People with disabilities are the most marginalized, endangered and poor group in Kosovo. This is what the director of the Association of paraplegics and paralyzed children of Kosovo (HANDIKOS), Afrim Maliqi, says. According to him, this category of people are not involved in health services, education or employment. In the interview for KosovaPress, he says that only 12 people receive financial support compared to 93 in Kosovo.
In the association for persons with disabilities, HANDIKOS, they consider that the state has to oblige to provide services for persons of this category.Further, he lists the main needs of this social group, which he says are the poorest in Kosovo.
"Persons with disabilities are considered the most marginalized, most vulnerable and poorest group among our population. There are many reasons, their health condition is not good, for which proper health services, they have to pay and buy them, and those services are daily or medications or equipment are daily. I'm not talking about once a year or once a month, but about health services, daily medications. It is known that in our country there is still no Law on Health Insurance, and that this, among other things, impoverishes the family. The other issue concerns the guardians or personal assistants of persons with disabilities", said Maliqi."It is estimated according to UNICEF, which always focuses on children, that only 12 percent of children with disabilities are included in the education system. This shows where Kosovo is. 88 percent are outside the education system. The reasons are the poor health of the children, the economic support of the children, the assistant or the guardian, inadequate transportation, the schools may be suitable. These make it the main issues or a chain of why families cannot include children with disabilities," he adds.
Services for people with disabilities, Maliqi adds, must be institutionalized. He requests that this category be rehabilitated at least once a year, as is the case in the countries of the region.
"We are in the process of finalizing the strategy and action plan, which must be approved by the Government of Kosovo, a five-year strategy that deals with the rights of persons with disabilities. And the process of its finalization and approval is being delayed, only half of the year has passed. This is among the strategic documents related to the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities in various fields, where there is the field of welfare, the field of improving legislation, the field of infrastructure, social services and many other fields" , concluded Maliqi.