How Coronavirus, Partial Lockdown Affects Deaf People In Zimbabwe {Full Text}

Implications of COVID-19, the Partial Lock Down and persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe: A Reflection

As the world is reeling from the effects of COVID-19, the government of Zimbabwe has put in place measures to curb the spread of the virus including a partial lockdown.

The lockdown has started in earnest with some businesses and shops closing, the reality and danger of COVID-19 is close to us all.

We need to think about the implications for persons with disabilities and their families.
While there are a number of persons who are vulnerable to food insecurity in Zimbabwe including the elderly.

Deaf Zimbabwe Trust will limit itself to the implications for persons with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities are overrepresented among the poor in Zimbabwe and most of them are involved in petty vending and work in the informal sector.

HOT DEALS:
itel A70 - (128GB, 3GB RAM) $89,
itel A70 - (256GB, 4GB RAM) $99
itel P40 (128GB, 4GB), (6000mAh) $99
itel P40 (64GB, 4G), (6000mAh) $93
LATEST:
itel S24 (128GB) $124 (108MP camera)
itel S24 (256GB) $159 (108MP camera)

Cash on Delivery in Harare & Bulawayo. Tinotumira kwamuri inosvika.

WhatsApp: 0783 450 793

In Harare and other towns, persons with disabilities sell airtime, sweets and some beg in the streets.

All these livelihoods are inadequate to provide support. The vulnerability to poverty increases the negative effects of COVID-19 and the lockdown.

It is important to prevent the spread of the disease. However, as we implement these measures as a country, have we taken into account the effects of the lockdown on persons with disabilities in our country?

There are a number of questions we need to answer in order to ensure that the preventive measures put in place are human-centred and the nutritional needs of persons with disabilities during the lockdown period are catered for.

During the lockdown do persons with disabilities have enough food stocks to last the period thus preventing the temptation to go back to the streets to sell?

The partial lockdown will affect the capacity of persons with disabilities in the informal sector to earn a living.

The money they earn daily is not enough for them to buy bulk foodstuffs to keep for the rainy day, which in this case in the lockdown.

How do we work to provide emergency food packs for persons with disabilities and their families while protecting them from the virus?

A significant number of persons with disabilities lack food security and as such are not able to heed the warnings to stock up on food due to lack of funds.

Let us think about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities during this uncertain time.

During times of crisis, people become more inward-looking, generosity is not common as people seek to secure themselves.

As we ride this crisis caused by COVID-19, let us think about our friends, relatives and neighbours with disabilities and those less privileged, and provide some emergency food packs for them.

Together we can make the lockdown a bearable experience for families.

[Deaf Zimbabwe Trust]