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PEACE BUILDING: FCT PWDs COVID-19 PALLIATIVE COMMITTEE COORDINATION, A PANACEA FOR JONAPWD CRISIS

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Agbo Christian
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by Chris Agbo

At the flag-off of FCTA COVID-19 Palliative distribution by Minister of State, FCT, Hajiah Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) were invited to monitor the process. As a result of this, Mrs. Lois Auta, Founder/CEO of Cedar Seed Foundation was invited to be part of the process. According to her, she observed that persons with disabilities were not captured in the whole exercise. So when she had the opportunity to speak, she expressed concern over the exclusion of persons with disabilities in the whole process and advocated for persons with disabilities Inclusion. This resulted in a meeting being fixed with the Hon Minister of State FCT to address the issues as it concerns persons with disabilities and the COVID-19 Palliative distribution. At the meeting with the Minister and PWDs, the heads of cluster groups suggested that the Palliative meant for PWDs be handed over to the PWDs for distribution.

Based on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister inaugurated a nine-man FCT PWDs COVID-19 Palliative Committee headed by JONAPWD FCT Chapter Chairman, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Ujah with the mandate to ensure equitable distribution of the Palliative to persons with disabilities. The Minister released 3000 food items for 3000 households. The Committee did a marvelous job in distributing the Palliatives to PWDs across the six Area Councils without any complaints from anyone or cluster group.

This analogy from FCT was cited for you to understand that COVID-19 response for PWDs Nationwide failed because of the failure of JONAPWD National to manage their crisis. FCT worked because Organizations of Persons with disabilities in FCT jettisoned their personal interests and worked for the common good of all especially those that cannot advocate for themselves.

It was easy to organize and mobilise PWDs in FCT because they have a rancour free Chapter of JONAPWD. At least, there is an organised entity for FCT authorities to engage unlike National JONAPWD which her absent made Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs not trusting any other organization of persons with disabilities to distribute their Palliatives. After the flag off of the Palliative distribution by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development at Karamajiji Disability Colony in FCT where 430 households benefited. Since then, nothing was heard of the COVID-19 palliative distribution for PWDs. Even though the Minister promised that they will reach out to 3.1 million households of persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, no group or organization of persons with disabilities followed up so that other states can benefit from the COVID-19 Palliatives and also for equitable distribution among clusters. That was how the albinism community lost out of the COVID-19 palliative distribution.

“Who to blame”
Unfortunately, most of the so called leaders in the disability community who contributed to the death of JONAPWD got to where they are today with the help of the association. The association have not recovered from the last election held in Abuja in 2018 where irregularities was alleged and some concerned members and the two leading candidates Ekaete Umoh and Barrister Yusuf Iyodo headed to the court seeking for one plead to the other. This senseless fight has kept the association on a hold and 80% of persons with disabilities who live in the rural areas are the ones suffering for it.

At the wake of this COVID-19 pandemic, many other concerned persons with disabilities have made frantic effort to reach out to government authorities which led to the stakeholders meeting, the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Haijah Sadiya Umar Farouk organised with some persons with disabilities which was criticized by some members of Disability Community questioning the eligibility of those invited to the meeting. Even at that meeting, there were tussle on who supposed to be there and so on. The Chairman, JONAPWD FCT was of the opinion that the Ministry should recognized only JONAPWD because it is only the umbrella body, this complaint came about because the concerned persons with disabilities approached the ministry under the auspices of Coalition of Disability Organizations (CODO) which didn’t go down well with Mr. Abdulmumuni. The group was invited to the meeting as a coalition representing organizations of persons with across the country. As good as his point maybe he has forgotten that there is no JONAPWD National to engage. JONAPWD FCT can’t stand for JONAPWD National, JONAPWD FCT being in that meeting was because FCT was among the three major states FG were focusing at that time. The stakeholders meeting gave birth to a technical Committee which advised the Minister on how PWDs can be mainstreamed in the Social Intervention Programmes and the Palliative distribution. (a work JONAPWD if in existence must have done earlier and engage the ministry with it). The Committee worked on the set objective and sent the recommendations but since then, the committee are still waiting for the Minister’s response but the Ministry has commenced the Palliative distribution and they also said that they are profiling PWDs to include them in the social intervention programmes. (OPDs and PWDs sidelined in the FG palliative distribution Process for PWDs and profiling of social intervention programmes beneficiaries because there is no coordination that JONAPWD would have provided)

Since there is no umbrella association, no opportunity to track the progress of these claims by the Ministry and it also occasioned PWDs being totally sidelined and excluded from the entire process.

