COVID-19: PWDs in Kaduna demand inclusion in state’s palliative c’ttee
Kaduna State Chapter, has urged the state government to include its members in the distribution committee of government’s palliative for vulnerable persons in the state.
JONAPWD is the umbrella body that speaks on behalf of people with disabilities in Kaduna Chairman of JONAPWD, Malam Suleiman Abdullazez stated this in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kaduna.
Abdullazez said the committee on relief material set up by the state government did not include JONAPWD (persons with disabilities) members from state to Local Government Area levels.
According to him, the committee that is on ground to provide assistance to the most vulnerable in the society at the local government area and wards, ought to give priority to PWDs.“It appears that we are being discriminated upon and neglected by the committee.”
It’s very disheartening to note that PWDs are not being captured in the distribution of palliatives.“We, therefore, call for a review of the committee to include people with disability as this will give us a sense of belonging and inclusiveness, ” he said.According to him, COVID-19 pandemic is a national calamity that has no respect for anyone, able or disabled, rich or poor.
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The lockdown enforced by the Kaduna state government did not exempt persons with disabilities.” We want to inform you that if the Coronavirus do not kill disabled persons in Kaduna state, surely hunger will kill our members,” he lamented.
The chairman, however, wished Gov. Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna quick recovery and prayed that Allah would bring an end to the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, Kaduna state and the world in general.
