In its effort to ensure that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria face less difficulties, the federal government has commenced validation meeting on the draft national roadmap for local producers of assistive devices for them.
The minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, said the importance of assistive technologies in the life of PWDs cannot be overemphasizsed as it enables them to live healthy, productive, independent and dignified lives.
Farouq said, “It is sad to say that most people who really need these technologies find it very difficult to access them, largely because assistive devices and technology are not readily available and even if available, are unaffordable not because Nigeria lacks the expertise, but because our local manufacturers are limited to scaling up the product ion of quality assistive devices due to the persistent use of obsolete equipment and lack of basic capital to strengthen production which makes most product often inappropriate for the intended users”.
She said her ministry through the Special Needs Department (formerly Rehabilitation Department) in collaboration with partners is working to improve the lives of PWDs. These efforts have at different times been aimed at specific objectives to greatly fetch better living outcomes for PWDs in Nigeria.
“It is therefore important to note that when PWDs cannot easily access Assistive Technologies at most affordable rates they are often excluded, isolated, and locked into poverty, thereby increasing the impact of disease and disability itself on a person, their family, and Society in general. The government and all and sundry must therefore be committed to making these devices available and affordable to those that need them so that through the use of Assistive Technology, barriers are removed and thereby enhancing their physical and mental capabilities which will in turn lead to greatly improved quality of life.
