20 May 2013

SPC and Pacific Disability Forum merge efforts

3:23 pm on 20 May 2013

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community says a new memorandum of understanding will help highlight gaps in addressing the needs of people with disabilities in the region.

The SPC has signed a four year memorandum of understanding with the Pacific Disability Forum.

The joint resources will allow research to benefit people with disabilities, and collect more accurate data.

The Director-General, Dr Jimmie Rodgers, says Pacific nations are at different stages with disability programmes, with some countries like New Caledonia doing well, while others are struggling.

"Its a good start. And I think there's quite a way to go, but I'd like to say that the Disability Forum has actually won the first big battle, and that is to shift the level of consciousness from what used to be a household issue and a problem, now into a broader consciousness of national and regional level."

Dr Jimmie Rodgers