Are disabled rights respected?

( As published on Mwanahalisi Newspaper September 28 -October 4th 2011)

This lettter was  to the editor of Mwanahalisi newpaper. It is an ordeal which happened to a parent of a child with disability who was on her way to find the "miracle cure from Loliondo for her childs' ailment.

Ms Karugendo is a mother of a child with disabilitiy, and on 18th of May 2011 she boarded the plane AURIC AIR enroute to Loliondo where there was a portion of "miracle cure" for chronic disease provided by the famous Retired Reverend Mwakipesile famously known as "Babu" in Tanzania.

Ms Karugendo narrates how she was harrased by the AURIC AIR crew. It happened that one passenger missed a seat and she was forced by the crew to get off the plane. Although she protested that her child was disabled and needed assistance, no one could hear her out. Eventually even other passsengers were against her . Some even promised  her that they will take care of her child and also ensure she gets the "miracle portion". Her daugther is physically disabled and can neither talk nor see.   At last she conceded defeat and went off the plane.

She had to wait at the airport till seven in the evening when the plane eventually returned from Loliondo, only to find her daughter with a running fever and has not being fed or changed diapers!!

This ordeal reminds me of the celebrated Persons with Disablities Act 9 of 2010, which has so many promises for persons with disabilities in Tanzania.
Do the folks in the transportation industry know the basic  rights of persons with disability??

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