By Dami Lanre, The Qualitative Magazine (TQM) correspondent, Lagos,
Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Lagos State Chapter on Thursday 10th December, 2020 organized a media dialogue to mark the International Disability day celebration 2020 with the theme building back better: towards a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post Covid 19 world
The occasion was graced by JONAPWD Lagos State excos, cluster heads, media, stakeholders and other personality that matters to Persons with Diabilities (PwDs) in Lagos State.
According to the Chairman of the Chapter, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, the objectives of the meeting is Understanding the effect of Covid 19 on Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Lagos State, Taking stock of various areas of intervention by the Lagos State Government, Identifying the gaps, suggesting and proffering solutions to the effect of Covid 19 as its affect PwDs. and Establishing a new strategic partnership, building a relationship and engaging with the media.
He also the meeting is also expected to discuss EImplementation of free health care services for children with disability, Full implementation of the disability act, Access to employment without discrimination on the ground of disability, Way forward to ease the suffering and plights of PwDs in Lagos State, Provision of sign language interpreters at the police station, Maximizing the usage of technology to bridge the gap of what PwDs can achieve, Data base of all PwDs in Lagos State and JONAPWD interfacing with LASODA office to minimize distance challenges to LASODA office and the bureaucracy in government and also Appointment of PwDs as S.A to the governor.
The Chairman in his address, also said that the chapter would address three aspects such as What the current situation of PwDs are in the state, The Covid 19 intervention and inclusion of PwDs and Examining what could have been done better.
He made several recommendations such as Need for a more inclusive unit school, Proper security of life and property of PwDs, Need for more formal programs in place for the empowerment of PwDs, Need for more technical and professional personnel on disability issue to constitute the LASODA team, Involvement of PwDs in all decision making process, Need for a disability template on covid 19, The economic palliate by the Lagos State Government should be inclusive of PwDs, Need to set up the LASODA governing board, Need to register disability status on medical card to ensure provision of adequate equipment and facilities in various health care centre and Need to have a data of PwDs who are infected with covid 19
