By Hamad Lubwama,10.06.08
If you were unable to work because of a long-term
disability, how would you provide for yourself and
family? What if you became permanently disabled and
confined into a wheelchair for the rest of your life?
Research shows that 10% of disabilities occur on jobs
when, for example, a worker gets an accident or sickness
and eventually becomes disabled while on duty.
According to World Health Organisation, three million
of the projected 30 million Ugandans are living with
disabilities. With five people per household, this means
15 million Ugandans face the dire consequences of
disability on a daily basis.
Insurance companies in Uganda should start offering
disability policies and sensitise people about the
policies. People with disabilities face challenges like
abject poverty, low self-esteem, stigmatisation,
marginalisation and discrimination. Most of these
challenges rotate around finances. If one's paycheck is
insured - as people insure their houses, businesses and
cars against various risks - the disabled would be
assured of the means of livelihood.
Ugandans are prone to many causes of disability such
as diseases (mostly malaria and polio), land mines,
accidents, witchcraft, use of drugs and poverty.
In the US, May is the Disability Insurance Awareness
Month (DIAM). It was gazetted to get American workers to
think about the need to protect their greatest asset -
their ability to earn an income. DIAM is an industry-wide
effort that is coordinated by the non-profit LIFE
Foundation to sensitise and urge people to get disability
insurances.
Like in Uganda, it is difficult to qualify for
workman's compensation and the social security in the US.
Matthew Tassey, the former chairman for LIFE Foundation,
once said: "Most people have a false sense of security
when it comes to being financially prepared for a
long-term disability. The reality is the majority of
workers do not have disability coverage through work, and
disability benefits offered by government, as social
security or worker's compensation, can be very difficult
to qualify for.
"If you work for a living, you must recognise that
your ability to work and earn income is one of your most
valuable assets and must be adequately insured.
Disability insurance is the only coverage that will work
when you can't to replace your income in the event you
become ill or injured and can't do your job."
There are over 60 million individual disability
insurance policies in force in the US.
Under the NSSF scheme in Uganda, one cannot get their
money until they reach retirement age. This is above the
life expectancy of most Ugandans. When people get the
money in lump sum, they misuse it and after a few months
they run broke.
Workers' compensation only covers you if you get
injured, ill or die as a result of your job, and only 10%
of disabilities occur on the job. Nevertheless, workers'
compensation payments are offered by few employers and
many applicants fail to qualify.
For those who are self employed, your businesses may
collapse if you become disabled. For example, you may be
admitted in hospital following an accident and later get
confined in a wheelchair. This makes you unable to
adequately run or supervise your business.
Having a disability cover is the best way to ensure
that you will be financially protected in the event that
you become disabled.
Just as one would insure his or her valuable assets,
it is important to insure the paycheck. The challenge,
therefore, is for insurance companies to start offering
this policy to ensure financial stability of Ugandans.
(The writer is the Information Officer of Uganda
National Action on Physical Disability)
Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/
