By Chris Agbo, Abuja
At the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) flag-off for the distribution of Palliatives by the Honourable Minister of State of FCT, Dr Ramatu Aliyu on Friday 17th April, 2020 at Arts & Culture Area 10, Abuja, disability community in FCT were represented by Lois Auta, the founder of Cedar Seed Foundation under the auspices of CSOs group.
Speaking at the event, she thanked the Honourable Minister for including PWDs on the list of beneficiaries and proposed for more engagement of the PWDs especially the leadership because of the peculiarity of the group.
Flowing from Lois advocacy at the flag off, FCTA proposed a meeting with her on Monday 20th April for further discussion but she had to invite the leadership of Disability Community in FCT. She informed all the head of clusters to be part of the meeting.
On Monday 20th April, 2020, the head of clusters in the disability community met with Madam Jummai, one of the Directors in FCTA and together, the head of clusters alongside Lois submitted the following recommendations:
-That we know our people, where they are and we have their database, they should give us what belongs to us so we can distribute alongside FCTA staff and volunteers.
-That Minister said the palliative will be shared via representatives and we are the representatives of PWDs.
-That we should be accompanied by security personnel and press men.
- This is a special group we should be treated with care and inclusivity mindset.
Madam Jummai in her response said the following:
-To take the group messages to the Hon. Minister and revert. - To present PWDs database so that their team can locate those they have not reached yet.
She also informed that their team are already doing the distribution but they should hold on to hear from the minister before they will proceed.
All the cluster groups were represented at the meeting from Abdulmumuni Ujah (the Deaf), Obinna Ekujereonye (blind), Mr. Aliyu (people affected with Hansen diseases (leprosy), Dr Jake Epelle( people with Albinism) and Abubakar Sharhu (physical disability).
Early hours of Tuesday, Madam Jummai reverted to Madam Lois informing her that the Minister have accepted that the team will distribute palliative to the PWDs in FCT in the company of the cluster heads.
