The wife of the Anambra Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, on Wednesday sponsored the enrolment of 1,000 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) into the state’s Health Insurance Scheme to promote their healthcare.
Soludo made the announcement during a town hall meeting with persons with special needs organised to promote her Healthy Living Initiative in Awka.
She said that PWDs had the capacity to bring unique values to the journey toward a livable and prosperous Anambra, when given adequate attention.
“I invited you because I love you all and look out for you. My husband’s administration also appreciates your undying desire to bring your best to the table of good governance.
“As I behold your amazing faces, I see strength, tenacity, doggedness and unbeatable ambitions. This is why Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative is giving out 1,000 health insurance slots free to PWDs in the state.
“This is our own way of saying that we care about you and we know that health is the greatest wealth. This free health insurance will be your passport to access the best medicare anywhere in the state.
“I want you to ensure that you use the health insurance fully to your advantage. When you notice any sign of infirmity, do not waste time visiting your doctor,” she said.
Dr Nonye Soludo addressing PWDs in Awka
Soludo urged the PWDs to prioritise their health, eat right, imbibe personal and environmental hygiene to stay healthy and alive.
Also speaking, Mr Ugochukwu Okeke, Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Anambra, requested for the inclusion of PWDs in the Healthy Living campaign.
According to him, PWDs are more affected when it comes to the issues of healthy living as a result of different challenges hinging on their various nature of disabilities.
“Including PWDs in your campaign will help get the awareness and support down to our members, thereby enabling an inclusive society,” he said.
In his keynote address, Prof. Williams Obiozor, Director, Centre for Disability and Special Needs Research, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, advocated more support and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the society.
Obiozor said that empowering and catering for the well-being of PWDs was a collective effort and should not be left for government alone.
In her remarks, Mrs Ify Obinabo, the state’s Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, appreciated the Governor’s wife for the demonstration of love to persons with disabilities in the state.
Mr Simeon Onyemaechi, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, said the package cost N12,500 annually to get medicines and treatments of health conditions covered by the scheme. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has created access to enhance active participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in politics and governance .
INEC’s Disability Desk Officer in Lagos State, Mr Luka Buba, disclosed that at a two-day workshop organised by Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) for PWD on Thursday in Lagos.
The theme of the programme was “Capacity Building Workshop For Aspiring Politicians with Disabilities”.
Describing the workshop as apt, Buba said that its goal aligned with the vision of INEC for PWDs.
“As an inclusive body, right now, INEC is creating access for PWDs in the electoral process and currently has a PWD working as an employee of the electoral umpire.
“This is a laudable achievement’ for PWDs. The initiative is in line with the support vision of INEC for PWDs,” Buba said.
According to him, INEC is an inclusive body that wants to carry everybody along in the electoral process.
He said with the training, PWDs were beginning to have a voice.
“INEC hopes to see that this inclusivity is done across board in the political parties, creating access so that more PWDs can contest in the electoral process and be voted into positions of authority in the country.
“Just as they can vote, let them also be voted for,” Buba added.
He urged PWDs to continue to make effort to excel in their political ambition and not be deterred by shame or intimidation from their able-bodied counterpart.
Also speaking, Mrs Temilola Akinade, the Chairman, Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State, urged the participants to join any political party of their choice provided such party supports their interest and political aspirations.
Akinade, the State Chairman of National Rescue Movement, while delivering a presentation, titled ‘Joining A Political Party: The Process And Requirements’, said that joining a political party would enable the PWDs to participate actively in governance and improve their lot.
“Like I said, it is very important everybody joins a political party of their choice, and it is necessary to join a party that will believe in your ideology.
“A political party is just a platform for members to express themselves to the people: your strength, your ability—what you can offer people in power,” Akinade said.
She advised the PWDs to remain focused and diligent while participating in the activities of the party.
In her remarks, the CCD’s Programme Manager and the focal person for the training,Ms Christiana Njoku, said the training was supported by VOICE
According to her, the capacity building workshop is to equip aspiring politicians with disabilities with the required skills and knowledge needed to excel in politics.
“As enshrined in the ‘discrimination against PWDs Act’, PWDs have the right to be in politics—to vote and be voted for,” Njoku said.
