Yemens handicapped have . . . People power [Archives:2002/22/Business & Economy]

BY MAHYUB AL-KAMALI
With more than 2 million handicapped in Yemen, mostly in the rural areas, Yemen is desperately in need for special training for this segment of the society. This group is an inactive part of the workforce that could be contributing to the country.
The majority of this group have disabilities originating during the different civil wars Yemen has had since the the 26 September revolution in former northern Yemen, and the War of Independence in southern Yemen.
Yemens economy is likely passing through the most difficult time ever. With a budget deficit of YR 49 million the government seems unable to tackle this issue.
So taking care of this group is a real test for the current and subsequent governments.
At the outset of the current year, a presidential decree was issued concerning the handicapped care. But, the ever-increasing population and the high rate of unemployment make the problem complicated.
Official statistics show that the rate of beneficiaries from the social care programs dont exceed 15 percent of the total handicapped.
Still, with increasing government support, through allocating more funds to the Social Care Fund, large funds are required for rendering care to the handicapped. Care for the handicapped in rural Yemen is totally absent.
The handicapped need a lot of rehabilitation centers as well as proper heath care programs. One handicapped trolley, for example, can costs as much as US $3,000. That is the size of the problem.
If the Social Care Fund allocates 2000 trolleys for $3,000, it will need $60 million while its current general budget is only $42 million.
Consequently, the government resorts to donor agencies which sympathizes with it upon knowing that therere two million handicapped in Yemen.
The needs of the handicapped are so varied: special training, rehabilitation centers, special healthcare programs, provision of required equipment as well as helping trained ones to find jobs. All these require considerable funds. Thus, it necessitates finding new funding sources.
Sources at the handicapped care associations say that theres a high shortage of rehabilitation centers as well as qualified staff and the equipment required for boosting their productivity.
We are hopeful that donor agencies will pay considerable attention to allocating more funds to the Social Care Fund so as to help it in carrying out its formidable mission.


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