The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities on Friday held a virtual meeting for heads of clusters of different associations of people living with disabilities.
The meeting is organized as a response on Covid-19 to enhance Behavioural Change among Nigerians with Disabilities as the virus does not discriminate.
In his opening remark during the virtual meeting held for Kano and Kaduna Heads of cluster , the Executive Director of the Centre , David O. Anyaele, welcomed the participants to the webinar meeting on Covid-19 and appreciated Action Aid and UKAID partners for sponsoring the event.
His words: ” I’m pleased to welcome you to this Webinar on Covid-19 and Nigerians with Disabilities. Among us for this webinar are States Chairmen of Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CCD) from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. I must appreciate our partners Action Aid, and funder UKAID for supporting this event”.
“This event is part of our response on Covid-19 pandemic and persons with disabilities in our project State on Strengthening Citizens Resistance against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C) in Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos States. The goal to increase citizen’s capacity to resist and fight acts of corruption”.
“This Covid-19 response is to enhance Covid-19 Behavioural Change among Nigerians with Disabilities as the virus does not discriminate”.
“The panic created by the novel Corona virus – Covid-19 across the world starting from Wuhan, China led to total lock dawn of nations leading to stay at home for more than 4.5 billion persons worldwide. As at today, there is 5,868,939 confirmed cases and 355,951 deaths worldwide. Here in Nigeria, 8,915 confirmed cases with 259 deaths”.
“When disaster occur, it is persons with disabilities that bears the greatest pains and suffering arising from it. During the total lockdown in Nigeria, we witness how persons with disabilities were left behind by governments at the State and national level. It is by the grace of God that many of us with disabilities are still living today”.
“We are worried that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is yet to inform us how many confirmed cases persons with disabilities with Covid-19. It is disheartening that disability data on health and development issues does not matter to people in governments in Nigeria”.
“We are also concerned that guidelines on ease of lockdown for different sector of economy and social sectors are silent on measures to improve equal opportunities for persons with disabilities “.
“Therefore, as leaders of persons with disabilities, it becomes imperative for us to deepen our knowledge on Covid-19 in orders to guide our response to our clusters and communities”.
The resource person , Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman medical sub committee FCT Ministerial Expert advisory committee on covid-19, in his presentation highlighted 4 approaches to overcoming the virus he said “one must look at the virus and tell it I don’t understanding you” , he said in doing so you won’t become familiar with the virus.
Secondly he also said one must take the signs and information about the disease serious.
He stated further that one must apply common sense and lastly follow all the preventive measures with all seriousness.
While addressing questions from participants , he said prolong use of facemask is not advisable and should only be encouraged when one is not sure of prevention or when one fears been exposed.
He equally identifies the exchange of cash as a means of transmission and advised that all prevention measures should apply when handling of cash.
For persons with spinal cord injuries or those who use wheel chairs ,he emphasized on the compulsory use of face masks and frequent washing of hands.
Anyaele who encouraged the consumption of anything one feels boast immune system ,dismissed the call for use of Gaelic ,ginger as cure for Covid 19.
According to him ,scientifically it is not proven ,but anything that help boast the immune system can be consumed.
The virtual meeting lasted for over 2hrs with Mr. Anyaele call on governments at the State and Federal levels to apply disability sensitive approach in community mobilization and sensitization on Covid-19.
