Cuban Association of Persons with Physical-Motor Disabilities prepares for its Seventh Congress (+audio and photos).

With the presence of Mabel Ballesteros López, National President of the Cuban Association of the Physically and Motor Disabled (Aclifim), the organization in the province evaluated the results of its work during the last five years with a view to its Seventh Congress.

The president of Aclifim, Mabel Ballesteros, presents recognition to Yolanda Mora, INDER specialist in sports for people with disabilities.

In the presence of Mabel Ballesteros Lopez, National President of the Cuban Association of the Physically and Motor Disabled (Aclifim), the organization in the province of Matanzas evaluated the results of the work developed during the last five years with a view to its Seventh Congress, scheduled to be held on October 9th and 10th in Havana.

The Bonifacio Byrne House of Culture, in the capital city ,was the venue chosen for the exchange, which was attended by representatives and leaders of Aclifim from all the municipalities, officials of agencies and institutions that make up the Provincial Council for the Care of People with Disabilities and several executives of the national executive of the Association.

In a five-year period marked by the negative impacts of Covid-19, the world economic crisis, the tightening of the embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. government and the complicated energy and material context of the country, the scenario became more complex for individuals with physical-motor disabilities.

This and other issues were the focus of the meeting’s discussions, where it was recognized that despite the political will of the government and the delivery of some technical assistance in the form of donations to Aclifim, in the Yumurino territory, as in the rest of the country, problems persist with the acquisition of means of ambulation, such as wheelchairs, canes and walkers, as well as the lack of funding and resources for the development of prostheses and specialized orthopedic footwear.

As analyzed, in terms of employment, an unfavorable aspect for the members of Aclifim in Matanzas, is the current paralyzation of almost all the special workshops run by the Gardís Business Group due to the lack of raw materials to undertake their productions. The interruption of these premises, where people with disabilities develop skills and are inserted into socially useful life, led to the relocation of some of its workers, while most of them were protected by Social Security.

The assembly of balance and renewal or ratification of mandate was also an opportunity to inform the delegates to the seventh Congress of the Association, the pre-candidates to the National Board of Directors, and as a result of the elections, new members were approved to strengthen the provincial executive, and Julio César Abreu Falcón was re-elected as president of Aclifim in Matanzas.

The event ended with the presentation of awards to the municipalities with outstanding performance during the period evaluated and to representatives of organizations and institutions that actively collaborate with the organization; in addition, the main leaders of the Association ratified their commitment to work even harder to achieve, with equal rights and opportunities, the social inclusion demanded by people with disabilities.

On the occasion of her visit to Matanzas, the president of Aclifim in the country, Mabel Ballesteros López, gave an interview to Radio 26 where she gave details about the preparations for the Seventh Congress and the organization’s work priorities.

…ONLINE AUDIO.

Written by Yovana Baró.