The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration to improve access to inclusive healthcare services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across the state.
The commitment was made on Thursday, September 10, 2026, when the LSPHCB paid a courtesy visit to LASODA. The delegation was led by the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Temitope Balogun-Alo, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa.
Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, the General Manager of LASODA, acknowledged several barriers faced by PWDs in the healthcare system during the delegation reception.
She identified physical accessibility, effective communication, inclusive employment, capacity building for healthcare workers, disability identification systems, database management, accessible restrooms and appropriate disability classification as key areas requiring attention.
Oyetunde-Lawal urged the Board to prioritize qualified PWDs during recruitment, following the employment quota set by the Lagos State Special Peoples Law.
She also called for stronger collaboration among relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to address the identified challenges and promote a more inclusive healthcare system.
“There are several areas where we can work together to achieve true inclusion. Beyond providing interventions, we need to strengthen the systems around healthcare delivery to ensure that Persons with Disabilities can access services with dignity and without unnecessary barriers,” she said.
Oyetunde-Lawal noted that the Lagos State Government had continued to support improved healthcare access for PWDs through various medical interventions facilitated by LASODA, stressing that sustained collaboration among stakeholders remained essential to achieving inclusive governance.
Balogun-Alo highlighted the importance of increased collaboration between LASODA and LSPHCB to boost advocacy efforts and create sustainable frameworks that enhance healthcare services for PWDs.
She stated that the Board would adopt a pilot approach by selecting one Primary Health Centre (PHC) in each Local Government Area for targeted interventions.
According to her, the initiative would involve engaging PHC leadership, healthcare workers, communities, and cluster heads to raise awareness and coordinate disability-inclusive interventions.
“We will work on a pilot approach by selecting a PHC in each Local Government Area, engaging the leadership for awareness and piloting interventions that will cut across both the communities and staff. We will also engage the cluster heads to ensure that the initiative is properly coordinated,” she said.
Balogun-Alo further disclosed that the Board would develop a work plan in collaboration with LASODA to enhance service delivery for PWDs across Lagos State.
“This meeting is a huge eye opener, and we are pleased to be here. The discussion has been very rich, and we are going back to develop a work plan that will further enhance service delivery for Persons with Disabilities in Lagos State,” she added.
The meeting gave both agencies an opportunity to identify areas of collaboration and explore practical approaches to improving healthcare access and service delivery for PWDs.
Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the partnership and advancing disability inclusion towards a more accessible, responsive and inclusive healthcare system across Lagos State.
