Nafisatu Mardi, a physically challenged tailor has said that disabled women have the potential to contribute meaningfully to the development of society, as such, they should be recognised for their efforts.
Mardi who has been physically challenged in both legs has been living with her disability for the past 38 years. She said the society must not only reward and recognize the works of those in higher places, because people like her also contribute to society.
In her disability, Mardi did not sentence herself to a state of self-pity. She successfully went through the required apprenticeship and is now a unisex tailor who has trained others in the trade.
She said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema towards the celebration of International Women’s Day which is celebrated globally annually on 8 March. This year’s theme is “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”
The day is aimed at celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, as well as focusing greater attention on women’s rights.
She said when such disabled women are recognized and projected, it will serve as a motivation for others to venture into economic and other legally acceptable profit ventures instead of begging on the streets.
Mardi said because of the lack of motivation and recognition for disabled women in general, most of them feel left out, and less important to society. She adds that it does not encourage parents of disabled girls to give them the needed education and push them to reach their full potential.
She indicates that because only a few of them are empowered economically, and not seen to have high social standing, men take advantage of them whenever they enter a relationship.
She states that most men who approach them for relationships are more interested in pleasure than making them their wives and introducing them to their families and friends. She explains that it is because they are shy to be associated with disabled partners.
Mardi encouraged women with disability to empower themselves to be able to fend for themselves while being vigilant to avoid being taken for granted.
She said it is embarrassing to see her fellow disabled persons begging to survive. Because of such acts, people associate begging with disabilities, “sometimes when you are even approaching someone for directions, they give you attitude because they think you are coming to beg for money”.
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