MVA launches braille brochure

The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund launched a braille brochure, which details the benefits and services that the fund offers to the blind and visually impaired.
The braille brochure  was launched by the Hon. Joel Kaapanda, Minister of Information and Communication Technology on Tuesday.
Rosalia Martins-Haufiku, MVA Fund Chief Executive Officer said, “many a times, people with disabilities are excluded from mainstream communication and activities.
 The MVA Fund, in realizing this challenge, was pondering on how best to share critical information. Coincidentally, this thought took seed when the fund was invited by the Namibian Federation of the Visually impaired to attend a Community Awareness Campaign workshop, in April.”
She said that following the 2011 population and housing Census, which revealed that about 10855 people in the country are visually impaired, which prompted the fund to take action and produce something that can cater to their needs.

“These people could be excluded in critical information sharing and dissemination; that is why the Fund saw it fit to produce a brochure like this one.
We are therefore confident that the braille brochure will go a long way in ensuring that all our citizens are informed about the fund’s services,” she added. “The information envisaged for dissemination in this brochure relates to our claims process in respect of the benefits we offer, such as injury grant, loss of income, funeral gran, medical benefit and loss of income.
Additionally the brochure displays our accident response number (081 9682) and clarifies how the fund responds to road crashes,” she explained. Kaapanda, commended the institution on its efforts and commitment to support the government’s effort towards its endeavor of bringing equitable access to services, and further encouraged other institutions to follow in their footsteps, by providing access to public information to all Namibians regardless of economic and social standing.
Dr Zandile Erkana, MVA Fund Board of Directors said that the brochure which contained vital information is the first of its kind in the country.
 She added that a total of 500 copies will be distributed countrywide and the brochure will be available at the service centers of the visually impaired all over the country, namely Keetmanshoop, Okuryangava, UNAM, Ondangwa and Rundu. Erkana said, “we have a distinct role to fulfill in terms of initiating and complementing efforts to protect the rights of people with disabilities and ensuring that they are included in all activities, and are treated equally through appropriate advocacy for a mind-set change in the way they are viewed.”