This bachelor’s thesis is a part of a development and co-operation process associated
with Finnish and Namibian municipalities Ondangwa, Lempäälä, Keetmanshoop and
Kangasala: Partnership for Local Democracy & Development and Social Innovation
(PLDDSI). The purpose of this study was to survey the Namibian legislation regarding
assistive devices for people with disabilities and how the legislation was implemented
in daily living. The objective of this study was to produce a written report for the thesis’
partner in co-operation, the municipality of Lempäälä, about the information gathered
through interviews and observations in Namibia. This information will be beneficial for
the future development work in Namibia.
The basic method that was used in this study was theme interviews. The interviews
were analyzed using qualitative methods of research. The process started in the fall of
2011 by data acquisition, and the field work in Namibia occurred in the spring of 2012.
During the field work we interviewed different groups of professionals that were associated
with assistive devices in Namibia.
Based on our research it is clear that the implementation of the legislation about assistive
devices does not function properly in practice. The problems occur in various areas,
for example in the availability of wheelchairs and in the number of maintenance services
for assistive devices. The situation with children’s assistive devices is clearly the
worst. The problems are partly a result from the centralization of the services to the capital
city, and because of the difficulties in co-operation between the government, regions
and municipalities. This hinders the chances for people with disabilities to have an active
role in society.
Namibia will benefit from a local company that would be manufacturing and repairing
wheelchairs. In the northern region of Oshakati there is a Norwegian funded Local Rehabilitation
Workshop (Lorewo) that is manufacturing wheelchairs, but its supply does
not cover whole Namibia’s demand. A local wheelchair company would create jobs for
Namibians and it would make it possible to design wheelchairs that are specifically
made to function in Namibian environment. The implementation of the legislation must
also be developed and more financial resources should be arranged for it. However,
Namibia has been independent only for twenty-two years, and the development of a
nation, including the implementation of legislations, is a long and slow process.