Joining the theme proposed the year 2023 to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on the 3rd of December, three people with disabilities, accompanied by Torba’s Disability Desk Officer, the PWD Provincial Team and R4D2 engineers, have undertaken the first Road Accessibility, Safety and Security Audit in Vanuatu.
MIPU-PWD, with the support of the Roads for Development Program under the Vanuatu-Australia Partnership, conducted a careful survey to assess how the design and construction of the new road had considered the needs of vulnerable groups, such as women, people with disabilities and children.
The road passed the test with good marks. The auditors highlighted the fact that the road has 1.4 Km of footpath along the main commercial area, which includes the market, the school, the provincial Headquarters, and the police station. The footpath provides good access for wheelchairs and allows children to safely walk to school. There are also speed bumps and traffic signs that aim to ensure road safety for everyone.
The invited inspectors, however, also identified points for improvement. Torba’s provincial Government, PWD and R4D2 are already working on options to paint the footpath dividers to help the visually impaired differentiate them. The team will also be extending the footpath and reducing the slop steepness in specific areas to facilitate wheelchair mobility. Including solar streetlights in specific areas is also been considered.
Roads are key to support social and economic development, but sometimes they are designed and built in a way that makes them not accessible or usable by people with disabilities, older people, or children. Vulnerable groups, especially people with disabilities, are frequently in the best position to advise on the specific needs they have for access, usability and safety when using roads. After the success of this Road Accessibility Safety and Security audit The Vanuatu-Australia Partnership has decided to expand community consultations for the upcoming projects, consulting communities before, during and after construction.
A double amputee, Mr. Ngpao, explained how his life has dramatically changed after the construction of the new road, as he is now able to wheel along the road to access services. “The upgrade of the road is helping many people in the community, especially children going to school and people with disabilities like us. In the past, I barely could leave my house, but now, I can push my wheelchair and go to the shops, to the beach and even to visit my family.”
The audit is a great step towards the inclusion of people with disabilities in planning and design of public infrastructure projects. The Australia-Vanuatu partnership is committed to continue supporting people with disabilities and their families, opening opportunities for a better life, and promoting healthy and inclusive communities.