The country’ Vice President Saulosi Chilima on Monday inaugurated this year’s Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) Flag Week, with a call that Malawians should generously donate towards the Flag Week.

Chilima made the remarks in Lilongwe at his Office where he presided over the inauguration ceremony.

“We should all remember that disability is a national issue, not an individual issue, therefore we should all take part in empowering persons with disabilities in the country.

Therefore, I am urging all Malawians to take an active role in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and also playing a role in the equalisation of opportunities for persons with disabilities so that they can in turn play a role in the socio-economic development of this country”, said Chilima.

He said President Mutharika and his government is committed in uplifting the lives of persons with disabilities in the country.

On his part, Macoha Executive Director Peter Ngomwa said the organisation faces a number of challenges in which inadequate funding is the major constraint.

He also disclosed that over the past 10 years or so, the council has relied on traditional international development partners including the Norwegian Association for the Disabled (Nad) and the CBM International for service delivery.

The Macoha flag week which its main aim is to raise funds as well as awareness on disability as a human rights will run for seven days starting from October 7.