AS Barbados prepares to set targets for their Millennium Development Goals (MDG) we are taking the opportunity to express the need for inclusion and for strategic planners to set specific goals that addresses the needs of Persons with Disabilities.

Does the eight MDG as set out by over 180 United Nations member states, have anything to do with, or have an impact on the lives persons with disabilities (PWD)? It certainly does.

The challenges are that without mention of disability in these eight goals, the specific needs of PWD may be overlooked by some member states; however, the principle of inclusion is present.

James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, confirms this principle by stating "Unless disabled people are brought into the development mainstream, it will be impossible to cut poverty in half by 2015 or to give every girl and every boy the chance to achieve education by the same date-goals agreed to by more than 180 world leaders at the United Nations Millennium summit in September 2000"

Government has advocated for partnership and inclusion and we are heartened by comments made by The Right Hon. Owen Arthur, at the handover ceremony of our office and resource Centre in March 2004:

"A significant measure of our National accomplishment is the extent to which it develops it's human resource and deliberately incorporates the interests of otherwise vulnerable and disadvantaged groups within it's plans."

With these objectives in mind, we review the Millennium Development Goals and the impact on PWD.

GOAL ONE. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
The United Nations describes extreme poverty as someone who subsists on less than US$1.00 per day. The spending power of US$1.00 in Sub Saharah Africa and Asia is vastly different to the spending power in the Caribbean. In Barbados, PWD assessed as unable to work - because of their disability - can apply for a non-contributory benefit of $30.00 per week, approximately US$2.00 per day. These funds are used not only to fill their food basket but also to purchase clothes and necessary items associated with their disability.

In spite of this, it has been argued by some that we do not experience extreme poverty and hunger in Barbados and that we do not see underweight children, quite the opposite we see overweight children. What we appear not to observe is the low energy and poor concentration of some of our children. A number of pupils go to school without breakfast and there is concern about the nutritional value of some of their meals.

GOAL 2 Achieve Universal Primary Education
This goal focuses on all children being able to complete a full course of primary schooling. With indicators such as enrolment, literacy rates and students reaching grade 5. The goal does not speak to the adjustments needed to the education system to address the specific needs of the individual with a disability. The severely physically and mentally challenged need universal access to primary education.

GOAL 3 Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
It is important when Government address gender equality that they address the needs of women as caregivers, particularly women who are caring for a very dependant person with no possibility of them accessing respite care. The caring responsibility does not only apply to their children but aging relatives, who become increasingly dependent.

GOAL 4 Reduce Child Mortality
There is no doubt that health care across the Caribbean has improved. However to maximise health care, professionals must value skills in the community such as the hands on skills of caregivers. The way forward must include a strategy for care in the community and much needed collaborative discharge planning.

GOAL 5 Improve Maternal Health
When we look at health we often address physical health. However maternal health care includes the mental well-being of an expectant or new mother and the widening of professional counseling and support services to parents of children with disabilities.

The three remaining goals, combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop global partnership for development are also important issues for person with disabilities and we look forward to a demonstration of how the needs of persons with disabilities would be addressed when setting these goals.

There has been greater awareness of disability in Barbados. Using the MDG as outlined would further enhance the development of PWD in our community.

A voice of Our Own is a monthly article published in the Nation Newspaper.