Association of Lawyers with Disabilities (ALDIN) have noticed with dismay that most of the safety briefings on TV do not factor in the peculiarities of persons with disabilities, particularly the deaf, who require sign language interpretation.
The group in a statement sent to us signed by their President Barrister Daniel Amaechi Onwe and The Secretary General Barrister Ogan Gaius advocates that the necessary correction be taken forthwith by engaging sign language interpreters in all such briefings, as is the case in other countries.
The group recognized the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has indeed put Nigerians in an extraordinarily trying time which requires extraordinary actions and experts have advised total lockdown as a solution against the impending doom. They urge the government to exercise the required courage to order and enforce a lock down accordingly.
However, the fact that majority of Nigerians eke out a living one day at a time should be kept in focus. Therefore, governments at all levels, in collaboration with volunteer NGOs, religions bodies and kind hearted individual, should quickly plan for distribution of food and other basic amenities to persons who will need them, no matter where they are, with particular attention on those who are already vulnerable. This will give everyone the needed comfort to comply with a total lock down. There is no time that the saying prevention is better than cure is more apt than now. The cost of maintaining people at home no doubt will be much less that the cost treating them of Covid-19.
The group is optimistic that Nigerians, and indeed the world, shall come out of this crisis better people.
