NANFeatures/Vol.11/No.23/2017 (Feb. 1)
Caring for the physically challenged
By Olasunkanmi Onifade, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, a non-governmental organisation, recently noted that the number of people with disabilities recorded during the 2006 census was inaccurate.
It observed the census recorded three million people with disabilities whereas the number was far greater than that.
However, Ms Obiageli Nwokedi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, said Nigeria had about 19 million physically challenged persons.
She said the ability to take care of the vulnerable group would determine how well the country could provide for its citizenry.
She said the population of the physically challenged was large enough to attract attention and consideration in policy formulation and programme implementation.
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, therefore, called on Nigeria’s National Population Commission to cooperate with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in the next census to capture the actual number for the purpose of giving adequate care to the physically challenged.
Concerned citizens also insist that the consequences of being physically challenged remain one of the major challenges that threaten human existence.
At the recent International Day of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator, Aisha Alhassan, said lack of global focus on the plight of the disabled had affected development.
“This has led to the world attention being drawn towards addressing issues affecting PWDs, especially through the United Nations (UN) declarations, treaties and conventions.
“The signing and ratification of one of such conventions by Nigeria in 2010 goes a long way to confirm the country’s commitment towards development, care and welfare of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs),’’ she said.
Alhassan said the annual celebration of the day was to awaken the consciousness of all member-states towards encouraging and promoting activities that would ensure integration into the mainstream of society and empowerment of the physically challenged.
She also said the day was to promote the understanding of disability issues and galavanise support for dignity, rights and well being of PWDs.
“The objectives of the celebration are to draw attention to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals recently adopted by the UN; to showcase and celebrate the contributions of PWDs in Nigeria as agent of change and development,’’ she said.
Alhassan said passing the National Disability Bill into law would strengthen the full implementation of the provisions of the UN conventions on PWDs.
“So far, the Ministry has taken some steps towards the protection and wellbeing of PWDs through the recruitment of some PWDs into the Federal Civil Service.
“The ministry is also carrying out a national survey on PWDs and the construction of ramps in some public buildings as well as provision of empowerment tools, aids and appliances to PWDs.
“Others are skill acquisition training programmes and the creation of disability desk in the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, among others,’’ she said.
But Mr Mustapha Jibril, Commissioner for Health in Niger, opined that apart from this approach, there ought to be specific steps to be taken to ensure PWDs’ unhindered access to quality and affordable education and healthcare services.
“These include the deconstructing and challenging societal norms and attitudes which reinforce and perpetuate discrimination against PWDs.
“Also, improving data on disability, health and education and building accountability for action and changing the physical design of public buildings as well as equipment to make them accessible for all are essential,’’ he said.
Irrespective of these measures, the National President, Joint National Association of PWDs, Mrs Ekaete Umoh, said the association had a role to play in providing complementary support.
She said children with disabilities constituted more than 50 per cent of the more than 10 million out of school children in spite of free and compulsory education for all children.
Umoh said most of the primary and secondary schools were not designed and built for PWDs.
In the light of this, the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) called for the inclusion of the physically challenged in national policies to increase awareness and resolve their challenges.
The President of DWAN, Abuja chapter, Mrs Helen Udoye, said an estimated five million women were living with deafness in Nigeria and were making tremendous impact in national growth.
“We are calling for free health care insurance scheme, permanent sign language interpreters in Federal Government hospitals and 20 per cent slot in job placement in Federal Government agencies.
“We want NGO’s to implement programmes beneficial to the deaf and we also pray the society to refrain from stigmatisation against persons with disabilities,’’ she said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Toyin Aderemi, the Country Representative, Christian Blind Mission International, called for inclusive education for the physically challenged.
“Parents do not see the value of educating a child with disability; some parents are afraid of discrimination and negative attitudes of others.
“Those children with disabilities in schools face barriers such as inaccessible physical environment, inaccessible communication and lack of adapted learning materials.
“Negative attitudes, insensitivity and failure to acknowledge the rights of persons with disabilities are the root causes of the barriers to education,’’ she said.
However, Mrs Victoria Akintaro, the Director of Rehabilitation, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, promised that the ministry would support the physically challenged persons by addressing most of their challenges.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)