the need to continue work on mainstreaming disability as a
consideration in all humanitarian operations.
Slideshow of carpenters at work:
"paragraph-link-no-underline" href="http://tinyurl.com/IOM-Arche"
target="_blank" title="">http://tinyurl.com/IOM-Arche
For more information please contact:
Leonard Doyle
IOM Communications and Media Haiti
+ 509 3702 5066
E-mail:
"mailto:ldoyle@iom.int">ldoyle@iom.int
Dr Patrick Duigan
IOM Health
Tel: + 509 3849 9115
E-mail:
"mailto:pduigan@iom.int">pduigan@iom.int
Jonathan Boulet-Groulx
Project Director for Arches
Chantal
+ 509 3738 6040
E-mail:
"mailto:jbg_photo@yahoo.ca">jbg_photo@yahoo.ca