Nigeria’s four-time para -powerlifting world medalist, Mrs Ndidi Nwosu had been laid to rest at her Umuagbada, Umuoba, Eziachi Orlu, home in Imo State.
Speaking at the funeral, of the late sports ambassador, wife of the president and grand patron, Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation, Hajia (Dr) Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of Enugu State and Matron of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation, Hon. (Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo expressed shock over the death of the late sports ambassador, Mrs Ndidi Nwosu.
She said that through her Non-Governmental organization, she will carter for the late Ndidi ‘s two children .”The two children will be properly taken care of,” Buhari said to the applause of the crowd of mourners that were present.
Hajia Buhari described, Ndidi as a “great Nigerian”, saying, “She came, represented Nigeria in international Para Powerlifting championships and came home with medals.”
In her funeral oration, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State and matron, Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation, Hon. (Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo said she was grief over the death of Ndidi.
Hon Ezeilo assured that the two children Ndidi left behind would be trained properly. “Am only asking God to console her mother and take care of her children and family. I am very very sad. Am heartbroken “, she said.
She commended the wife of the president, Hajia (Dr) Aisha Buhari for her support and for agreeing to take care of Ndidi ‘s children through her pet project.
The Deputy Governor also commended the Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinna for his support. She thanked the governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon (Dr) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his tireless support to the Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation and to the late Ndidi Nwosu ‘s family, especially for accepting to be part of the proposed Ndidi Nwosu Foundation
She also thanked the former President of the Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation, Miss Queen Idris Uboh for her enormous support to Ndidi, “despite the fact that she is in Canada”.
Speaking at the event, Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who was represented by the Director of Sports, Imo State sports commission, Mrs Chizobam Anetola, described the late Ndidi ‘s death as “unfortunate.“ (Vanguard)
It
is no breaking news anymore that the world has been ravaged by a deadly virus
termed Covid-19. What may seem novel or what gives more concerns is the way
forward for every country and its citizens. While seeking solutions, it is
important to ask- who is at risk? The majority of answers being “everyone”. Who
is at more risks and more vulnerable to the new conditions of life brought in
by the pandemic? The answer will certainly not be “everyone” rather ‘Persons
with Disabilities (PWDs)’. Prior to and subsequent to the emergence of the
Global disability movement in the late 20th Century, there have remained
agitations and policies with a purpose of addressing the diverse barriers that
PWDs encounter in everyday life; full participation and equalisation of
opportunities for, by and with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Smith
(2011) recorded from a survey that Nigeria had approximately 14 million People
living with disabilities. These figures have been questioned suggesting that
Nigeria has no unified and actual estimate of people living with disabilities.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently estimates that there are
25 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria, with 3 million persons with
significant barriers to social and physical functioning. The WHO goes further
to predict that these figures will increase as time progresses making concerns
about this special group an imperative discourse at national and international
parlance. McKenzie & Ohajunwa (2017) have carried out some studies which
reports that Disability is associated with old age, poverty, illness and other
social factors. Across the world, people with disabilities have poorer health
outcomes, lower education achievements, less economic participation and higher
rates of poverty than people without disabilities. These difficulties are
exacerbated in less advantaged communities like the rural communities in Nigeria.
It is disheartening that these difficulties are experienced in the urban areas
of Nigeria – this calls for quick actions by governments, companies,
organisations and individuals. With the setting in of the unprecedented
pandemic (COVID-19), disability activist, International organisations and
governments become concerned on how the needs of PWDs can be met. However, in a
country like Nigeria where Disability is yet to be understood by a large part
of her population, what are the possible responses towards PWDs? Are there
rescue channels for them or should they be neglected in the face of COVID-19?
This paper shall answer these questions while still x-raying the extent to
which PWDs have been affected by the ravaging pandemic.
Understanding
Disability and Covid-19
Conceptualising
Disability
Disability
is a term that has no generally acceptable definition. Different definitions abound as different
scholars research into the term through distinct disability questions. The term
Disability connotes more than the normal physical impairment that many people
especially those that are not well knowledgeable in Disability Studies have
understood it to be. Disability goes beyond physical impairment to the
understanding of sensory, functional, and activity limitations (Brucker,
Houtenville, & Lauer, 2015). Erickson et Al (2018) through their survey,
find it more convenient to explain the term disability by outlining and
discussing different categories of disability which are: Hearing disability,
visual disability, cognitive disability, Ambulatory Disability, Self-care and
Independent living disability. Some scholars define disability as a social
response, however, defining “disability” solely in terms of social responses
like stigmatization and exclusion does not distinguish disability from race or
sex (Bickenbach, 1993). The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Americans with
Disability Act (ADA) and the United Nations (UN) Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities give definitions of
disability that contains two major characteristics that are generally accepted
about disability. These features about disability are: (i) a physical or mental
characteristic labeled or perceived as an impairment or dysfunction and (ii)
some personal or social limitation associated with that impairment. Thus,
disability is a phenomenon covering impairments, activity limitations, and
participation restrictions. In all, it will be safe to say that these
definitions revolve around the two major contrasting models (Medical and Social
models) of disability amongst other models. The medical model understands
disability as a physical or mental impairment of the individual and its
personal and social consequences. It regards the limitations faced by people with
disabilities as resulting primarily, or solely, from their impairments. In
contrast, the social model understands disability as a relation between an
individual and her social environment: the exclusion of people with certain
physical and mental characteristics from major domains of social life. Their
exclusion is manifested not only in deliberate segregation, but in a built
environment and social activity that preclude or restrict the participation of
people seen or labelled as having disabilities. While accepting the standard
definitions of disability, this paper will adopt a liberal approach without
tilting to just one model of disability.
