We Need Policy To Address Our Vulnerability During, After COVID-19 Pandemic, PWDS Begs FG

Matthew Ogune, Abuja

THE Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has stressed the need for the federal government to come up with disability sensitive policies and program that will address the vulnerability nature of persons with disabilities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

CCD Executive Director, David Anyaele who made this appeal on Monday in Abuja during a press conference, wondered why the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, who has the responsibility of addressing the issues and concerns of persons with disabilities was yet to come out with a policy.

Lamenting that more than 25million persons with disabilities in Nigeria are one of the most excluded groups in the society and are among the hardest hit in the crisis in terms of health and economic impact, Anyaele maintained that the 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.

He said: “Globally, and Nigeria in particular, it is recognized fact that people with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty, and they experience higher rates of violence, neglect and abuse. The pandemic is intensifying these inequalities and producing new threats. Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow on citizens with disabilities”

“Under normal day, PWDs 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.

“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.

“All COVID-19 related action must prohibit any form of discrimination based on disability and take into consideration the intersections of gender and age, among other factors. This is imperative to address and prevent barriers that may arise during response and recovery.”

The director urged the government to ensure mainstreaming of disability in all COVID-19 response and recovery plans with targeted actions, saying that, this is to ensure that all gaps are close around disability and Covid-19 pandemic.

He continued: ‘Ensure accessibility of information, facilities, services and programmes in the COVID-19 response and recovery plans.

“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.

“Ensure 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.

“Establish accountability mechanisms to ensure disability inclusion in the COVID-19 response. Ensure inclusive investments to support disability-inclusive outcomes. Governments, donors, and other actors need to establish mechanisms to monitor investments to ensure it is reaching persons with disabilities. Disaggregating data by disability is key to ensure accountability.”

Anyaele called on the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 pandemic to mandate the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to create a dedicated hotline, ambulances, and transport facilities for persons with disabilities to enable them access information and routine medical checkups.

Lamenting that the challenge of hunger in disability communities was getting worse by the day, he noted that priority attention is needed on access to food and other palliatives to ensure they are not left behind in the distribution of relief materials.