The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), in partnership with Sightsavers, has called for the urgent mainstreaming of disability inclusion in Nigeria’s health training curriculum to ensure that persons with disabilities (PWDs) receive equitable, accessible, and inclusive healthcare services. This call was made on Thursday in Abuja during a one-day stakeholders’ meeting with health training and curriculum development institutions, organized by JONAPWD with support from Sightsavers.
The impactful event, which took place in the heart of the capital city, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the disability community, health practitioners, health insurance managers, medical regulatory bodies, and higher education regulatory bodies. It served as a platform to address the barriers that persons with disabilities face in accessing healthcare services and to discuss strategies for integrating disability inclusion into the health training curriculum of medical practitioners.
Breaking Down Barriers to Accessible Healthcare
In his welcome remarks, JONAPWD Secretary Ishiaku Adamu, speaking on behalf of the National President, Abdullahi Aliyu, emphasized that the program was organized to address the attitudinal, financial, and structural barriers that persons with disabilities encounter when trying to access healthcare services. “We brought together stakeholders in the health sector to find ways to mainstream disability inclusion in the training curriculum of health practitioners. This will ensure that more inclusive health services are provided for persons with disabilities,” Adamu stated.
The call to action reflects a broader movement within Nigeria to promote accessibility and inclusion, ensuring that PWDs are not sidelined or discriminated against when it comes to essential healthcare services. The emphasis on attitudinal, financial, and structural barriers showcases the multifaceted challenges that persons with disabilities face, ranging from physical inaccessibility to healthcare facilities to the lack of awareness and understanding among healthcare providers about their unique needs.
Sightsavers’ Commitment to Disability Inclusion
Representing the Country Director of Sightsavers, Dr. Joy Shaibu, Program Manager Esther Bature outlined the objectives of the meeting, stating that it aimed to raise awareness around disability inclusion and the Inclusive Family Planning and Health (IFPLAN) project. She emphasized the need to inform stakeholders about relevant laws and policies that address disability inclusion and health, while also obtaining their commitment to integrate disability inclusion into their institutions’ training curriculum.
“We expect that, at the end of this meeting, a communique will be drawn up from stakeholders committing to mainstream disability inclusion into the health training curriculum,” Bature said.
She further highlighted the critical issues faced by PWDs in healthcare settings, noting that a lack of understanding of their specific needs has led to a situation where they are not given priority in health facilities, are often excluded from decision-making about their own bodies, and face negative attitudes from healthcare providers. Additionally, the inaccessibility of health facilities and ineffective communication—especially for the Deaf community—pose significant challenges for PWDs.
Frameworks and Policies for Disability Inclusion
During the meeting, Esther Bature cited several key legal and policy instruments that support disability inclusion in the health sector. She referenced Article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which states that persons with disabilities have the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination. She also mentioned Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Article 17 of the African Disability Protocol, and Section 21 of Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
Bature also pointed out policies such as the National Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with a focus on women and girls, as essential frameworks to be implemented for disability inclusion in healthcare.
Key Presentations and Discussions
The event featured presentations on various aspects of disability inclusion, including an overview of the IFPLAN/LAFIYA project, insights into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and disability inclusion, and key policies relevant to disability inclusion in health. The IFPLAN project aims to achieve multiple outcomes, such as increasing knowledge and access to family planning services among PWDs, enhancing the delivery of inclusive healthcare services, and ensuring that organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) actively engage in policy and decision-making processes.
Commitments from Medical and Health Insurance Bodies
A major highlight of the meeting was the commitment made by key stakeholders to advance disability inclusion in their operations. Ezekiel Ladan, representing the National Association of Government Medical and Dental Practitioners, announced their intention to further integrate disability inclusion into their practices. He revealed that they have established a positive working relationship with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and are eager to adopt guidelines that will mainstream disability inclusion. Ladan suggested engaging the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to facilitate the introduction of disability inclusion in the health training curriculum.
Similarly, David Sylvester Sanya, a representative of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), shared that they have already formed a partnership with JONAPWD and have taken steps to review the health insurance scheme to include the specific needs of persons with disabilities. He stated, “When it was brought to our attention that the needs of persons with disabilities were not being adequately captured in the health insurance scheme, we decided to review the scheme to mainstream these needs. We have also written to JONAPWD, requesting a comprehensive list of concerns to address the diverse needs of different forms of disabilities.”
The Path Forward: Advocacy and Implementation
The meeting concluded with a unanimous agreement on the need for JONAPWD to actively engage different medical regulatory bodies and educational regulatory authorities to maintain disability inclusion in health training curricula. There was also a call for advocacy efforts targeting health institutions, including primary healthcare facilities, to develop a disability-targeted framework.
In closing, it was evident that this one-day meeting had successfully laid the foundation for a more inclusive health sector, where persons with disabilities are empowered, respected, and provided with the quality healthcare they deserve.
Conclusion
The stakeholders’ engagement organized by JONAPWD, with the support of Sightsavers, marks a critical turning point in the journey toward disability inclusion in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. It is a call to action for all relevant institutions to prioritize disability inclusion, not just as a legal obligation but as a moral imperative, to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of their ability, can access healthcare without discrimination or barriers.
By addressing the challenges and barriers that PWDs face and implementing the recommendations discussed, Nigeria takes a giant leap forward in achieving inclusive healthcare services that truly leave no one behind.
