Deputy Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW),  Bernadette Jagger, recently emphasised the ministry's ongoing dedication to providing housing for people with disabilities.

This commitment was highlighted during her remarks at a special event in the Kunene Region's Kamanjab Settlement, where low-cost houses built for individuals with disabilities were being handed over.

The Kamanjab Village Council plans to build four low-cost houses for people with disabilities each year under its social housing programme.

Thirty-three-year-old visually impaired coordinator of Connect Africa, Ndapewa Teresius, says technology has tremendous potential to increase the independence of people with disabilities.

This comes after a group of young Namibians developed a mobile and web application called Connect-Africa to help solve some of the ICT challenges faced by visually and hearing-impaired people.

Stakeholders convened in Rundu to discuss issues affecting people with disabilities in the Kavango Region.

The point is to find solutions to the challenges they often face.

People with disabilities face numerous challenges, ranging from access to identity documents and disability grants to inclusion in youth development programmes and access to education and justice.

The Namibian government remains committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Hardap Governor Salomon April said this while donating food parcels to people with disabilities at Aranos, courtesy of Rani Trading Group.

The Office of the Hardap Governor also spoiled people with disabilities with a warm meal after the handing-over ceremony.

The event also saw the handover of traditional attire and shoes to the Salomon Boois Primary School cultural group.

The Epukiro Constituency Office and Tuva Tuva, a non-governmental organization, have donated blankets and other necessities to a group of people with disabilities in the constituency.

The donation, valued at more than N$50,000, is hoped to buffer them against the fast-approaching winter.

Speaking at the official handover of the donated items, Constituency Councilor Packy Pakarae stressed that people with disabilities need the full support and attention of community members just like anyone else.

The Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare hosted a Christmas party for people with disabilities at Katima Mulilo.

Minister Sioka said she was humbled to share her time with people with disabilities.

"I'm grateful that you heard my request that we come and eat together, you are the ones I chose this year, I sat down, praying, praying, praying, asking whom am I going to choose this year, which place, so it came to my mind, and God said to me that there are those other people whom I'm abandoning, so it's you."

More still needs to be done to address the plights of people with disabilities, despite significant strides made in equitable access to assistive devices, safety and justice, as well as employment services.

These sentiments were expressed at the National Disabilities Conference, organised by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. 

The speaker of the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi says people with disabilities in Namibia are faced with numerous challenges. He is now calling on the public to become involved in issues affecting those with disabilities in an effort to promote inclusiveness.

Katjavivi was speaking at the closing of the two-day National Disabilities Conference in Windhoek on Friday.