The Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) is continuing its nationwide orientation program on the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2024, which started last year. The program aims to educate key stakeholders, including local council officials, on the provisions of the new Act and their roles in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
So far, MACODA has engaged with several district councils, including M'mbelwa District Council, Mzuzu City Council, Mwanza District Council, Chiradzulu District Council, and many more councils across the country. The orientation program is expected to enhance awareness, advocacy, and protection for persons with disabilities across the nation.
The Persons with Disabilities Act, enacted in 2024, repeals and consolidates both the Handicapped Persons Act of 1971 and the Disability Act of 2012, providing a comprehensive framework for promoting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in Malawi. The Act requires local councils to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, including access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
The Council’s engagement with the councils to embrace the Act will enable Malawi to move a step closer to achieving its goal of creating a society where all citizens enjoy their fundamental rights equally regardless of their abilities