The Disabled Need More Practical Help

It was very heartbreaking to read in the news that a 14 year old girl died because of bed sores. According to the report she was born disabled and could not walk. Her deprived family background made things worse. Her dad was in prison and her mum was a sweeper. She was illiterate because she never attended school.

This comes as no surprise because her single parent probably was in no position to send her to school. Among the questions raised was why the social welfare department did not help her or her mother. It was also reported that her mother went to several clinics for help but apparently nothing came out of it.

Why didn’t the doctors refer the mother and child to the social welfare department for assistance? Could not the child have been helped in any way?

In more advanced countries, there are hospitals with special beds to relieve pressure sores or bed sores for patients who are severely disabled. There are special needs educators who will come up with a program tailored to suit a disabled child, with the mother in attendance so that she will be actively involved in the education of her child.

Why is our Malaysian education system not catering to this group of disabled children? Why are they being left out? The deaf and the blind have assistance. There are special classes for them. Why not the more disabled children like this girl who was left, so to speak, to die in her impoverished circumstances?

It is a double whammy to be disabled, poor and illiterate. It means that you are left out of the system, which at best is like a holely sieve that lets the most needy fall through. In Sabah, a nine year old boy from a poverty stricken family had to commit suicide before his family ( his single mother had heart problems ) got any attention from the authorities concerned.

This is very damning. What’s the use of rushing to offer help when the child is already sacrificed? The poor are often illiterate and do not know where to turn for help. Shouldn’t those who are better off come forward to help, especially if they know of such people who desperately need help?

Village elders if they have poor disabled, or sick or destitute families in their villages, should offer assistance by going the extra mile. The local assemblymen ( women included of course ) should visit their constituencies and look out for this particular group of their constituents and help them, not for political mileage but for the simple reason that they are the ones in the best position to help and must help because that is their basic responsibility, to help the people.

Beauraucracy should take a back seat in such cases. Why make the poor and illiterate jump through hoops, knowing well that they cannot do it?

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