Covid-19: Persons with disabilities call for inclusion into government’s activities
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called on the government to integrate Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the activities to combat the Coronavirus as they can make meaningful contributions towards the fight.
The Centre also noted the consistent neglect of PWDs by the government in the area of access to healthcare and other palliatives during the pandemic.
Executive director of the Centre, David Anyaele stated this during a web Press conference.
He said the United Nation General secretary Antonio Guterres during a briefing at the UN House drew the attention of the world on the need to adequately mainstream issues of persons with disabilities in the fight against the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Anyaele, the Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow on citizens with disabilities as they struggle for almost everything be it public infrastructures, information, rehabilitation, healthcare services, inclusion and participation in government programs and activities, let alone implement basic hygiene measures.
He said “Aware that we were compelled to wage 18 years struggle for the passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 which President Mohammadu Buhari signed more than 15 months now, but without commit to its implementation. Thus, the Presidential task force on Covid-19 is finding it difficult to implement even as organisations of persons with disabilities have several efforts to draw the attention of the leadership of PTF on Covid-19 without success.
“Worried that more than 25million persons with disabilities in Nigeria are one of the most excluded groups in our society and are among the hardest hit in this crisis in terms of health and Economic impact. This global crisis of COVID-19 is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting that work on disability inclusion has not been addressed by the Nigeria government.
“In view of the current situation, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities joins the global call for an integrated approach that will ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind in COVID-19 response and recovery. As the most vulnerable group, CCD calls for prioritizing disability issues at the centre of the response, ensuring inclusion and participation of PWDs during planning and implementation,” he explained.
The executive director called on the government to provide necessary health facilities and eliminate all forms of discrimination against Persons With Disabilities, while calling on constant consultations with the group in the fight against the virus.
“Accessibility is fundamental to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the immediate health and socio-economic response to COVID-19. If public health information, the built environment, communications and technologies, and goods and services are not accessible, people with disabilities cannot take necessary decisions, live independently and isolate or quarantine safely, or access health and public services on an equal basis with others.
“Also there should be meaningful consultation with and active participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all stages of the COVID-19 response and recovery.
“Persons with disabilities have important contributions to make in tackling the crisis and building the future. Many persons with disabilities have experience of thriving in situations of isolation and alternate working arrangements that can offer models for navigating the current situation. Perspectives and lived experiences of disability contribute to creativity, new approaches and innovative solutions to challenges,”
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On the strides of the Centre towards alleviating the sufferings of their members, he said there are efforts in raising awareness on Covid-19 among Nigerians with disabilities; enhance access to information and essential services among persons with disabilities; link persons with disabilities to social security interventions of the governments.
According to him “Part of the activities for the intervention include: Publicity sensitization on Covid-19 and PWDs, establish toll free lines to support PWDs on Covid-19, Convene online discussion, Online Sensitization of PWDs on Covin-19, Online observation of Support to PWDs, Monitor PWDs access to humanitarian support by the government amongst other,”
He added that the toll free lines will have responses in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin so as to provide the necessary advise and direction to citizens with disabilities as Nigeria battle to contain the pandemic.
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