The
Coronavirus Pandemic
Coronaviruses
(CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common
cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). In more simple
terms, Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a coronavirus (a type of
virus) that usually affects the respiratory tract of the lungs. The disease may
lead to a severe or less severe illness. The virus can be spread through
contact with certain bodily fluids, such as droplets in a cough of infected
persons. It can also be caused by touching something an infected person has
touched and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes. The critical nature of
the virus makes it life threatening and has caused an unprecedented lockdown
for so many economies around the globe, Nigeria included. The effects of the
pandemic have been felt by all persons irrespective of class, race, gender or
Creed. Persons with disabilities are not out of the box which Covid-19 has
placed all persons around the globe rather it is evident that in the light of
the threatening pandemic, persons with disabilities are at a higher risks and
ways through which these risks can be reduced becomes a top priority for
stakeholders and concerned authorities. Covid-19 has caused everyone in
different countries to be disabled in some way, yet these disabilities can be
managed compared to the disabilities faced by those whose disabilities is not
due to the pandemic but only worsened by the pandemic. Thus, to what extent has
PWDs been affected by the ravaging pandemic and what are the right responses
towards the situation? These questions are what the succeeding subheadings
answers.
The
Impact of Covid-19 On PWDs
People
with disabilities are at risk in times of global pandemics. Emerging research
on COVID-19 shows that the coronavirus pandemic has increased psychological
distress both in the general population and among high-risk groups. Behaviours
such as physical distancing, as well as their social and economic impacts, are
worsening mental health consequences (American Psychological Association,
2020). More so, research on the psychological impact of mass trauma (e.g.
natural disasters, flu outbreaks) suggests that the pandemic might particularly
harm the mental health of marginalized populations who have less access to
socioeconomic resources and supportive social networks (e.g. Goldmann &
Galea, 2014).
There
are unique stressors and challenges that could worsen mental health of people
with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis. Research on past pandemics shows
that disabled people find it harder to access critical medical supplies which
can become even more challenging as resources become scarce (Campbell, Gilyard,
Sinclair, Sternberg, & Kailes, 2009). Some people with disabilities report
higher levels of social isolation than their non-disabled counterparts
(O’Sullivan & Bourgin, 2010). They may experience intensified feelings of
loneliness in response to physical distancing measures; social isolation and
loneliness have been associated with increases in heart disease, dementia and
other health problems according to the National Academies of Science,
Engineering, and Medicine (2020). Furthermore, policies around rationing of
medical care can intensify discriminatory attitudes towards disabled
individuals during times of crisis (Priestley & Hemingway, 2006). This can
understandably worsen one’s anxiety about getting sick and the need to seek
medical care. While adequate research on the specific impact of COVID-19 on the
disability community is not yet available, several studies are underway or in
planning phase. Data is needed on rates of infections, hospitalizations,
outcomes and deaths disaggregated by disability, age, race and income, among
other factors, so one can verily understand the impact of COVID-19 on multiple
vulnerable groups – PWDs.
Who
is at Risk?
It
is important not to conflate health status with disability. Many people with
disabilities are healthy. However, some have underlying or secondary aspects of
their disability, like suppressed immune systems or respiratory concerns, that
COVID-19 could worsen. Some have underlying acute health conditions, such as
skin breakdown or urinary tract infection, which increase risk of severe
symptoms associated with COVID-19. Being classified as “high risk” in the
current pandemic can cause additional stress and fears (American Psychological
Association, 2020).
The
social gradient of risk may influence policies and decision-making related to
access to care or treatments. Medical discrimination is always a dangerous
reality for many people with disabilities in need of healthcare. Many disabled
adults (60% report being “very concerned” in a recent survey – National
Disability Institute, 2020 ) and disability rights organizations are anxious
about how these policies may prevent them from getting equitable and fair
treatment. Thus, it is necessary that PWDs ensure that they and their families
or care providers are aware of the former’s rights. They should also know the
risks they are prone to and take appropriate precautions where they have an
underlying condition.
The
Rights of PWDs in the face of the Pandemic
The
UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the (1999) Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, as amended (CFRN), the Discrimination against Persons With
Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 and other extant laws are development,
human rights and cross-sectorial policy instruments that enshrines provisions
on the rights of PWDS and ensures the protection of these vulnerable sect. By
virtue of section 2(2) of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities
(Prohibition) Act 2018, the Federal Ministry of Information of Nigeria is
tasked with a great responsibility to organise
awareness programmes to further reinforce the rights, respects and
dignity of persons with Disabilities as well as their Capabilities,
contributions and achievements to the society. The Act protects the
rights of persons with disabilities but how well these rights are enforced
becomes the problem. Also, a transitory period of five years from the period
the Act came into force has been stipulated as a period of compliance for all
outfits to be restructured, policies of private and public institutions amended
and major services like health care and transportation services adjusted to
accommodate Persons with disabilities. The transitory period is 3 years to an
expiration, yet actions in compliance with this act is on a very slow pace
which makes the situation more pathetic during this Covid- 19 pandemic. Thus,
there is a call for immediate attention of all concerned persons, corporate
bodies, authorities and organisations to take pragmatic steps towards realising
the tenets of these laws so as to ensure a fair deal for PWDs.
