By Loveth Obiora, TQM reporter,
Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) on Tuesday in Abuja put together a programme to mark the international day for persons with disabilities with their theme: Improving access to health services and information.
The Executive Director, DWAI, Mrs Hellen Beyioku-Alase in her opening speech at the event said that the event was made possible through the support and the grant her organization got from Disability Rights Fund(DRF). She also said that the occasion is all about an important day set aside to promote understanding of disability issues and mobilizing support for dignity, rights and well being of persons with disabilities (PWDs). It is also a day to seek to increase awareness of gains derived from integration of PWDs in every aspect of political, social and cultural life.
Speaking further, she said that this year’s theme “Building Back Towards a Disability Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable COVID-19 World. The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected PWDs in any kind of disability, for example lack of information accessible to all, no information on braille and sign language format.
DWAI believe the future of Deaf women and PWDs is at risk by the prevalent inaccessibility to most health, educational, socio-economic and political facilities and services.
DWAI is committed to promoting the well-being of PWDs in all spheres of societal development as well as increasing society’s awareness level of the situation of Deaf/women with disabilities in the area of accessible health care and information.
“The future of children and young PWDs risks being adversely affected by the ongoing crisis in education and by school closures. This is because the most vulnerable are often at the highest risk of experience a disruption of their education and of suffering from the distancing measures in effect. Moreover, distance learning methods have not been developed with their specific in mind, she added.
She called on International communities, government, NGOs, to key into their project and ensure full participation of PWDs and with sign language noting that ” Nothing about Us without Us).
They lauded the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and Ministry of Women Affairs for the establishment of the National Disability commission and appointment of members of the board and also the appointment of the Special Advisers on Disability to the President and the ministers.
“Despite the giant strides, a lot still needs to be done to sensitize the society about the disability Inclusive, access and the content of Discrimination against Persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 yield the best outcome” she added.
DRF, Program Officer in Nigeria, Mr. Theophilus Odaudu in his goodwill message, reaffirmed his organization commitment towards supporting Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and DWAI was fortunate to be among the 13 grantees that DRF is supporting and DWAI got the grant out of the wonderful commitment that they have shown towards improving access to health services of Deaf women and girls in the FCT. He thanked DWAI for putting the occasion together to commemorate the international day for persons with disabillities describing the day as an opportunity for us to review the disability Inclusion and draw the attention of the key stakeholders to the key issues affecting PWDs.
The Assistant Director, (Policy) Health and Human Services, FCTA, Mrs Azeez Bukola, in her goodwill message explained that Inclusive society is achieved when there is continuous engagement and improved communication with health care workers on disability rights, respect for all human rights, and rule of law.
“When everyone, irrespective of background, disability or culture participate in civic, social, economic, and political activities and have universal access to public infrastructure and facilities, that’s Inclusion.”
The founder, Possibilities Initiative, Miss Avershim Akighir in her goodwill message acknowledged the effort of DWAI in promoting the rights of deaf women and the rights of persons with disabillities in general. She offered her organization willingness to work with DWAI to improve the lot of women with disabillities in Nigeria. She informed about a training Programme being planned by her organization targeting women and girls with disabillities.
There were also goodwill messages from Otugo Margret, Women Health and Equal rights Initiative, Splendor Onuma from Splendid Dreams, Comrade Bumni Lawal, Mrs Naomi Oboji from Marie stopes International and many others.
There was drama presentation by deaf women showcasing their difficulties in accessing healthcare services.
The event brought together over a hundred of PWDs of different clusters.
