Ahead of the 2023 National population and housing census, TAF Africa organized a one-day training for the National Population Commission project team and other stakeholders on the Washington group of questions, with support from the Disability rights fund.
Dr. Osifo Ojogun, Director General of the National population commission stated that the forthcoming National population and housing census is based on the fundamental principles of living no one behind, especially persons with disabilities.
Therefore, it is important to understand how best to relate with the disability community in other to have an inclusive census where everyone will be counted irrespective of disability type.
While making his presentation on “the skills for interacting with persons with disability (PWD)”, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of TAF Africa, Amb. Jake Epelle shared some communication skills, etiquette, and method needed to interact with the disability community to being perceived as condescending. He also shared with participants tips on the right expressions and vocabularies to use in addressing persons with disabilities during and beyond the national population and housing census.
A disability consultant, Dr. Toyin Aderemi said that without Data, it is difficult to address disability issues, while teaching participants how to apply the Washington group of questions methodology during the National population and housing census. In her words, “If we have data, it is easy for us to identify what the disability barriers are”.
She trained participants using the Washington group of questions (WGQ) that would address the issue of whether persons with disability participate to the same extent as persons without disabilities.
The data collection tools developed by the Washington Group are easily incorporated into national data collection systems, as well as topic-specific surveys, programmatic, and research data collections. The tools are designed to complement each other, making using information from different sources possible.
Dr. Collins Opiyo, Chief Technical Advisor of The United Nations Population Fund, Nigeria who was present at the event applauded TAF Africa for organizing the training towards an inclusive 2023 National Census.
He stated the importance of an inclusive Census where persons with disabilities will fully participate in the process irrespective of the disability type.