Conclusion
As
earlier stated, the coronavirus pandemic has threatened the livelihood and
health of persons across the globe and this threat seems worse for persons with
disabilities who are at a high risks of poor living and even death. The fear is
deepened as PWDs may experience discrimination in terms of health, employment, food
and more. However, the world cannot continue to talk of development in any
ramification without persons with disabilities. Thus, it is high time that we
begin seeing things as normal and not abnormal with persons with disabilities.
It is time that the rights of PWDs be strongly protected and promoted. In all,
there is hope that in this time of pandemic, people can learn lessons in
resilience, adaptability and mutual support from the disabled community. While
having a disability probably doesn’t by itself put someone at higher risk from
Coronavirus, many persons with disabilities do have specific underlying
conditions that make the disease more dangerous for them. Thus, our
recommendations for all stakeholders, authorities, corporate bodies and persons
are enumerated below.
Recommendations
The
following recommendations are hereby proffered:
•Provision
of accurate, accessible, and timely information about the disease and
additional handwashing guidelines for Persons with disabilities.
•Strategic
activation of adequate security checks for PWDs (particularly Women and
Children) living in segregated and often overcrowded residential settings.
•Rapid
awareness raising and training of personnel involved in the response are
essential.
•Addressing
the specific needs of persons with disabilities (particularly women and
children) through awareness programmes, special prevention plans; to maintain
their health, safety, dignity, and independence in the community throughout the
COVID-19 outbreak.
•Administration
of home services to PWDs/paid leave
•Decongestion
or Discontinuance of specialised institutions housing PWDs.
•Adapting
safe confinement measures for persons with psychological disabilities
•Inclusion
of individual representatives of PWDs in decision making (prevention,
mitigation and monitoring plans) during this pandemic.
•Designing
and production of accessible disinfection machines to combat the virus.
•Creation
and management of reliable financial systems for increased revenue to manage
current and future pandemics.
•Enabling
dedicated shopping hours for the vulnerable, and a huge upswing in the use of
virtual conferencing technology.
•Activation
of “Compliance check” to ensure inclusive rather than discriminatory employment
for PWDs.
•Rapid
implementation of already existing laws enshrining the rights of PWDs.
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The Author: Grace
Bassey Udofia is a young and collaborative lawyer who is passionate about
Persons with disabilities in Africa, particularly her home country Nigeria. She
is a volunteer with the Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria
(ALDIN), which is supported by Disability Rights Fund (DRF). Grace has written
this article with the intention that it adds to the library of literatures on
Disability Studies and it is used as a tool of advocacy for Persons with
Disabilities which is one of the works of ALDIN. Educationally, the author is a
graduate of the University of Uyo and the Nigerian Law School (First Class).
She hopes that her contributions reflected in this article will be published.
it is a goodnews and great achievement to the Most Beaufiul Deaf Girl Nigeria(MBDGN) brand that the reigning Miss Deaf Nigeria Queen Maria Okese is now officially working with Studio 24 in Abuja.
In an official announcement of the deal through a facebook post by Queen Janet Fasakin (Coordinator for MBDGN), She revealed that the meeting with the MD of Studio 24 held on Wednesday. She appreciated the MD on Behalf of all MBDGN team for his good gesture towards the deaf queen.
Accommodation was also provided for the queen by Studio 24 at the her work to enhance on her performance.
Queen Janet attributed the success to God and there is every reason to celebrate the fit. She appreciated Mr Timothy Tinat, the Vice President of Deaf Resources Centre for his consistent passion in helping the Deaf community to have a sense of belonging.
The Qualitative Magazine learnt that Mr. Timothy Tinat was instrumental to the deal, According to Queen Janet “if not for him, the queen won’t have gotten the Job”.
The Qualitative Magazine also learnt that Queen Maria Okese is presently undergoing 1month intensive training before she will begin her full duty as a staff of Studio 24.
Congratulation to gorgeous Queen Maria Okese, this opportunity no doubt will take you to higher places and it is the beginning of greater things to come.
The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt affected every sector; economy, health, social activities amongst several others. Its impact on the education sector cannot be overemphasized.
And while the lockdown is being lifted and relaxed in some states across Nigeria, school activities have not resumed. As such, many schools have been deploying different measures to ensure that students learn effectively during this period. Some private schools have opted for online teaching while some state governments have embraced teaching on radio and television for the purpose of children in public schools.
However, how do these measures affect the curriculum and scheme of work that should be covered in an academic term and how well can students concentrate without being in an academic environment? The option for online learning seems to come with some sorts of blessings for some people and a curse for others.
