There is a need for better monitoring and implementation of services and policies set up for Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) to ensure better welfare for everyone of them.

This was said by Emmanuel Ndayisaba, the executive secretary for the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

Ndayisaba was on Thursday addressing the annual stakeholders’ meeting that attracted representatives of different institutions working towards a better welfare of persons with disabilities.

Ndayisaba said the commission implemented a number of things through representing, advocating, and creating partnerships toward advancing the welfare of PWDs.

"We have tried our best to make education accessible to our people; in terms of health, institutions providing health services have been increased, but accessibility for those with physical disabilities remains a problem,” he said.

Ndayisaba said, in 2014, they undertook an initiative to conduct an anti-begging campaign to eradicate begging among persons with disabilities.

To be able to uproot the problem, they started by conducting a survey on why many of these people end up on the street begging, a survey that was conducted in Kigali, Huye, Musanze and Rusizi.

He said that many are on the streets because of a mindset problem.

Figures from NCPD indicate that there are more than 44,000 persons with disabilities countywide.

"We urge persons with disabilities to register in their respective categories of disability to ensure proper follow up. We shall issue them with cards to ensure they are sufficiently followed up,” Ndayisaba said.

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