She dismissed the popular presumption that Nigerian politics is full of malice, treachery and other negativities.
“There is a level playground for everyone in politics. Moreover, PWDs have different interests why they are venturing into politics, she said.
Njoku encouraged the participants to not be dispirited by prejudice and stigma, which they might experience as PWDs in politics.
One of the participants, Rotimi Adeniyi, who is the Chairman of the National Association of Persons with Physical Disability in Lagos State, commended CCD for the training and expressed delight for participating in the programme
“I want to commend the organiser of this programme, CCD, for always coming up with something that is needed at the moment, considering the upcoming local government elections.
“Despite the fact that I’m already an aspiring politician with APC party, I have benefitted from this programme,”
Adeniyi said that he had passion for politics and the party. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Dr Chike Okogwu, founder, Centre for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE), an NGO, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish disability service desk in all domestic and International Airports.
Okogwu said the idea was to assist as well as check cases of discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
He said this on Wednesday, while handing over some assistive devices and operational guidelines of Aviation accessibility project for PWDs, to the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), in Abuja.
He said the project which was initiated by CARE in collaboration with OXFAM initiative, was designed to support PWDs to get easy access to airports facilities across the country.
According to him, we have successfully completed a disability service desk at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja to provide all the disability needs when travelling by air.
Okogwu, however, said the group could not sustain the project, hence the need for the commission to take over and ensure its sustainability.
”Our aim was to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of air travellers within the disability communities because the facility we erected at the airport include installation of ambi lifts and stair climbing for PWDs.
”Others are wheelchairs, umbrella for Persons with Albinism, Manual Waiting wheelchair, all enabling better mobility for Persons with Disabilities.
”We also provided sign language for the deaf,” he said.
Okogwu expressed the need for the federal government to increase the budgetary allocation of NCPWD to one trillion naira (N1 trillion) as against the current allocation of one billion naira (N1 billion).
According to him, this will help the commission to deliver on its mandate of attending to over 30 million persons with disabilities which constituted 15 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
Responding, the NCPWD Boss, Mr James Lalu, assured the visitors of federal government’s readiness to take-over the project with a view to providing relief to PWDs while travelling by air.
Lalu also expressed commitment to deploy manpower that would ensure the sustainability of the project.
He also promised that the commission would deploy at least three of its personnel in each of the airports across the country to provide essential services to PWDs.
He appealed to the visitors to assist in training his staff to administer the project effectively.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has trained local government electoral officers on effective voting access for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the 2025 Chairmanship Elections in Lagos State.
The Head of Finance and Administrative Manager, CCD, Mrs Florence Chima-Austin, made this known at the opening of a workshop for Lagos State Electoral Independent Commission (LASIEC) officials across 20 LGAs in Lagos on Wednesday.
Chima-Austin explained that the purpose of the training was to ensure that no persons with disabilities would be left behind in the planning process of electioneering forthcoming chairmanship elections in the state.
The official added that the training was to ensure the inclusion of PWDs during the election and to provide the knowledge that was needed for PWDs to participate on an equal basis with others.
She noted that the training was carried out to build the capacity on the relevant laws such as the Lagos State Special People Laws Section 21, National Disability Act Section 30.
According to her, others are the UN Convention on the right of Persons with Disabilities Section 29 and the Electoral Act 2022 Section 54B.
“During the presentation under Voice Nigeria, we paid advocacy visit to LASIEC and the Disabilities Desk officer was appointed in the commission. Since then, they have been rolling out the issues of disabilities inclusion in their programmes and activities.
“They also find the need to promote this programme on equal voting access for persons with disabilities considering that by next year 2025 Lagos State will be having its Local Government elections.
“So, LASIEC see the need for CCD to come in because it is a collaboration programme with LASIEC and CCD to train all the electoral officers in Lagos State.
“This means that after this training, they will be able to go down to the grassroots and step down this training, so in the coming forth election, it will be inclusive.
“Hence, no persons with disabilities will be left behind in the planning process of electioneering in the state,” she said.
The official said there was a need for the ad-hoc staff to be trained to understand the use of ECH-40 forms, which capture the data of every PWDs that comes to vote in every polling unit.
She said that in capturing their data, it will also aid the logistics plans for further election time for the 20 million PWDs in Lagos State.