Some parents who could afford to provide electricity and internet facilities for their children might enjoy the luxury of the online teaching while those who cannot afford it have to stay glued to teachings on radio and television, amidst other programs that would be disseminated on these channels.
Children in Slum Communities
For children in slum and urban poor communities who do not have access to internet facilities, they have resorted to staying at home and reading old books pending the time the lockdown is lifted and activities return to normal.
In Monkey Village, a slum community in Ikeja, Lagos, students are staying at home and are learning from the radio lessons, taking notes, and reading through.
Aisha Saleh, a 15-year-old girl who resides in Monkey Village explained that she and other children in the community tune to the radio to listen to the classes. She explained that they don’t have access to the time table but they usually tune in to the radio and they follow the teachings even if it is for a different class.
She buttressed that, “the goal is to learn, so we ensure that we take notes and we read the notes after, most times they are for different classes but since we won’t sit by the radio throughout the day, we have to take advantage of the ongoing lessons.”
Saleh said the teachings have been explanatory but noted that the challenge is with having access to the radio and distractions from friends, parents, and guardians.
“The radio I use is rechargeable or from my small phone, so if the battery runs out and there’s no electricity supply, it would be difficult for me to catch up with the lessons. Also, because you’re home, some parents expect that you do house chores and send you on errands almost every time and this could be distracting,” she added.
Emmanuel Agunze, founder, Makoko Dream, a floating school for children in Makoko, a waterfront community in Lagos Nigeria confirmed that the pandemic has so much affected the education of children in slum communities, especially without access to internet like other children who are considered ‘privileged’.
He explained that the Makoko Dream school has made provision for children, in higher primary, to come in batches to learn with the iPads twice a week.
“We have already installed Apps on the IPads that are educational. With this, we can still achieve a form of education in this period.”
“We really can’t afford to provide internet or data for them to learn every day. So, they go in batches to their teachers’ houses which are within the neighborhood, and to ensure they adhere strictly to the social and physical distancing order,” he added.
Children with Disabilities
Children with disabilities, CWDs are faced with a double challenge during times like this because of their accessibility and inclusivity needs. The online platforms are not accessible to children with visual impairment and teachers do not take cognizance of the various learning dispositions of learners with intellectual disabilities.
Lawal Adebimpe, an advocate for inclusive education, decried how the government has left out children with disabilities, CWDs in its planning for alternative means of education during the pandemic. Lawal explained that “most children with disabilities are enrolled in school at a very advanced age and are already lagging, this means the lockdown is affecting them the more.
“Looking at the channels the government and schools are using to educate these children from home, they are not inclusive. The classes on the radio are not descriptive for blind students, the TV classes are not signed or subtitled for Deaf students, and children with intellectual disabilities like down syndrome and autism are automatically left out.
“The teachers taking the classes are not special teachers and cannot teach these children. Online platforms are also not coming cheap for parents of CWDs”, she added.
Lawal stressed that if the government had planned for CWDs when designing alternatives during the lockdown, they would have been adequately catered for.
“The government has kept us on one side, most of the things they do for us is an afterthought, if you’re planning about education, they should think about PWDs.”
She recommended that inclusive practices should be inculcated into programs, plans, and policies of government ab initio so that PWDs can be catered for.
Parents’ Reactions to Online Teaching
Lawyer and Social Sector Advocate, Enitan Ibironke, who is a parent explained that she has had to support her children during the online teachings and also designed a semi-structured learning timetable at home so the children can learn despite the closure of schools.
Ibironke explained that online teaching is coming at an extra cost for the family but it has to be sustained. She buttressed that “there’s the buying of data for internet connectivity to get the work done and the purchase of learning aids at home from stationary to supplementary items like laptops and laptop parts.”
Speaking about the sustainability of online teaching even when schools are eventually re-opened, “there are definitely good sides of the model and it would be good to have a mixed bag of online learning and physical school. It also helps willing and able parents to be involved in their children’s lives and to become more technology savvy.
Adeiye Oluwaseun-Sobo, Founder Intentional Teachers Network explained that the education sector has been affected especially as the academic calendar has been disrupted by the pandemic.
Oluwaseun-Sobo explained that “the pandemic has really affected the education sector, some private schools have children doing online classes while some schools that do not have the capacity for online teaching had to call parents to take their children’s notes and textbooks so they can read while at home.
“In public schools, you have children staying at home and not learning anything, and staff are affected because they are not earning any income because there is no enrollment in schools.”
She noted that online teaching is coming at extra cost for parents as they have to make payments to the school, which doesn’t include the cost of internet subscription and electricity.
Online Teaching – The New Trend?
The online teaching platforms have been some sort of ‘saving grace’ for learners who have access to the internet. Nigeria as at the end of December 2019 has 126,078,999 persons with active internet subscriptions, providing only 63% of the population access to the internet. Lagos State has 16,660,953 of its population with internet access, leaving over one million people without internet and thereby limiting their access to online teaching.
Access to Internet
In Nigeria at the end of December 2019, there were 1,260,78,999 active internet subscriptions providing only 63 percent of the population access to the internet.
