From Leo Zwànke, Lafia
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nasarawa State have renewed their call for the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which has been domesticated in the state. They say this step is crucial to enabling them to enjoy their rights and live without discrimination.
The State Coordinator of the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI), Mrs. Asaba Averson, made the appeal during a one-day media engagement held in Lafia on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Averson expressed concern that despite the law being domesticated, its full implementation has yet to be realized, leaving PWDs vulnerable to numerous challenges.
“The hospital facilities are not disability-friendly because the structures are not accessible by Persons with Disabilities,” she said. “We want to be included in all sectors of the economy.”
She emphasized that women with disabilities have the right to reproductive healthcare and access to other essential services.
“We have rights to reproductive health, education, and all other things that persons without disabilities are enjoying in society. The government should involve us in its decision-making process to ensure an inclusive government,” Averson added.
While commending the state government for creating a Disability Rights Commission and domesticating the Act, she called for intensified efforts to include PWDs in governance and other sectors. She also urged the media to amplify the voices of PWDs and highlight their concerns.
Similarly, AWWDI Programme Manager, Mr. Kola Jayeoba, stressed the need to respect and uphold the rights of PWDs, particularly women and girls.
“Our focus is on issues concerning women and girls with disabilities, their rights, and inclusion,” Jayeoba said. “We engage the government on policies that need to include persons with disabilities. Although the government has been making some efforts, we want them to do more.”
He noted that AWWDI, supported by HIVOS and We Lead, is implementing a project aimed at amplifying the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls with disabilities in Nasarawa State.
Jayeoba further urged the media to portray PWDs in a positive light. “The media should project them rightly, not as beggars, but as people entitled to education, healthcare, and other essential services,” he said.
He also appealed to society to view PWDs as individuals with potential rather than from cultural or religious perspectives.
The media engagement enumerates the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring that the rights of PWDs are upheld and that they are fully integrated into all aspects of society.