Chima-Austin advocated that it was time that the commission brought the polling units close to the PWDs residence.
According to her, proximity is an issue here because in the election, there is no movement and you don’t expect the person on wheelchairs to trek to a long distance.
She said there was also a need to bring the Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in training ad-hoc staff for them to understand their roles in issues of inclusion in elections.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Mrs Morenike Oki, noted that inclusion and accessibility had become important guiding principles for electoral integrity all over the world.
Oki said this was a fundamental pillar of a true democracy as it provided a unique opportunity to break down social stigmas.
She said Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 1948 states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
The permanent secretary said the right of citizens to take part in the government of their country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives, is entrenched in Article 21(1).
“There is perhaps no better demonstration of equality than the right of a citizen to exercise his/her franchise through equal access to the electoral process.
“The commission will ensure that persons with disabilities appear alongside other citizens as active participants in the political and electoral process.
“Involvement in these activities not only empowers persons with disabilities but can also help transform the electoral process, public perception, confidence and needed integration,” she said.
Oki said as the tenure of the elected officials at the Local Council Administration was winding up, the commission was entrusting itself with the conduct of a hitch-free, fair, credible, peaceful, inclusive and transparent election.
She said the commission would continue to build and sustain the image as an impartial body recognised for excellence in electoral management in the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has paid an advocacy visit to the office of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice at Alausa, Ikeja.
The visit was part of activities of the project on Enhancing Access to Justice, Democratic Governance, and Promoting Political Participation for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), with support from Voice Nigeria.
The interim Head of CCD, Mrs Florence Austin, led the visit on Wednesday and met with Mrs Adetutu Oshinusi, the Director of Directorate for Citizens Right of the Ministry.
Austin said that PWDs were daily faced with challenges.
She advocated that the indices be improved upon as PWDS were also bona fide citizens of the country.
Ms Christiana Njoku of CCD presented some of the challenges PWDs faced in accessing justice.
She, on behalf of CCD, said there was need to promote, enhance, and ensure that PWDs contribute significantly to an equitable society for all, including PWDs.
Oshinusi commended the Centre for the good work and responded that the ministry gave legal representation to clients when required, especially cases that bridge fundamental human rights among others.
According to her, the Ministry of Justice is the Executive arm of government, which implements the laws in the state.
She said that there were other agencies established by the government that promote and protect the rights of the citizens that are being infringed upon.
She said that such agencies included the Citizens Mediation Centre, Consumer Protection Agency, Community Centre, Public Advocacy Centre, and Office of the Public Defender.
She said: “If PWDs are stigmatised or discriminated upon, they can come and report at our office or any of the office, and as an OPD, we can also refer PWDs to come to their office’’.
On awareness, she said the ministry had done a lot of awareness programmes on radio jingles, and interviews.
Speaking of the inaccessibility of their office to PWDs, she said they usually went downstairs to meet with the PWDs and if, for instance, a person with hearing impairment comes to the office, they could write down the complaints or they send to The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) for an interpreter.(NAN)www.nannews.ng
Participants at a training organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) say there is urgent need for security and judiciary personnel to help enhance the civic space for effective participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The event, “One-day Training of Security Formations and Justice Providers on Disability Rights and Effects of Shrinking Civic Space on Persons with Disabilities in Lagos State’’, had the theme: “Enhancing Civic Space and Disability Rights for PWDs in Lagos State”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants included personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command; The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Judiciary, PWDs, Media among others.
Civic space can be referred to as the political, legislative, social and economic environment which enables citizens to come together, share their interests and concerns and act to influence and shape their societies.
Mr Patrick Allan, a Facilitator and Legal Officer, in his address, described civic space as a set of conditions that allowed citizens to express themselves.
According to him, security agencies have a major role in ensuring that these spaces are accessible, safe and inclusive for PWDs.
“ There’s discrimination and stigma that regularly go with People with Disabilities; they need to constantly speak up against such negative stereotypes.
“This means they need the civic space to be able to do that.
“Physical barriers and lack of accessibility are some of the major challenges. It’s something that they need to have spaces that allow them to freely interact with other members of society.’’.
According to him, at present, legal protections for people with disabilities are inadequate.