Map courtesy of BONews.
Ayodeji Ololade, a data consultant explained that online teaching might be the new trend, however, the shortfalls need to be addressed.
Ololade noted that “Stakeholders (Management, Principals, Teachers, Students, Parents, and the General public) need to address the challenges that students are being faced with.
“Some of the challenges being envisaged are the availability of technological gadgets such as data-enabled mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and (or) desktop computers to facilitate online lessons for students in their respective homes.
“Data subscription which enables connectivity of facilitators (teachers) and students to online learning platforms, adequate power supply in various homes as well as comfortable and convenient workspace, quiet enough for learning to take place.”
On her part, Adeiye Oluwaseun-Sobo, Founder, International Teachers’ Network, noted that “the online teaching is good but might not be sustainable after the pandemic because parents are required to provide support for their children.
She buttressed that, “the reality of online learning is that it is challenging because if you have to work, you won’t be able to provide the required support for your children.”
Students in Tertiary Institutions
A student at the University of Lagos, Raphael Ikuyinminu explained that his institution has adopted the online platform to teach them but it seems cumbersome for the lecturers to cope with.
“Well, I like to think that universities and schools are trying to march on because it’s not easy adapting to this new system after being used to the formal system for decades. I believe we’ll all get through this in one piece”
He explained that the different learning styles of students have not been targeted by the online teaching, “Well so far, indulging in E-learning and virtual education, schools are trying but they can actually do better. I think they should also take into consideration that children have various learning patterns.
“Some children are visual learners (videos and pictures), some learn by reading texts(we call them the efiwes a.k.a geniuses), others learn by recitations. All of these should be put into consideration even in the virtual learning system.
He added that online learning might be the new ‘normal’ but “I think it’ll be quite difficult for tertiary institutions to adopt the E-learning system due to the large crowd trying to access the site per time. And not everyone has access to the internet which is a problem that should be addressed.
Oluebube James, a student of UNILAG explains that “I miss the classrooms and can’t wait to resume, but my friend that attends Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH complains about the online classes, how they have numerous voice notes to listen to and form their notes.”
She added that it could be difficult for many students to cope with and most especially the added cost of data.
Lessons for the Government
Emmanuel Agunze of Makoko Dream believed that there are lessons the government can learn from the pandemic regarding the education of children in slum communities so that in cases of emergencies, they won’t be left behind.
He urged the Lagos State government to create catchment centers and support NGOs who work directly in impoverished communities so as to ensure that educational gaps can be breached in situations like this.
Oluwaseun-Sobo, an Educationist, opines that if the government had been working towards the attainment of SDG 4 which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” perhaps there would have been adequate planning for education during emergencies.
She stressed that “the government needs to be prepared ahead of emergencies so that we are not caught unawares just like what we are facing right now and we can see that it is having ripple effects on our children.”
On her part, Ibironke, a parent, noted that “the government needs to have a more robust and technology-driven educational system. There is also the need to train, retrain, and equip teachers with knowledge and equipment to function better.”
Data Consultant, Ayodeji Ololade, advised that school management in private and public schools need to address the challenges that students are currently faced with and decide the best option at this critical time. He added that such would ensure that children do not lag in their academics as a result of the pandemic.
Regarding children with disabilities, Inclusive Education Advocate, Lawal Adebimpe recommended that the state government should partner with relevant Disabled Peoples’ Organizations that are willing to support the existing learning programmes with teaching aides and facilities for CWDs.
She also noted that “teachers that are taking the classes on television and radio need to be trained on how to be disability sensitive in their teachings, if possible, special teachers should be engaged to take the classes.”
Reopening of Schools
The Lagos State government has not disclosed when schools will resume but it says efforts are ongoing to develop protocols on how schools will operate after the resumption.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said on “we are working with development partners and ministries of education across the country to come up with a series of protocols on how we will be able to manage when we open schools. There are many things we are thinking of; we are thinking about pupils not coming to school every day so that we will be able to spread the children across the whole school. Pupils don’t have to be in their class to learn; they can learn in a room with tables and chairs.”
To reopen schools, it is important for stakeholders to adhere to the recommendations outlined by the World Health Organization for administrators and staff to implement social distancing practices including “staggering the beginning and end of the school day; canceling assemblies, sports games and other events that create crowded conditions; when possible, create space for children’s desks to be at least one meter apart; and teach and model creating space and avoiding unnecessary touching.”
WHO also highlighted that schools should “create a schedule for frequent hand hygiene, especially for young children, and provide sufficient alcohol-based rub or soap and clean water at school entrances and throughout the school. Enforce the policy of ‘stay at home if unwell’ and waive the requirements of Doctor’s note to excuse absence”.
In addition, schools should “consider daily screening for body temperature, and history of fever or feeling feverish in the previous 24 hours. Ensure physical distancing at school and adopt tele-schooling”.
“If tele-schooling is not possible, invite students to take text-books home or arrange to deliver assignments. Consider radio or television broadcasts of lessons, arrange a buddy system for homework with older siblings at home, or with friends by telephone.”
Appropriate and adequate measures should be taken by the government and all relevant stakeholders before reopening schools, and the current practices of online and tele-schooling should capture the needs of all students either poor, rich, or with disabilities.
Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) on
3-4 June 2020 in Abuja organized a two-day technical meeting onTHE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(PROHIBITION) ACT, 2018.
The Discrimination against Persons with
Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 is an important piece of legislation which
prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities and
seeks to integrate them into the society. However, since the passage / assent
of the Law in 2018/2019, very little progress has been made towards the
implementation of its provisions; this is largely due to a lack of political
will and absence of the requisite programming environment.
To this end, through the support of Rule
of Law and Anti-Corruption programme, funded by the European Union, and
implemented by the British Council, DRAC through her Policy to Practice project,
put together a stakeholders technical meeting for the development of a guide
for the implementation of the Disability Act with the following objectives:
1.
Hold consultations with the disability community on the priority areas
for implementation of the Act and the role of various stakeholders.
2. Develop a framework for the
implementation of the Disability Act that can be used by a wide range of stakeholders
to jumpstart implementation of the Act.
The Executive Director of DRAC, Dr. Irene
Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu in her opening remarks said that even though the COVID-19
Pandemic is holding activities down, the issue of discrimination against
persons with disabilities continues to go on unabated and even exacerbated by the
pandemic. The stakeholders technical meeting is designed to look into the Nigeria
Disability Act and begin to proffer ways it can be implemented especially with
the role of organizations of persons with disabilities and development partners
in mind, because it is important that a broad range of stakeholders participate
in the implementation of the Act including persons with disabilities themselves.
Speaking further, she said that the technical meeting is also to provide
guidance for development partners because there is need for them to mainstream
the implementation of the disability act in their programs so that they can
allocate resources to disability issues in their programming while also playing
the role of engaging with state actors for the implementation of the act.
In the near future, there will be another meeting where the
outcome of this meeting will be presented to the community of development
partners. She concluded by saying that though the Act was signed over a year
ago yet nothing concrete has been done about its implementation, therefore all
actors must begin to take proactive measures, in words and actions to build
momentum and gain traction for its implementation.
Oluwatoyosi Giwa, from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption
programme (ROLAC) in a her goodwill message said that their support for DRAC’s Policy
to Practice Project is at the heart of their commitment to work for the realization
of the rights of persons with disabilities. Speaking further, she urged the
participants to come up with the kind of feedback that DRAC and even other
partners will find adequate to arrive at the expected outcomes of the project
and feed into the implementation of the Act.
The meeting was participatory and
interactive and facilitated by two core experts in the human rights and development
community, Barr. John Onyeukwu and Jennifer Adebambo. Participants engaged in
interactive exercises and brainstormed on technical issues like tracing the
linkage between the CRPD and SDGs, identifying and ranking priority areas, recommending
workable actions relating to the different sections of the act, PEST analysis,
agenda setting for the expected disability commission and agreeing on recommendations
on the qualities of ideal commissioners of the Disability Commission.
The participants were drawn from the
various disability clusters, OPD leaders and notable personalities in disability
community.
Hon. Danjuma Atta, the Senior Special
Adviser to the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management
and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouk, also graced the meeting with
his presence. While declaring the meeting open, he said that the meeting is
coming at the right time and the objectives are in sync with the Ministry’s because
the government is at an advanced stage of plans for the establishment of the
National Commission for Persons with disabilities. Speaking further, he
appreciated DRAC for the wonderful job the organization is doing and reaffirmed
the commitment of the Minster of Humanitarian affairs towards working with persons
with disabilities to actualize the human rights of persons with disabilities as
is enshrined in the Nigeria Disability act.
Hon. Danjuma Atta, the Senior Special Adviser to The Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, Haijah Sadiya Umar Farouk while declaring open a technical meeting organized by Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) on Wednesday and Thursday in Abuja, said that work is at advance stage towards the establishment of National Commission for Persons with disabilities.
He went further to say that FG is committed towards implementation of the act. He recognized that the rights of persons with disabilities to work, political participation, health, etc are exclusive and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs are determined to continue working with people with disabilities to actualize these rights.
Centre for Persons with disabilities (CCD )have supported Abia State Government with three Sign Language Interpreters to participate actively in the Class on Television programme to ensure equal access to education for Abians with disabilities, and deaf persons in particular. Already, the three Sign Language Interpreters are participating actively in the programme.
Following the outrage within Abia State Disability Community on the exclusion of persons with disabilities in the Class on Radio Programme through the none use of State television Station with Sign Language Interpreter for the benefit of the deaf.
Couple with the request by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Abia State Chapter to our organization, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) for support with a Sign Language Interpreter for Class on Television programme in the State.
the permission of Abia State Commission for Education and Director General, Abia State Broadcasting Corporation (BCA) to support the State with Sign Language Interpreters for Class on Television programme;
In a statement sent to The Qualitative magazine by The Executive Director, Mr. David Obinna Anyaele, he said that the support is in line with CCD’s mandate, which include to protect, promote and safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and promote public enlightenment in civic education, human rights and public policy; To initiate, implement programmes, policies and activities geared toward promotion and enhancement of the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Abia State government created innovative education Radio Class program on Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) to keep students and their parents busy during the period of the lockdown as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking further, he said that they understand that it is part of Abia State government efforts to ensure that the academics of our highflying school children do not suffer much from the pandemic and its associated social disruptions, as Abia State has been on the lead in WEAC Examination result in Nigeria for 3 years now. The Radio Class program was designed to assist in keeping school children busy and abreast of their academics pending the resumption of normal classes.
