Mauritian experience in participating in the Washington

Group Workshop

Country profile

• The population of the Republic of Mauritius was around 1.2 million people in 2005

• The per capita GNP is around $5,000

Sources of disability statistics

• Population Census

• Beneficiaries of disability pensions compiled by the Ministry of Social Security

Question of disability in census

Does the person experience any disability (i.e. any limitation to perform a daily life activity in a manner considered normal for a person of his/her age), because of a long term physical/mental condition or health problem?

Write yes or no

If yes, insert as many disabilities as applicable as follows:

• SPCH –speaking and talking disabilities• EAR – hearing and listening disabilities even

with hearing aid• EYE – seeing disabilities even with glasses• MTION – walking, running and other ambulation

disabilities• MANU – manual activity disability such as

fingering, gripping and holding• LEARN – disturbance of ability to learn and

acquire education

• BEH – disturbance of behaviour, including antisocial behaviour, maladjustment and liability to self injury

• CARE – inability to look after oneself with regard to personal care and hygiene, feeding etc.

• OTHER – other disabilities (specify)

Disability prevalence rateRepublic of Mauritius

Year Male Female B.Sexes

1990 27.7 25.0 26.4

2000 35.2 34.0 34.6

The rate is defined as the number of disabled persons per 1,000 mid-year population

Disability data from beneficiaries of invalid pensions

Eligibility criteria

• The basic invalid’s pension is payable to any person aged from 15-59 years if certified by a medical board that the person is either permanently or substantially incapacitated to work to a degree of 60% or more for at least 12 months

• Once the period covered by the medical certificate expires, application has to be made afresh

Eligibility criteria

• Persons attaining age 60 shift to the basic retirement pension but receives an additional sum if they are either

• Totally blind• Suffer from total paralysis• Need the constant care of another person

(Enhanced Basic Retirement pension)

Number of beneficiaries of invalid 's pension by sex, 2001 - 2003

YearBasic Invalid's pension

Male Female B. Sexes Male Female B. Sexes

2001 10,961 11,009 21,970 4,989 9,031 14,020

2003 11,478 11,527 23,005 5,284 9,621 14,905

2003 11,798 11,829 23,627 5,466 10,133 15,599

Enhanced Basic Retirement pension

Country experience in participating in Washington Group workshop

• Opportunity to know more about activities of the Washington Group in the field of disability statistics

• To know more about new development proposed by the Washington group in terms of the phrasing of questions on disability

• Briefed on the different steps involved in the proposed field testing

• Introduced to the cognitive testing which was unknown to us

• Opportunity to know about the experience of other countries in terms of activities related to disability statistics

Country experience in participating in Washington Group workshop

The conduct of field test

• Were proposed to conduct field testing

• Only cognitive testing will be conducted

• A sample of 24 respondents will be interviewed – financial constraints

• Propose to use the questionnaire provided in the workshop held in Kenya in June 2005

Procedures

• Timing of survey will be around October/November 2005

• Sampling frame – List of people with disabilities to be obtained from the Ministry of Social Security

• The procedures for the preparation not yet started – will soon start after this workshop

Expectations from this workshop

• Hoping to receive additional materials and know–how in order to conduct the cognitive testing more efficiently

• Not sure on the extent of our involvement in the analysis of the survey data

Thank You for your attention