“Not All Disabilities Are Visible”
South Africa celebrates National Disability Rights Awareness Month annually between 3rd November and 3rd December. The 3rd December is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and is celebrated as National Disability Rights Awareness Day. The theme for 2021 for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Not All Disabilities Are Visible”.
The definition of disability
Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. A disability may be present from birth or occur during a person’s lifetime.
The South African government outlined a month-long campaign centred around weekly sub-themes designed to raise awareness for people living with disabilities.
These themes are reflected in the Medium Term Strategic Framework of government, with the intent to “focus conversations on priority areas identified by the disability sector”.
Why do we need a disability rights awareness month?
Many persons living with disabilities still face stigma daily. The goal of National Disability Rights Awareness Month focuses on removing barriers to improve the quality of life of people living with disabilities.
What can you do?
It’s important to assist in raising awareness and educating people about the urgency of improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities. Therefore, South Africans are urged to do their part.
This can be done by coming together within our communities to discuss the implementation of policies, programmes and possible legislation. South Africans are also encouraged to engage on public platforms to “showcase innovative ways and means by which barriers to inclusion could be removed”.
Furthermore, we can also volunteer time and offer services in various centres. Remember that caring for those who need assistance cannot be postponed.
Absence of healthcare leading to disability
Approximately 17% of South Africans have access to private healthcare (medical schemes). The inequality is evident as the balance of South Africans relies on the state for healthcare services. We are in phase three of the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI). The government aims to have NHI implemented by 2025.
A contributing factor to disability is the lack of healthcare that leads to illness and, if left untreated, leads to disability and death. For example, diabetes can be treated and managed effectively. As a result, patients can lead an everyday life, but the disease can lead to losing a limb resulting in disability if left untreated.
Disability and financial planning
Disability cover is a component of risk cover typically included in risk cover (life assurance) policies. The various types of disability cover include lump sum or capital disability, income replacement, temporary disability, dreaded disease and sickness benefits. These benefits can be purchased in an individual capacity and a group life/risk policy by an employer for employees.
How can Phoenix FSG help you?
Phoenix Healthcare Consultants can help you by ensuring you have appropriate medical scheme or primary healthcare cover to prevent illness from developing into disease and disability.
Phoenix Financial Planning Services can help you by conducting a comprehensive financial needs analysis to establish the most appropriate disability cover to protect your standard of living and income in the event of disability.
If you are an individual or a company, complete the contact section on the right-hand side for a no-obligation consultation.
“Abled does not mean enabled. Disabled does not mean less abled.” ― Khang Kijarro Nguyen
Author: Clayton Samsodien
Group CEO
Phoenix FSG (Pty) Ltd.