Appreciating that Corona virus pandemic has hindered school children from access to education occasioned by the lockdown to contain the spread of the virus in Abia State as such this Radio Class program on BCA Radio is a welcome development.
However, implementing this programme without consideration to persons with disabilities, in particular persons with hearing impairment was disheartening, an indirect statement that Abians with disabilities’ education does not matter, informed the group’s support to Abia State government and person with hearing impairment in particular with Sign Language Interpreters to ensure no one is left behind in the State education system by reason of his or her disability.
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is the foremost organization of, and for persons with disabilities that works to promote disability rights, independent living and inclusive society, free from discrimination and exclusion on the grounds of disability. This we do through campaign, advocacy, capacity building and public sensitization of critical issues of concern to persons with disabilities and their families. CCD’s work is spread across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. We have over the past 15 years work to reduce inequalities among disability communities in Nigeria through engagement of policymakers at the Federal and State level which led to the passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 and Lagos State Special Peoples Law 2010.
Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilites (JONAPWD), Edo State Chapter on Friday, in a bid to ameliorate the hardship faced by its members made cash transfer of #5000 each to 80 indigent members cut across the 18 LGAs of Edo state.
The chairman of the Chapter Comrade Ebose Henry said the gesture is a way to looking inwards and ingeniously find a way to provide palliative response to cushion the effect of the hardship faced by persons with disabilities in this trying times where the entire world is in a total lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic and persons with disabilities are worst hit by pandemic.
The Qualitative magazine learnt that Jonapwd Edo state chapter requires more assistance from kind hearted individuals or NGOs towards the upliftment of the living standard of more members.
The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on Wednesday June 3 2020, chaired a meeting of the FCT Administration and leadership of the FCT Christian Association of Nigeria and League of FCT Imams Initiative to review the guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 particularly as they concern places of worship.
While reviewing the guidelines, the meeting received briefings from the FCT COVID 19 Emergency Response Team on the situation of the pandemic in the FCT.
The report of the Committee set up by the Honourable Minister on May 19 2020, to draw up protocols to be adopted for possible re-opening of places of worship, was equally received at the meeting.
After extensive deliberations, the meeting agreed to adopt the Guidelines as released by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 with regards to the re-opening of places of worship in the FCT under the second phase of the ease of lockdown for the next four weeks.
The Minister expressed the appreciation of the FCT Administration to the religious leaders for their cooperation and commitment towards a safe re-opening of places of worship in the Territory.
He also urged residents to use the opportunity provided by the re-opening of Churches and Mosques to pray fervently for the early end to the Covid -19 pandemic.
The religious leaders expressed their appreciation to the FCT Administration for always consulting and taking into consideration the opinions of the religious organisations on important societal issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following this consensus, between the FCT Administration and the religious leaders, the protocols guiding the re-opening of places of worship in the Territory are as follows:
A. All places of worship must sign up to full compliance with all aspects of non- pharmaceutical interventions required to protect the public from COVID-19, including but not limited to:
i. Ensuring the supply of running water and soap/alcohol sanitisers at entry and exit points and in all high-contact locations including bathrooms;
ii. Worshippers must sanitise their hands before entry;
iii. Provision of temperature checks before entry;
iv. Mandatory use of face masks;
v. Strongly discourage all close contact including shaking hands, hugging, kissing, handing out of materials and sharing of worship implements including prayer mats, musical organs, microphones etc;
vi. Churches and mosques within the FCT must limit the capacity of their facilities to allow for physical distancing of at least 2 meters between persons.
vii. Religious leaders are encouraged to consider the use of floor/surface markings to guide distancing and also encourage people from same household to stay together;
viii. Volunteers providing support at places of worship should be limited to exact numbers needed and none should have an underlying medical condition or be above the age of 55 years; and
ix. The leadership of the mosques/churches will be responsible for full compliance with these rules.
B. Limit congregational contact times, with places of worship only opening for regular church and mosque services;
i. Churches are to open from 5am and close by 8pm and each service shall be for a maximum of 1 hour with an interval of 30 mins in between services to allow time for disinfection;
ii. Mosques are to open 15 mins before Adhan and close 10 mins after prayers for the five prayers. Waiting period between Adhan and Iqamah should not be more than 10 minutes. Prayers are to be shortened to reduce duration of contact between congregations;
iii. For Friday prayers, mosques in the FCT are to open 20 minutes before prayers and close 20 minutes after prayers. Total time for Friday prayers including sermons should not exceed 1 hour;
iv. Islamiyah schools, All-Night Vigils, Sunday Schools and children activities are to remain suspended. For mosques, only the five daily prayers and Friday prayer services are allowed;
v. Mass gatherings that make compliance with physical distancing impossible are not allowed. Prayer sessions should be staggered if necessary, to encourage greater opportunity for physical distancing. Worshippers are encouraged to sign up for preferred service time and virtual worship option should be made available;
vi. Churches and mosques should make provisions for separate entry and exit points and measures should be taken to direct the flow of people to avoid crowding and breach of physical distancing rules;
vii. There should be no social gatherings either before or after worship; and
viii. Business outlets within the church or mosque premises should remain closed.
