Hiding disabled individuals from the public leaves them deprived: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that some parents of disabled individuals hide them from the public, and that this leaves them deprived and in poor condition.

The President made this statement while speaking at the Disability Award ceremony held at Dharubaaruge last night.

He said that parents have no choice but to bring up children which disabilities at home, and that the relevant government institutions need to put more effort into solving the challenges faced by such parents and disabled individuals.

He urged people to increase efforts to care for the disabled, and make the society friendlier to people with disabilities. He called on the relevant government institutions to make the necessary regulations as obligated by the law to protect the rights of the disabled.

He also mentioned the establishment of a Disability Unit at the newly-formed Ministry of Gender and Human Rights, and urged the Disability Council to strengthen and speed up its efforts.

The President presented awards for several disabled individuals and people who work for the benefit of the disabled.

Awards were handed out to five people with disabilities.

They are Aminath Sidhna of M. Stella, who is hearing-impaired and non-verbal, and has worked as a Secretary of Care Society for eleven years; Thaufeeg Ahmed of Thundi, L. Gan, who is a writer, poet and businessman; Hamid Nasheed Mohamed of Ma. Chanbeyleemaage, who has participated in several seminars abroad; Mohamed Mazin who is visually-impaired and the manager of a football team; and Abdul Kareem Abdullah who is visually-impaired and works as an Imam and teaches children Quran.

Awards for people who work for the benefit of the disabled were given to Director of Care Society Shidhatha Shareef, Fathimath Afiya, and Shaheez Abdullah.

Care Society was given the award for best Association, and Happy Market was awarded for providing financial assistance for the benefit of the disabled.