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| Sunday, 18 September 2005 |
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Tsunami hit
kids may have multiple disabilities
by Thava Sajitharan Prof. Aurangzeb Hafi, an epidemiological researcher from Pakistan who at present conducts several fact-finding surveys in tsunami affected areas cautioned last week that there was a likelihood of multiple disabilities occuring among newly born children and those below 5 years in tsunami refugee camps. Claiming his country to be the first one to have engaged in studies related to disabled persons affected by the tsunami, Prof.Hafi called on the concerned UN organisations to take serious notice on this and the local media to raise this issue up to international level. He also presented a brief summary of his project - 'Child Retardation Risk Assessment'. The Professor is closely working with the Sri Lanka Visually Handicapped Association. President and Vice President of the Association were also present at the meeting. Prof. Hafi further in his speech insisted that there was a need to look after those who were left behind specially people like visually handicapped and expressed disappointment that the need was not addressed before. "Not a single document was devoted to the visually handicapped affected by the disastrous waves", he said. Pledging his full commitment towards working for the welfare of the disabled ones he said any donation or contribution to his efforts could be sent to the Sri Lanka Visually Handicapped Association. Meanwhile, President of the above Association E. M. Navaratne in his address requested the Government to form a separate ministry for the disabled. |
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