“In some cases, the implementation is not in the best form, and in some cases, they are simply a work in progress.
“So, a lot of responsibilities rest with the judicial personnel to actively protect, promote an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public life without discrimination’’.
In an interview with NAN, Lukman Salami, a legal practitioner, said there was need to re-orientate the public on the societal challenges faced by PWDs.
According to Salami, who is the Chairman of Nigerian Association of the Blind, Lagos state chapter, a major challenge is discrimination, which leads to not being accepted and not being recognised in the society.
“We’re being discriminated against, we are not totally accepted in the society and not recognised even when we try to do our best to tell the society that disability is not in ability, and that we are equal to the task just like counterparts.
“The proposed ways of getting it right is reorientation of the public.
“That the so-called cultural belief that disability amounts to inability is no longer the situation; people that are disabled are not productive, not because of inability but because of the societal discrimination and lack of acceptance in the society.
“If they are accepted and not discriminated against, they can be useful and contribute to the society as their able counterpart.
“So, re- orientation has to come and we will follow that through, through systematic advocacy and awareness and there must be a proper implementation of the disability law at the federal level as well as the state level.’’
Commenting on the training, Mrs Florence Austin, Administrative Finance Manager of CCD, representing CCD’s Executive Director, David Anyaele, said the forum had been able to strengthen the capacity of the security agencies as well as judiciary services who participated.
She said it would be more fruitful if after the training, the participants put into practice the knowledge acquired.
“This is because we are looking at the regulations and other executive orders and activities of the security agencies as well as judiciary services that shrink the civic space of the civil outsource activities and programmes.
“This is to both the interest of the public as well as the humanitarian activities we are carrying out, to ensure that the rights of PWDs are not being infringed upon.
“We have recorded some incidents where PWDs were brutalised, when they were having their peaceful protests. We see the need to sensitise the stakeholders relevant in promoting this cause.
“And also ensure that their policies are shown to be more inclusive, for them to understand that there are provisions in the disability act that highlight their rights.
“They are human beings and there is the need for their rights to be respected,’’ she said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra Chapter, has urged Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to allocate 10 per cent of government’s subsidy palliatives to persons with disabilities (PWDs), in the state.
Mr Ugochukwu Okeke, state Chairman, JONAPWD, made the call in a letter addressed to the Governor and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Awka.
Okeke said that the dedicated percentage would enable PWDs to meet their basic needs, including food, healthcare, and other essential assistance during the challenging period.
He said that persons with disabilities who were often faced with additional challenges in daily life, were disproportionately affected by the current hardship due to the fuel subsidy removal.
According to him, there is an urgent need to ensure that they are not left behind in terms of accessing essential services and support.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment and intentions to distribute palliatives at the community and ward levels, to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
“We humbly propose that a minimum of 10 per cent of the palliatives be specifically dedicated to PWDs within each ward and community to ensure their fair and equitable access to the palliatives.
“It is also important to make one of us (PWDs), a member of any committee that will be set up by the government to handle the distribution of the palliatives.
“This can significantly mitigate the adverse impacts faced by PWDs and uphold their rights to a healthy living as well as demonstrate our state commitment to inclusivity, compassion, and the principle of leaving no one behind,” he said.
Okeke urged Gov. Soludo to consider the 10 per cent proposal and issue directives to community leaders or regard the disability community as an additional special ward in the state.
He appreciated the Governor for his continuous efforts in addressing the challenges facing the state and the needs of the most vulnerable members of the society.
“We remain hopeful that our government will take the necessary steps to address the concerns of persons with disabilities during these challenging times,” he said.
JONAPWD is an umbrella organisation of persons with disability established in Nigeria to promote the rights and development of Nigerians with disabilities.(NAN) (www nannews.ng)
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) urges the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other emergency management agencies to be inclusive of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in their response and measures to reduce disasters.
According to CCD, an NGO, disaster is always inclusive and does not discriminate, as such when it occurs, it disproportionately affects persons with disabilities and their families in vulnerable situations.
Mr David ANyaele, Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
Mr David Anyaele, Executive Director, CCD, made the call while briefing news men on Friday on the impact of impending flood in some parts of the country on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
He said that NEMA, state agencies and partners in emergency management should take appropriate steps to identify PWDs and ensure their inclusion in the planning for support to flood survivors and displaced persons.
