THE PLIGHT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND
THE OLDER PERSONS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
PART 3.
ABUSE OF THE RIGHT OF HEALTH OF THE VULNERABLE GROUPS.
Right to Health is synonymous with Right to life, that is why various International Instruments especially ICESCR provided for Right to highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (Article 12) to all persons including children, physically challenged and older persons. The Covenant requires countries to create "conditions which would ensure that all medical services and medical attention are made available in the event of sickness." For older person integrated approach, combining of preventive, curative and rehabilitative health treatment has been recommended by the U.N Committee, while for persons with disabilities both the Public and Private Health Sectors are enjoined to provide health services to them without discrimination.
Unfortunately, the Rights to Health of the vulnerable groups appears to be only on paper especially in Sub-Sahara Africa like Nigeria which has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world i.e. 1050 deaths per every 100,000 live birth and also has the second to the highest record of Infant mortality rate in the world. In Nigeria the Health Budget is in most cases half of the Defence Budget which is a non productive sector. This shows how unserious the policy makers take the health of its citizens.

Consequently, most members of vulnerable groups of die prematurely of simple ailments for lack of medical attention because of the expensive nature of Health Services. Living Water Foundation recognizes the fact that it is only healthy members of the vulnerable groups that can contribute meaningfully to the development of world economy, it has therefore designed a quality Health policy to keep its target audience (physically challenged persons and old persons) in good health in order to achieve the overall objectives of the Foundation.

OTHER MAJOR CAUSES OF THE SUFFERING OF THE VULNERABLE GROUPS IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
The true position in developing countries like Nigeria is that the majority of the physically challenged persons are literary starving to death on account of poverty and depends purely on the uncertain charities of other impoverished citizens. They do not have access to decent food, water, clothing, adequate housing, basic education, primary healthcare and other basic necessities of life. Recent tales of woes and lamentations from Oji River Rehabilitation Centre for the Civil War Veterans (Nigeria) paints a picture of complete abandonment of the physically challenged fellows by the three tiers of government in Nigeria. The inmates of the Centre, according to them earn their living by begging for arms which has brought shame and humiliation to them and their family, with their children dropping out of school. Meanwhile no effort whatsoever has been made by the government to develop the potentials of these people and make them employable or to provide for their food and health needs. Thus their wheelchairs are worn-out and begging for repairs. Ladies and Gentlemen, who can bell out the situation? WEEP NOT! Living Water Foundation has come to give the life of these people a meaning. But not without your support.

Statistics released by the United Nations estimated that there are more than 500 million persons with disabilities in the world today. Of that number, 80% live in the rural areas in developing countries. 70% of the total is estimated to have either limited or no access to the basic services they need for survival. The government whose duty is to take positive steps to reduce to fulfill the social, economic and cultural Rights of persons with disabilities in order to achieve the objectives of full participation and equity within society for all persons has abandoned this all important duty because of the current western driven liberalization, structural adjustment programme (SAP), deregulation and privatization of social services and huge debt burden on the neck of third world countries like Nigeria.

Thus, the Secretary General of the Implementation of the World programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (during the Review of same) submitted as follows:
"…………Current economic and social deterioration marked by low growth rates, high unemployment, reduced public expenditure, current structural adjustment programmes and privatization, have negatively affected programmes and services……..if the present negative trend continue, there is the risk that (Persons with disabilities) may increasingly be relegated to the margins of society, dependent on adhoc support."

Indeed public services are increasingly being privatized in developing countries like Nigeria where the prices of Petroleum Product has been increased for over 6 (six) times in the last 5 (five) years to the extent that kerosene used by everybody is now beyond the reach of the vulnerable groups. The bad news is the negative trend is continuing but the good news is that LWF has come to arrest the drift and restore hope and give succor to vulnerable groups. One of the onerous tasks facing LWF is to see to the establishment of National Co-ordinating Committee on Disability and Old Persons by various governments in developing countries to speak for these
vulnerable as required by the 1990 U.N Guidelines.

APPEAL: The enormous task facing this Foundation cannot be funded by one man, but requires the solidarity of kind-hearted persons such as you and I who are minded to serve humanity. We appreciate your presence here today and appeal to you to support the Foundation materially, financially and even in your prayers in its efforts to meet the needs of the disabled, old persons and less privileged in the World.

Rev (Dr.)Damian Etonyeaku-Nduka
President

Living Water Foundation Inc Worldwide
1440 West Little Creek Road
P. O. Box 6134
Norfolk, VA. 23508 USA
Tel & Fax: +1-757-481-8085
E-Mail: info@livingwaterfoundationministries.org
Website:www.livingwaterfoundationministries.org
www.lwfm.us