KIGALI, FEBRUARY - JICA/RDRC ECOPD Projectin collaboration with National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) gathered forty one (41) members involved in the airline transportations to persuade them influence necessary disability friendly airports readjustments.
The adjustments entail making Kigali International Airport (KIA) and other Rwanda airline terminals accessible and friendly with barrier-free facilities and good customer care for People with Disabilities (PWDs).
Professor Yoshihiko Kawauchi, a JICA expert who possesses a PhD in engineering and wheelchair user barrier –free, introduced good practices of airline terminals with reference to back home country, Japanese accessible airports.
The 41 persons workshop from Rwanda Civil Association Authority, Rwanda Housing Authority, Airways companies working in Rwanda ie Rwandair, Qatar airways, Brussels airlines, Ethiopian airlines; Case Fire Company, NCPD, JICA, NUDOR and its member organizations during this workshop completed a 6 months action plans to ease access and friendliness of airports. Customer service and delivery were to be enhanced as well.
During his remark, Dr. Richard Masozera, the Director General of RCAA, emphasized that the current reconstruction works of KIA will be complete in June and further constructions as well as the underconstruction Bugesera International Airport.
He recommended a thorough collaboration with Rwanda Development Board to mainstream disability issues in the trainings organized and offered about custom care.
As a result of a previous collaboration with the Rwanda housing Authority, all buildings to be built in the future must have facilities of ease of access for the people living with disabilities.