He was speaking at the Prosthetic Limb Attaching Ceremony for Disabled People held at U Ottama Hall in Sittwe, Rakhine State on Wednesday (February 7) afternoon.

“Based on the research conducted by Shwe Minn Tha Foundation, there are over 100,000 disabled people in the Rakhine State, which makes up over 5.3 percent of the population. There are 1.3 million disabled people in Myanmar. The Rakhine State ranks top compared with 4.6 percent of the total population in the country are disabled,” said U Myat Thu Win, who is working for disability rights.

U Myat Thu Win explained that 78 percent of the disabled people have no job opportunities and each person only earns Ks 10,000 per month among 5.3 percent of population in the Rakhine State. Only three percent of the disabled people have been allowed access to education.

“A total of 94 percent of the disabled people receive no words of encouragement in the Rakhine State. Only 51 percent of them receive family support. Due to these situations, they started to lose hope and now they have no hope,” said U Myat Thu Win. 

During his trip, Shwe Minn Thar Foundation’s chair U Myat Thu Win discussed disability rights with the Rakhine State Hluttaw Speaker and he will also meet with the Rakhine State government.

Forty-eight prosthetic limbs were provided to the disabled people during the ceremony. 

“Today is an honorable day because the disabled people received the prosthetic limbs. It’s a ceremony that honors the disabled people,” said Dr Chan Thar, the Rakhine State Minister of Social Affairs.

He urged the disabled people to uplift their abilities and take part in national development projects.

“Today is the first time [the prosthetic limb] has been attached. It’s convenient to move around. In the past, I had to use a crutch when I played. Now, I can play freely like a normal person. I’m very happy to receive the prosthetic limb,” said Maung Nay San Aung, an eight-year-old boy from Kyar Nat Kan Village of Kyauktaw Township, who has one leg missing since birth.

Maung Aung Soe Tun, a 13-year-old boy attending the 4th Standard in Hpa Wut Chaung Village in Maungdaw Township, said he had often fell down when he walked in the rain as he was missing one leg. 

“This is my first time. I had to use a crutch in the past, but it was short so I couldn’t use it. Sometimes, I fell down while I walked in the rain. My mother had to carry me and take me to school. When I wanted to play football, I had to kneel to play football. This time, I can play while standing up like a normal person,” said Maung Aung Soe Tun.

Disabled people in the Rakhine State receive lesser opportunities compared to those from other states and regions. Shwe Minn Thar Foundation has established seven groups to assist the disabled people in the Rakhine State.