However, in the course of this COVID-19 pandemic, Organizations of Persons with disabilities still have ample time and opportunity to jettison their selfish interests, reconcile their differences, provide a peaceful coordinated front and work for the helpless persons with disabilities to achieve the following:

  1. Intensify advocacy towards the establishment of National Commission of Persons with disabilities because there is no better time to push than now. The Nigeria Disability Law was totally ignored and PWDs were excluded in almost all the government Interventions because there is no Commission to oversee the implementation of the act.
  2. Lack of Aggregated Data of Persons with disabilities was another greatest undoing to OPDs in the quest to get the authorities in different states to reach out to the community. OPDs should work together to engage the government to see how they can urgently carry out census of persons with disabilities for future occurrences.
  3. OPDs should work together now because hunger is ravaging many households of persons with disabilities, there is need for a coordinated front to engage the government for far-reaching palliative distribution to persons with disabilities. Again, post COVID-19 challenges on PWDs would be enormous and there has to be engagement of all sectors of the economy to understand the degree of the COVID-19 effect on PWDs and design programmes to cushion the effect.

In conclusion, this is the time for PWDs to put their house in order. The effect of COVID-19 pandemic to the economic wellbeing of PWDs should be an eye-opener for us to do the needful. No individual is bigger than a association; Disability community should rise up and reclaim their association for the benefits of many. All the elites in Disability community should write their names in gold by standing up now for the truth, salvage the precarious situation disability community find themselves especially now that the helpless PWDs need them most.

This article is written to ignite the consciousness of disability community towards peace building in Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) the umbrella body of associations of persons with disabilities.

CCD hails Gov. Ganduje for appointing a person with disability as SSA on Disability matters

By
Agbo Christian
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The foremost organization of persons with disabilities that works to promote disability rights, independent living, inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in development agenda, Centre for citizens with Disabilities(CCD) on Tuesday commended the governor of Kano State Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. for appointing Mallam Tasiu Shehu Garko as Senior Special Adviser on Disability Matters to Kano state.

In a statement sent to The Qualitative magazine signed by the Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David Obinna Anyaele, the group received the news of the appointment with joy and excitement saying that the appointment which was long waited for, didn’t come to them as a surprise considering the governor’s commitments over time to include persons with disabilities in all structures of governance in the state.

The group is not unaware of Governor Ganduje’s deliberate efforts since assuming office in 2015 in ensuring that persons with disabilities in the state have a better life, which led to his signing into law the Kano state persons with disabilities law 2018 which is currently being implementation by the State Government.

They said that the actions of the governor towards persons with disabilities in the state are a clear exhibition of inclusive governance and again an indication that contributions of persons with disabilities matters in governance.

The group is proud that its presence in Kano State is yielding positive results, and its advocacy for inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in governance is making good impact.

The group urged members of the community of persons with disabilities in Kano state to support Mallam Tasiu in his assignment of representing them and admonished Mallam Tasiu to operate consultative leadership by opening his door to all sundry and making sure everyone is heard.

The group is hopeful that other states in the country will replicate what Kano state governor has done.

International Disability Alliance (IDA) appoints Ujah as National Project Officer

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Agbo Christian
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Alhaji Abdulmumuni Ujah, the Chairman, FCT Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD) has been appointed on contract as the National Project Officer of Inclusion Work/Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) Engagement in Nigeria by International Disability Alliance (IDA).
His job as National Project Officer is to support and advise at the country level programme activities to align with the CRPD and support the active and meaningful engagement of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations across all levels.

Additionally, he will also support implementation of activities outlined as part of IDA and ADF’s contribution to the project. He would be reporting to the Regional Project Coordinator, in coordination with the IDA Inclusive Development Officer; and technical and strategic guidance from the ADF Executive Director as and when required. With other Responsibilities.

COVID-19: CCD Set to Inaugurate a toll free Support Centre For PWDs

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Agbo Christian
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By DIANA OMUEZA

The Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD), an NGO, is set to inaugurate its support centre for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to tackle disability-related issues during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Executive Director of CCD, Mr David Anyaele, said this on Monday during an online news conference, with the theme: ‘COVID-19 and the Situation of Nigerians with Disability’.

Anyaele said that the inauguration of a toll-free support line for PWDs was part of the organisation’s interventions to address disability issues during the pandemic as well as to sensitise PWDs across the country.

“The support centre will help to sensitise PWDs on COVID-19. It will also convene online discussions and collate the observations of PWDs, especially in the aspect of compliance with the lockdown directive and social distancing.

“The centre will also help us monitor PWDs’ access to humanitarian supports and link them with the social security interventions of both the state and the federal governments as well as those of NGOs and other well- meaning Nigerians,” he said.

