Fifty PWDs show their skills

CEBU, Philippines - About 50 clients of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 7, through the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center, showed medical representatives of a pharmaceutical company that persons with disabilities can equally participate in the society.

In observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week, DSWD-AVRC clients participated in a recent social interaction activity conducted by the medical representatives and managers of Astra Zeneca Pharmaceutical Company in Labangon, Cebu City.

Kerwin Macopia, DSWD-7 information officer, said the activity aimed to provide Astra Zeneca staff understanding on the plight of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) by way of simulation activities as well as to promote the programs and services of the center.

Macopia said that each of the medical representatives and managers of the pharmaceutical company were assigned to simulate one category which include clients who are deaf, visually-impaired and orthopedically-impaired.

This is followed by group assessment facilitated by the center staff.

Macopia said the participants learned that even with physical disabilities, they still have same capacity as that of normal persons and they can still use whatever they have in order to live and survive.

Part of the program was an orientation on Health Education conducted by Dr. Geraldine Sales specializing in Family Medicine from Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

This year’s NDPR celebration adopts the theme, “Building an Inclusive and Non-Handicapping Environment for Persons with Disabilities,” which aims to promote the principles and practices on equal participation of persons with disabilities in the society and the mainstreaming of disability agenda in the programs of government agencies, non-government organizations, and other concerned stakeholders, Macopia said.   (FREEMAN)