Two disabled orphan
children in Swaziland have been hidden from the world after a government official
told their family it would harm the image of the kingdom if people knew of
their condition.
The Times
of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom,
reported on Monday (11July 2016) that the two children might be suffering from
polio.
The newspaper reported, ‘Their
family was allegedly given strict instructions not to ever show the children to
anyone or even discuss their condition in public.
‘It has been alleged by the
head of the family where the two children stay that officials from certain
government offices barred and gave strict instructions not to show the children
to anyone because making their condition known would place the country in bad
light.’
The newspaper added, ‘The
children suffer from a rare disability and some of those who know about
the children suspect they suffer from polio.’
The two children believed
to be aged 16 and eight stay at LaMgabhi, Etiyeni. The Times reported they had never walked since they were born and had
shrunk muscles and could only crawl. They both cannot talk.
The newspaper reported, ‘The
head of the family, Edward Hlophe, who is a step grandfather of the children,
alleged that he got an instruction from some government officials not to expose
the children to the public as such could paint a bad image of the country with
the United Nations.’
It added, ‘In an interview,
Hlophe, confirmed that some government officials warned them against revealing
the children to the public. Hlophe said when the officials arrived at the
homestead to check on the children, they took some pictures of them from their
back and warned the family against allowing anyone else to do so.’
The abandonment of the
children is one of many examples of poor treatment of people with disabilities
in Swaziland.
A report
published by SINTEF Technology and Society, Global Health and Welfare in
2011 that studied living conditions among people with disabilities in
Swaziland, found, ‘There is a general belief that those who have a disability
are bewitched or inflicted by bad spirits.
‘Many believe that being around
people with disabilities can bring bad luck. As a result, many people with
disabilities are hidden in their homesteads and are not given an opportunity to
participate and contribute to society.’
The report was the result of an
extensive study in the kingdom in 2009 and 2010.
It also found that people with
disabilities had been abandoned by the Swazi Government. The report stated,
‘The absence of any comprehensive laws and policies to address people with
disabilities’ access to equal opportunities reflect a lack of political will
and a failure to recognize disability as a human right issue contributes to the
devaluing and dehumanising of people with disabilities.
‘People
with disabilities have the same rights as able-bodied people and they are
entitled to enjoy all citizenry rights.’
See also
DISABLED PEOPLE ‘TREATED LIKE ANIMALS’
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