Fijians who are visually impaired often face many challenges of stigmatization from the public, simply because they are thought of not being capable.

While launching the Annual White Cane awareness in Suva today, Assistant Minister for Women, Veena Bhatnagar says that this should not be the case.

Bhatnagar says more than ten to fifteen percent of Fijians are visually challenged but they continue to contribute to the development of the country.

“Disability is not an inability because sometimes I have seen people with disabilities do far much better than people with abilities and this is a fact. There are so many people with two good hands, two good feet, legs and proper eye sight , they come to us and say we can’t do anything we need assistance. The united blind persons of Fiji has had to overcome many obstacles with the strongest being the stigma that comes with being blind by members of the public and those closest to them.”

Bhatnagar says Fijians should understand the needs and challenges of people with various kinds of disabilities.

Members of the Fiji School for the blind and the United Blind Persons of Fiji will be visiting various organisations next week and conducting fun activities to mark the annual white cane awareness week.