–Dr. Mangar tells UN Forum  

THE Government of Guyana has been and continues to pursue programmes and policies to ensure access to key services for all Guyanese, including Indigenous persons living with disabilities.

This was according to Dr. Ariane Mangar, Director of Disability and Rehabilitation Services at the Ministry of Health, during her address to the 18th Session of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with disabilities.

Dr. Mangar noted that under the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s administration, the government is advancing a bold people-centred agenda and inclusion across every region, school and household.

She added: “For the first time, the disability needs assessment was conducted, and this was led by the National Commission on Disability, and it would have gathered comprehensive data for persons with disabilities in our remote and hinterland region.”

With this, Dr. Mangar noted that their voices are shaping national policy, guiding the placement of rehabilitation staff, assistive devices, and outreach services, even as special education officers are being trained for regional deployment.

Additionally, new schools are being built in remote areas, and children are receiving assistive devices in their own communities.

“How is this possible? Through climate action, through our Low Carbon Development Strategy, 15 per cent of Guyana’s carbon credit revenues are being reinvested in indigenous communities, bringing electricity, powering health posts and providing rehab equipment and technology in classrooms,” she highlighted.

Giving an example, Dr. Mangar noted that a young girl from a remote region who was once isolated by hearing loss, now thrives in school thanks to the government’s free hearing aid programme and is able to attend school and hear her peers and teachers.

Dr. Mangar was part of the delegation led by First Lady Arya Ali. The team also included Ganesh Singh, Programme Manager, Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, and Ravin Singh, Director of Projects, Policy & Public Affairs, Office of the First Lady.

The conference was held from June 10-12 under the theme ‘Enhancing public awareness of the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities for social development leading up to the Second World Summit for Social Development’.