“It is an issue that requires to be addressed as a matter of utmost urgency, of which, if not adequately checked, may affect persons with disabilities the most.
“Recognising that disasters is always inclusive and it does not discriminate, as such when it occurs, it disproportionately affects persons with disabilities and their families in vulnerable situations.
“ It further exposes persons with disabilities to increased difficulty as a result of separation from family, loss of assistive and mobility devices, and difficulties with accessing information and relief materials.’’
According to him, in spite various calls by the disability community and organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) like CCD on disaster risk reduction and prompt response, most state emergency management agencies fail to adequately plan for or include PWDs in their disaster management activities.
“ This causes severe inequities in access to immediate response.
“As well as long-term recovery resources for persons with disabilities prior to the disaster and those who acquire a disability as a result of the disaster.
“If adequate care is not taken to address these issues by the identified states by its emergency management agencies and governments beforehand, most persons with disabilities will lose their lives and property.
“This is the main reason we are sounding a note of warning through this press conference to avert impending catastrophes that will befall the disability community in the would-be affected states by the impending flooding.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, NEMA projected that about 14 states and 31 communities might witness heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding from July 4 to July 8.
Some of the states include Kano, Delta, Kebbi, Plateau, Akwa-Ibom, Sokoto, Kaduna, Adamawa, Kastina, Kebbi, Kwara, Zamfara, Borno, and Jigawa.
Similarly, in February 2023, the Federal Government warned that not less than 178 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 32 states including Lagos and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were at a high risk of flooding in 2023.
Anyaele noted that climate change also drastically increased the frequency and intensity of disaster globally, saying that flooding had been the major disaster in Nigeria with deleterious impacts on livelihood, properties and human lives.
He also called for data to show aggregate of PWDs affected by disasters in Nigeria.
“In 2022, Nigeria recorded the most devastating flood events in a decade, claiming over 600 lives, and displacement of 1.3 million persons.
“Although, there was no disaggregated data on the number of PWDs affected yet.
“In a media release by Cable on Jan. 4, 2023, the experience of persons with disabilities during the 2022 flooding event were shared.
“The release highlighted the challenges faced by PWDs and the impacts of poor and non-inclusive emergency/disaster management on their welfare and safety.
“Abu Hajara, a lady using wheelchair from Kogi State narrowly avoided being swept away by the flood;
“ Bisi Akponanabofa, a person with physical disability from Bayelsa had to swim a distance of 200 metres to seek refuge with a lot of trampling along the way.
“Also, Joy Ogbogene, a 36-year-old lady with albinism shared she among other cluster member were exposed to dirty water which later caused skin infections.
“Due to their low vision, they encounter difficulty sighting reptiles transported to their homes and communities through floodwater.’’
Proffering some solutions, he urged NEMA, state emergency management agencies and other relevant stakeholders to awareness campaigns on the inclusion of PWDs in disaster response.
He said that this should be carried out involving organisations of persons with disabilities and disability NGOs.
Anyaele also advised that Local and State Governments officials responsible for emergency management should take appropriate measures to map PWDs in all the wards in the flooding prone states.
According to him, this will ensure that they are not forgotten when flood disaster occurs.
He said that adequate measures should also be taken to ensure that relief materials and other support to displaced persons were distributed without discrimination against persons living with disability.
“State and other emergency management agencies should ensure that all mechanism for data capturing and impact assessment are designed to reflect the needs of persons with different forms of disability.
“ Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development in affected states should provide leadership and coordinate efforts to reach out to PWDs.
“All emergency management institutions should ensure that water and sanitation measures at the relief camps include options that are easily accessible to persons on wheelchairs, the visually impaired and those with other forms of disabilities.
“State and other agencies for emergency management should pay adequate professional medical attention to newly injured or disabled persons to avoid medical complications, secondary disabilities or even fatal outcomes.
“They should equally pay adequate attention to the emotional and social needs of disaster victims to help them overcome normal trauma symptoms, including providing professional psychologists to handle disaster victims.’’
He also advised PWDs, their families and organisations to take the warning of the NEMA very seriously. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
