COVID-19: PWDs in Anambra state visit protective centres to access compliance to Disability laws

Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD) Anambra State Chapter through the support from the European Union’s Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme embarked on a fact finding visit to 5 centres protection centre of COVID-19 in Anambra State to assess the level of compliance with the Anambra State Disabilities Rights Law 2018 which provides under Section 23, Sub-section 1, that a person living with disability shall have the right and necessary facilities to access public buildings and public places.

In a report signed by the association’s public relations officer, Igwegbe Ifeanyi, Nigeria like every other parts of the world is experiencing the Coronavirus pandemic and as a result has created COVID-19 testing and isolation centres in almost all the states of the federation. In Anambra state, 3 Protective Care Centres have been established at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, Onitsha General Hospital, and NYSC National Orientation Camp, Mbakwu-Umuawulu, with surge centres at Umueri General Hospital and Ekwulobia General Hospital.

The checklist for the compliance among others things include;

1. To find out how accessible the entrances of the centres are?
2. To determine if the beds at the centres are adjustable.
3. To confirm the availability of sign language interpreters for the
   Deaf at the centres.
4. To ascertain if the toilet facilities are
   accessible to the wheelchairs users.
5. To find out if the environment of the centres are accessible are
   disability friendly. JONAPWD made the following observations about
   the 5 centres:
6. At Onitsha General Hospital Protective Care Centre, the structure was found to be constructed to a good standard with a provision of ramp and rails
   for easy access for the blind and persons using wheelchairs and crutches.
   A hospital attendant at the centre confirmed that the hospital beds are height adjustable for wheelchair users even though we are unable to verify that because we are restricted to enter inside the ward unprotected as that was the place where the first index case in the state is being managed as at
   time of our visit. Their toilet facilities and environment were found to be disabled-friendly.
7. At NYSC Orientation Camp, Mbaukwu Protective Care Centre, the entrance of the facility did not provide for disabled access. The hospital beds were however found to be height adjustable.
8. JONAPWD was unable to assess the
   Protective Care Centre at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka because nobody was interested to show JONAPWD around the facility on their view
   that we are supposed to be at home to obey the stay at home order.
9. JONAPWD found that the Surge Centre at Umueri General Hospital was still under renovation but were assured by a hospital attendant after interviewing him with our checklist that the centre will have every facility required to make it disability friendly.
10. JONAPWD found that the Surge Centre at Ekwuluobia General Hospital, was also still under renovation with some signs of disability inclusive plan.
11. JONAPWD was informed that the
    management of all the centres are in close contact with the office of the Governor on Disability Matters for making available the sign language interpreters anytime their services are needed at the centre and it was confirmed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sign Language Communication.
    JONAPWD’s Appreciation to the Executive Governor:
12. Employment of sign language interpreter who are on ground in the state to give every necessary information to the Deaf community as it concerns the preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID 19.
13. Provision of palliatives to the aged, the youth and persons with
    disabilities to cushion the effect of the lock down in the state as a
    result of COVID 19 pandemic.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Inclusion of key representatives of the disability community in the
  State COVID 19 Action Committee.
• State government, relevant service providers and the Office of the
  Governor on Disability Matters to ensure that protective care centres
  and surge centres adhere to all standards of disabled access and disability inclusion as JONAPWD is willing to provide specific guidelines for disabled-friendly facilities.
• More palliatives should made available for persons with disabilities in the state to argument the previous palliatives provided considering the number of the indigent members that needed
  urgent intervention for their
  survival that is for feeding and medical services.
• Encouragement to set up a subcommittee of persons with disabilities to assist the government in identifying the areas of need and intervention for persons with disabilities. It will also assist to
  ensure the total compliance of the disability community on official directives and protocols
  issued for the prevention of the spread of COVID 19 in our state.
• Proper training of all the front line interveners on COVID 19 on
  disability etiquette.

Our Challenges:

The stay at home order which was the argument raised against us by a staff of COOUTH Awka that we are not supposed to be in that hospital as at that time. The issue above restricted us from accessing the internal facilities; we were only able to view the beds from outside.

Our inability to send official letter across to the Hon. Commissioner for Health to obtain approval to inspect the facility which was as a result office closure caused by the total lock down in the state.

The state chairman of the association, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke enjoined the members and general public to remain committed in observing and voluntarily complying with all the COVID 19 prevention orders so that Anambra State will continue to be the safest state in Nigeria.

The Joint National Association of Persons with
Disabilities (JONAPWD)
Anambra State has been the only umbrella body
of all Associations (clusters) of Disabled People’s Organization (DPOs) with presence in all
the 21 Local Government Area of Anambra State.
JONAPWD has gained recognition at state and local government levels as a civil society
organization supporting the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Anambra state. It has existed for over a decade in Anambra
State, and has been in the forefront of advocacy
for the passage and assent to the law that promote the rights of persons with disabilities; advocating for inclusive laws and policies; and engaging with all sectors and stakeholders in the society to enhance social inclusion of PWDs.