Why awareness about diaper use matters

There is a need to create awareness about the usage of diapers by different categories of people.

This includes children, persons living with disabilities and those with health conditions like cerebral palsy, women with fistula, and men with renal cases.

This emerged at an event organized by different organizations to mark the first-ever diaper need awareness week in the country dubbed "Dignity Diaper Campaign"

The organizations are Sight of Relief Organization, Talking Hands-Listening Eyes on Post-partum Depression (THLEP), and Maendeleo ya Walemavu.

The organizers of the event termed diapers as the fourth basic need that those depending on them cannot do without.

Benson Isaboke, the founder of Sight of Relief Organization, said that the campaign is aimed at creating awareness of the importance of the diaper to the three specific groups.

He urged the government to zero-rate the taxes imposed on the diaper and come up with policies that will support those using the commodity as a basic need.

"A child with cerebral palsy can be able to use up to eight pieces of diapers per day. The diaper is so costly, it has been imposed to a tax that is so high, it has not been captured well in our policies so that it can be able to be put as a basic need of those users," he said.

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The founder of THLEP, Judy Kirumba said that there is a thin line between poverty and disability, which makes it hard for those living with the condition to afford basic needs.

"As we talk, it is very important to create awareness about the diaper as an essential need to the users not just within the country but also worldwide," she said.

The Maendeleo ya Walemavu founder, Cosmas Julius who is also a visually impaired person, said that the need for diapers for those living with disability cannot be looked down upon.

He called for a nationwide sensitization campaign on diaper use by people living with disability.

"The people living with disabilities should not be discriminated in society and seen as a burden, rather they should be integrated and supported to live their best lives. We call upon the government to consider this special group of people," said Cosmas.