C. Vulnerable individuals such as those aged 55 years and above, those with impaired immune systems (e.g. HIV, cancer treatment) and underlying co-morbidities such as diabetes and heart disease are hereby advised to stay at home and consider remote participation or non-contact attendance such as drive-in services.
D. Improve environmental hygiene and avoid surface contamination;
i. Churches and mosques are advised to make their premises free of carpets to allow easy and regular disinfection of floors and furniture;
ii. All windows in churches and mosques should be kept open during services and the use of non-enclosed spaces/open air services are encouraged to be used as much as possible;
iii. High-touch surfaces, high traffic areas, common areas, and bathrooms should be frequently cleaned and disinfected and
iv. Those responsible for sanitation should use dilute bleach (1000ppm) to disinfect all surfaces after removal of visible dirt. infected persons should be kept out to reduce the risk of onward transmission
E. Public awareness campaign through effective messaging using conventional media and online outlets and placing of signages/notices at strategic locations. This should address common symptoms, risk of transmission, vulnerability to severe illness, etc;
ii. Worshippers should be encouraged not to attend in person if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough, shortness of breath or have had close contact with an infected person in the last 14 days;
iii. All worshippers noted to have a temperature or are symptomatic on arrival at the place of worship should be excluded from participation;
iv. Up-to-date records of staffing including contact details and if possible, a full record of attendees at every service to enable contact tracing should be kept; and
v. Religious visits to homes by religious clerics are hereby discouraged
F. The FCT Administration has recognized the importance of places of worship in our social and cultural way of life. They have equally been proven to be major sources of easy spread of the disease. It is therefore imperative that all places of worship adhere very strictly to the guidelines enunciated above.
G. The meeting also acknowledged that the situation of COVID-19 in the FCT is still at a very critical stage and recognizes that there is the danger that if the established protocols are not adhered to, the cases of those infected and fatalities will increase. It is therefore essential that all residents of the FCT take personal responsibility in ensuring strict compliance.
Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde on Wednesday distributed palliatives to persons with disabilities in the state, declaring that his administration will ensure that they are not short-changed in the scheme of things.
The governor, who stated this at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan during the distribution of palliatives to PWDs, maintained that pretenders and impersonators will never again be allowed to take what rightly belongs to PWDs in the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the distribution of palliatives to PWDs is the third phase of the palliatives distribution in the state, with the state having distributed palliatives to 90,000 poorest of the poor households as well as the distribution of seedlings, herbicides, pesticides and other farm inputs to 10,000 farmers in the first and second phases.
In his speech, the governor reiterated his promise to set up an agency for persons with disabilities, noting that his administration has not forgotten its commitment in that regard.
He added that the agency will be in place before the administration’s second anniversary in office. He said: “When I walked in here this morning, I thought of the pictures in my archive. We have all met. We have all taken pictures together. So, you are not new to me and I am not new to you. It is just the continuation of the relationship that we started, even before I became the governor of this state.
“The bottom line is that, before now, we went into the records and we saw that every time you say you are putting up a programme for the people with disabilities, you only have 20 per cent of the data being correctly presented. About 80 per cent will just be able-bodied people taking benefits that belong to the people living with disabilities. But we have been able to crack that and solve it. So, never again will pretenders or impersonators in Oyo State take what rightly belongs to people with disabilities.
“When we said they should bring names of persons with disabilities for them to be included in the administration at the local level, some people thought we would not check. So, they brought the names of able-bodied people. We called and asked around and discovered that it was the names of able-bodied people that were submitted. So, we removed their names.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank you for your support during the election and the present administration. We made promises during the electioneering and promised to involve you in every facet of this administration and we are on that path.
“This is the third phase of palliatives distribution. The first stage is for the poorest of the poor amongst us. We distributed palliatives just like this to 90,000 households. Some who are farmers called me and said we should give them seedlings to increase their productivity when they get to their various farms. We listened to them and, in the second phase, we distributed seedlings to the farmers.
“Now, this is the third phase, which is for the vulnerable within us and it will be for 30,000 households. So, we are flagging it off with yourselves because you are among the vulnerable in our society.”
Governor Makinde, who stated that he was aware that his promise to set up an agency for PWDs has not been fulfilled, said the promise will come to fruition, as he has kept a record of all the promises he made during the electioneering. He implored the PWDs to continue to adhere to the directives of the Oyo State Task Force on COVID-19.
Speaking in the same vein, the Executive Adviser to the governor on Agribusiness, Dr. Debo Akande, said the event was a reflection of Governor Makinde’s commitment to ensuring equity and equality in the running of the state, adding that with the governor, all citizens and residents of the state are equal.
He maintained that the food security and emergency committee, which is in charge of palliatives distribution, did due diligence to ensure that all persons present at the event had their data checked and clarified.