Anyaele said that the organisation had also commenced a social media campaign, focusing on implementation of COVID-19 behavioral change among PWDs.

He said that the campaign was aimed at minimising the negative impacts of COVID-19 among Nigerians with disabilities as well as raising awareness and enhancing access to information.

Anyaele, however, appealed to the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to mainstream disability matters in its coronavirus response and recovery plans, with targeted actions.

This, he said, would ensure that all gaps were close around disability and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive director also said that the establishment of accountability mechanisms to ensure inclusion of disability in its response was paramount and could not be over- emphasised.

He also appealed to the PTF to mandate the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to create a dedicated hotline or support centre for PWDs across the country to enhance quick access.

Source: News Agency Of Nigeria (NAN)

COVID-19 Palliative: An entrepreneur with disability donates food items to PWDs in Imo State

By
Agbo Christian
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DR NWACHUKWU STANLEY, the CEO of DISABILITY DESTINY TRACK FOUNDATION, an entrepreneur and philanthropist with disability on Saturday distributed food items to persons with disabilities in Imo State to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on persons with disabilities.

The business guru with disability popularly known as Odozieobodo whlie presenting the Palliatives to the persons with disabilities said that it is his own little way of helping out persons with disabilities who are going through a lot of hardship at this time.

Food items like bags of rice, beans, cartoons of Noddles and more were distributed to persons with disabilities.

Pictures of the event:

The Need for Humanitarian Leadership and Global Solidarity during COVID-19

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Agbo Christian
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ByDr.Anis Ben Brik

The coronavirus pandemic is a systemic human development crisis, affecting individuals and societies in unprecedented ways. It is also generating new humanitarian needs.

According to UN estimates, half a billion people, or 8% of the world’s population, could be pushed into destitution by the year’s end, largely due to the pandemic. If so, then the fight against poverty would be set back 30 years. The International Rescue Committee said last week that the virus could cause 1bn infections and 3.2m deaths in 34 fragile states, including Afghanistan and Syria.

The fourth annual Global Report on Food Crises highlights Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Haiti among the countries most at risk of widespread famines caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to World Food Programme estimates, the number suffering from hunger could rise from 135 million to more than 250 million.

The International Labour Organization reported last week that almost 1.6 billion informal economy workers (representing the most vulnerable in the labor market)out of a worldwide 2 billion and a global workforce of 3.3 billion are in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed.

COVID-19 has underscored the importance of humanitarian leadership and global solidarity. On April 2, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by 188 nations including Qatar, calling for “intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the pandemic, including by exchanging information, scientific knowledge and best practices and by applying the relevant guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization.”

Solidarity is a matter of both morality and long-term vision. Failure to pass this test would leave deep psychological wounds in left-behind countries, paving the way for all manner of extremism and new crises—from pandemics to conflicts—that would threaten everyone. By rallying around science and solidarity today, we will sow the seeds for greater unity tomorrow.

The coronavirus does not respect borders. Nor does it discriminate. It brings into stark view the imperative for humanitarian leadership. This crisis has revealed variations in state capacity to contain the spread of the virus.

Many governments either lack adequate capacity to respond, or in some cases, the necessary political will to provide for their citizens. For example, the most developed countries – those in the very high human development category – have on average 55 hospital beds, over 30 physicians, and 81 nurses per 10,000 people, compared to 7 hospital beds, 2.5 physicians, and 6 nurses in a least developed country.

One can readily imagine that if the COVID-19 response has been dire in the developed countries, it is going to be infinitely more devastating for governments that have only a fraction of the financial and medical resources.

Despite the blockade, the State of Qatar stands out as one of the most actively involved in global humanitarian responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qatar has provided significant humanitarian aid to 20 countries so far, including assistance in the field of medical supplies, building field hospitals, and contributing USD 140 million to multilateral organizations working to develop vaccines or ensure the resilience of healthcare in other countries.

To date, Qatar has sent substantial aid to China, Iran, Palestine, Italy, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Nepal and Rwanda. In addition, the representation mission of the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in Turkey has recently distributed supplementary food aid to around 110,000 families at internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Idlib and Aleppo Governorates, northern Syria.

In the age of COVID-19, protecting the most vulnerable among us is not just a moral imperative but also an urgent public health objective. The health of one is the health of all.

Facebook and Red Cross Launch #AfricaTogether, a Campaign Calling for Vigilance against Covid-19

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Agbo Christian
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Nairobi/Geneva 01 June 2020 —Facebook and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are partnering to launch #AfricaTogether – a digital campaign and two-day festival on June 4th and 5th featuring artists from across Africa to encourage continued vigilance against Covid-19.

