The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, James David Lalu has revealed that Persons With disabilities experienced the most difficult times during the outbreak of the virulent COVID-19.
The NCPWD boss revealed this at a workshop organized by the JEAN JENN Disability Initiative in collaboration with the commission in Abuja.
Lalu who was represented by the Director Social Integration Department Lawrence Idemudia said that Persons with disabilities had to contend with preventive measures spelt out by the National Center for Diseases Control.
“The major issue being the challenges faced by visually impaired while touching objects in seemingly infected areas” he disclosed.
Lalu in a signed statement by Mbanefo JohnMichaels,
Head Media and Publicity of the commission however called on all stakeholders to facilitate capacity building of Persons with disabilities in their communities to learning sign language in order to be able to communicate seamlessly. He equally urged them to embrace the Federal Government’s policy of health insurance for PWDs
The Commission’s helmsman seized the occasion to reassure the meeting of the Commission’s commitment to continue to protect the health and interest of PWDs.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Director and convener of the programme, Mrs Jean Onyekwelu underpinned the essence of the Workshop to include an avenue to hatch ideas through sensitization in order to build a data bank of NGO’s that will drive the communication model for interacting with Persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Onyekwelu, conversely bemoaned the level of social neglect of Persons with Disabilities and further encouraged their inclusion in the scheme of things.
The lead facilitator at the event, Mrs Anne Ekanem during her paper presentation used the favorable chance to highlight the various challenges bordering on health, economic, psychological and social impact.
She also spoke on the challenges of social distancing and the dangers that visually impaired Persons face in being exposed to vulnerable public spaces.
Ekanem further mentioned the effects derogatory remarks such as “mentally retarded, wheelchairs bound, albinos, deaf and dumb” have on Persons with Disabilities, and urged members of the public to be mindful.
