FEDOMA hungers for K1.5Bn for operations

The Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi – FEDOMA is in dire need of a national budgetary allocation of approximately 1.5 billion kwacha to ensure the smooth execution of its programs and activities.

FEDOMA executive director Symon Munde has revived a call to action for the Ministry of finance to boost funding for the Department of disability and elderly affairs.

According to Munde this increase in funding would enable the department to better address the pressing needs of individuals with disabilities while ensuring they receive the support they require.

The FEDOMA chief made the call ahead of the 51st Session of Parliament this Friday at the Parliament Chamber in Lilongwe.

He said: “We are expecting that the government will be thinking of allocations that are really significant enough to start transforming lives of persons with disabilities in the country, no less than K1.5 billion.

We feel that that will be something that is sort of like reasonable for a population of persons with disabilities which means that almost 10 to 15% of the population of the country will benefit.”

Munde also highlighted that currently only a handful of people with disabilities benefit from existing support systems, such as the Disability Trust Fund, which only reaches about 1% of those in need, and the Afford Input Program (AIP) initiative which also supports a limited number of individuals.

In an earlier media engagement, the social welfare minister, Jean Sendeza, appealed to stakeholders to work together to make various initiatives including the Disability Trust Fund (DTF) a success.

Sendeza highlighted the import of strategic partnerships among stakeholders saying: “this will help address social challenges persons with disabilities in the country face.”

The aforementioned DTF was established in 2020 in line with the Disability Act and it helps to disburse grants, subsidies and loans.