YANGON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The 4th Myanmar Festival of Artists with Disabilities was held in Yangon late Saturday, with more efforts being called for to help persons with disabilities in the country.
Myanmar's Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Win Myat Aye addressed the event, saying the government has been making efforts to provide better access for persons with disabilities in education, health and employment sectors.
Such an art festival could show the active participation of persons with disabilities in society, he added.
"I don't want persons with disabilities like me to be discouraged. I want them to show everyone that we can do it and believe in themselves," Htet Htet Aung, program coordinator of Myanmar Independent Living Initiative (MILI) which is an organizer of the art festival, told Xinhua.
About 60 artists with disabilities including guest artists from Singapore and the Philippines participated in the event featuring singing, wheel-chair dances, dances, talent show, among others.
As part of promoting participation of persons with disabilities in society, the festival of artists with disabilities has been held since 2013.
There are 2.3 million people with disabilities in Myanmar, around 4.6 percent of the population, according to 2014 Myanmar Census.