With more than 100,000 Covid-19 cases confirmed on the continent and containment measures easing in many countries, #AfricaTogether combines musical and comedy performances with information from Covid-19 first responders and fact-checkers from across Africa.

#AfricaTogether will include a festival with performances by artists such as Aramide, Ayo, Femi Kuti, Ferre Gola, Salatiel, Serge Beynaud, Patoranking, Youssou N’dour amongst many others, as well as a digital awareness campaign with prevention messages developed with Red Cross and Red Crescent health experts and targeting simultaneously Facebook users in 48 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

The event will be streamed on Facebook Live on the 4th June in English and hosted by the Nigerian popular actor and comedian Basketmouth and in French on the 5th June by the renowned media personality Claudy Siar. To watch the live shows, viewers can tune in to the Facebook Africa page and Red Cross and Red Crescent Facebook pages. To register and learn more about the artist lineup and how to tune in, please visit the Facebook event pages in English and in French.

Commenting, Mamadou Sow, a long-serving member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement said, “The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis in that it can affect us all, and ignores borders, ethnicities, and religions. African communities so far have responded quickly, but the risk remains very real. If we all do our part, we will beat Covid-19. Music is a powerful uniting force and we hope that the #AfricaTogether festival will bring renewed hope and action against this dangerous disease.”

Adding her voice to the initiative, Jocelyne Muhutu-Rémy, Facebook’s Strategic Media Partnerships Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa said: “The spike in the use of online tools during the Covid-19 pandemic shows the social usefulness of digital platforms in difficult times. We are seeing many incredible initiatives from artists bringing their communities together on Facebook Live. The #AfricaTogether campaign will enable people to learn more about fighting Covid-19, while enjoying entertainment from their favourite African performers. We will be spreading joy in a way that doesn’t spread the disease.”

This event is one of the many ways that Facebook and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are both contributing in the fight against Covid-19 across the continent.Facebook continues to work with governments across Sub-Saharan Africa, including partnering with organizations like health agencies and NGOs who are actively using its platforms to share accurate information about the situation and launching Covid-19 Information Centers in more than 40 countries, which provides real-time updates from health authorities and helpful articles, videos and posts about social distancing and preventing the spread of the virus.

With a network of more than 1.5 million volunteers and staff across the continent, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is on the frontlines of combating Covid-19 in communities through information campaigns, providing soap and access to clean water, and supporting health care facilities and workers with training, equipment, and supplies. In parts of Africa, Covid-19 is another layer of crisis on top of conflict, violence, or climate disasters.

Source:

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

A woman with disability displays how to make beautiful beads (video)

By
Agbo Christian
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A musician with disability very energetic on stage(video)

By
Agbo Christian
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0

Sunday Aje, an Abuja based musician with disability who specialised on RnB is always very energetic on stage. See one of his performance in Potters Creative Gallery Exhibition in Abuja.

Lagosians with Disabilities demand better welfare, suggest ways for Gov. Sanwo-Olu as he marks his one year in office

By
Agbo Christian
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0

Lagosians with disabilities have felicitated with State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Dr. Amzat as they mark their one year of successfully piloting the affairs of the State.

Chairman of JONAPWD in Lagos, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo in a statement sent to The Qualitative Magazine, he appreciated the governor for his personal commitment to promoting disability-inclusion and empowerment of lagosians with disability in the last one year.


While we acknowledge and appreciate His Excellency’s personal commitment to promoting disability-inclusion and empowerment, Lagosians with disabilities, he lamented that there is no evidence of strategic, institutional, policy/program-driven approaches to implementing governor’s passionate love for PWDs, he said.

Speaking further, he said that Governor Sanwo-Olu THEMES Agenda offered Lagosians with disabilities some hope of enhancement of their inclusion in all sectors of life in the state emerging smart mega city. However, the Administration has failed after one year to strengthen the Disability Agency (LASODA) with which it would have achieved this important goal. LASODA up till now has no Board and General Manager to pilot its affairs.

He proposed that Lagosians with disabilities would be much happier if the governor do the following in his second year:

  1. The urgent set-up and institutional strengthening of LASODA
  2. Restoration of the Disability Empowerment Fund.
  3. Executive Order mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to set-up a Disability-Inclusion Desk to be supervised by a Director in charge of Planning
  4. Executive Order mandating all Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to set up Disability Support and Resource Office.
  5. Full implementation of the Lagos State Policy on inclusive education.

“Lagosians with disabilities trust that these requests would have been granted by the end of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office. God bless our dear Governor, his Deputy and all those who work with them. God bless Lagos state,” he concluded.

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