The setting up of the National Disability Commission has been described as an opportunity to advance the course of persons with disabilities and promote disability-inclusion in Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq while speaking at the Nationa Policy Dialogue on improving the responsiveness of humanitarian, health and gender issues to the needs of women with disabilities which was organized by BONews Service.
Farouq who was represented by the Special Adviser on Special Needs, Hon. Danjuma Attah explained that the Ministry is taking tremendous efforts to ensure the needs of PWDs especially women with disabilities are adequately met.
Explaining how the pandemic has negatively impacted on WWDs, Hon. Attah noted that Ministry has set up a COVID-19 intervention committee and would ensure the inclusion of WWDs with the aim of proferring disability specific solutions and interventions.
Earlier, Princess Jumai Idonije, Special Adviser, Technical to the Minister of Women Affairs commended the organizers of the initiative and explained that
Speaking, Judith Ononose from the Department of family Health, Federal Ministry of Health said the identified issues raised in the position papers presented would be adequately looked into with the aim of making health facilities accessible and responsive to women with disabilities.
While delivering the position paper to the Ministry of Humanitarian Afffairs, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, Disability-Inclusion consultant, called on the Ministry to
“There is need for the management and staff of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry to embark on extensive capacity-building towards developing new strategies for inclusion of WWDs in all humanitarian and disaster management interventions.
“A special COVID19 relief program for WWDs should be initiated to quickly reach WWDs with very challenging situations,” he added.
Ms Ekaete Judith Umoh, National President, JONAPWD also called on the Ministry of Women Affairs to create strategic plans for engaging WWDs and for creating opportunities for them.
She also added that, “there is need for the Ministry of Woman Affairs to review its various interventions on gender-based violence to ensure that WWDs are able to participate and benefit in the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of interventions.”
Explaining the project, Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher, BONews Service said that, “ this project is designed to address the awareness and capacity gaps among WWDs on current and emerging COVID-19 issues.
“The goal of this project is to improve the responsiveness of gender, humanitarian and health systems in Nigeria to the needs of WWDs through the strengthening of voice of WWDs to demand their rights to inclusion.” She added.