Persons Living with Disabilities on Wednesday in Asaba, Delta state protested their exclusion by the state government in various committees on the COVID-19 sensitisation programme to reduce the spread of the deadly disease.
They protested their exclusion around Summit Road, Asaba, in the early hours of Wednesday, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Nobody is carrying us along; we are neglected in the sensitisation programme against COVID-19 pandemic,” “Does it mean we are not human beings?” “What are our offence?” and “Is it because we cannot walk or do something like others?”
Speaking, the Chairman of the Delta state chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, (JONAPWD), Mr. Obruche Omor, said that all the sensitization campaigns on the coronavirus across the country, have failed to carry them along, especially, the deaf because of the absence of no signs interpreters.
Omor said: ”As far as we are concerned, the deaf community is totally locked out because there are no sign language interpreters in all the sensitisation programme.
”Even in our normal traditional media that is the television stations owned by the state, you hardly see them except in few federal government programmes.
”Like here in Delta state, I have not seen or witnessed any.
”Even the state bureau for orientation in all the orientation and enlightenment programmes, they have been carrying out across the state, not one person, who is a sign interpreter is involved in any of their programmes.”
According to him, Persons Living with Disabilities are most vulnerable group mostly affected by COVID-19.
“For the visually impaired persons, the only way that they can find their way is by touching and the World Health Organisation (WHO) made us to understand that one of the easiest ways to be infected with the coronavirus is touching infected objects,” he added.
Omor therefore, called for more enlightenment where sign interpreters and relevant stakeholders would be part of the sensitization programme in order to help drive the message to persons living with disabilities who are more vulnerable to the disease.
Meanwhile, the Delta state government on Tuesday confirmed the discharge of two COVID-19 patients in the state after they had tested negative to the virus, adding that the state was committed to the protection in the spread against the pandemic disease.
Governor Okowa, who announced this through Delta state Broadcasting Service (DBS), said that the discharge of the two patients leaves the number of active cases in the state at three persons still undergoing the process of recovery.
On the way forward, Okowa said: “As we continue to monitor the recovery process of the other three active cases, I ask that you all continue to adhere to the precautionary measures and isolation directives, we have put in place.”
The governor expressed the hope for total recovery and an end to the pandemic in the state.(daily times)
