I.D.E.A - Helping People With Disability

I.D.E.A ZAMBIA

National Director
Bernadette N. Mulenga
Tel. +00260966-630177

National Coordinator
Eric Nsokolo
Tel. +00260996-875019

IDEA Zambia was officially registered with Zambian Registrar of Societies on August 6th 2004. IDEA is currently working on identifying people with epilepsy and other developmental disabilities in the country. According to the ministry of health statistics, there are at least 50,000 epileptics in Zambia, most of these are children who do not get proper medical care and many do not even attend school. IDEA Zambia is only one of two organizations dealing with epilepsy related problems in the country. The other one being the Epilepsy Association of Zambia, under the Global Campaign against Epilepsy.

ACHIEVEMENTS
• IDEA Zambia has registered 300 people with epilepsy and other developmental disabilities in Lusaka the Capital of Zambia. IDEA is providing counseling and refreshment for the disabled clients on weekly basis at Missi Compound, John Howard community (low income subsidized housing) and other areas in the city. IDEA provides assistance to volunteer teachers at John Howard community school by transporting school books and other needed material from down town to the community.

• On June 10 2005, IDEA conducted a work shop for IDEA volunteers, elementary and secondary school Teachers. Participants received education on Seizures and Epilepsy, developmental disability and basic medication administration.

• On June 24 2005, IDEA conducted a seminar at John Howard community school to encourage teachers, parents and community leaders send their epileptic children to school. School children were also educated about epilepsy and the need to interact with their colleagues affected by seizures.

• IDEA acquired a land at Nsokolo village to start a vocational school in 2006, for disabled and normal children. Registration of children and the hiring of teachers to teach in the school will be based on the availability of funds.

• IDEA rented a house for three years to open an orphanage for children in 2006. IDEA bought a bicycle for the care taker of the home to facilitate mobility into villages and around town.

Further expansion of IDEA Zambia programs is centered on the availability of funds.