Tina Amanda
People Living With Disability (PWD) in Rivers state, have called for quota inclusion of the disabled in education, health care system, and insurance amongst others.
Leader of the PWD Ndifreke Andrew-Essien, who is a member of Faecare Foundation, made the call when she led her team to FIDA Rivers office in Port Harcourt, to solicit for free legal representation on a probono basis the PWD community on issues that arises from the violation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act 2018 and on gender-based violence.
According to her, people living with disabilities should not be relegated or be seen as objects of welfare, noting that they deserve equal participation in government and institutions which are the rights of every citizenry.
Andrew-Essien further urged FIDA to join them to push for inclusive education for all and the need for PWD more engagements with tertiary institutions in the State especially the blind among them.
“Our goal as a foundation is to motivate, inspire, and empower vulnerable groups and meet the following demands of the people living with Disability. We visited FIDA Rivers office to seek partnership in ensuring more awareness and advocacy is done on the Act.
“Welfare is essential for everyone but where welfare is the only mode of engagement for persons living with disability, it’s very limiting. Every citizen in a country especially in a democracy is a legitimate member of society.
“It has become essential for government and institutions to begin to recognize the dynamic diversity citizens have that cut across and includes PWD. It is a group that should not be ignored or relegated to welfare only, persons with disabilities have their rights and these rights should be respected.
*It is very disheartening when we are denied equal participation, we are also saddened by the lack of accessibility to public service buildings. Is it the institutional, attitudinal, and structural barriers faced all the time, people with disabilities should also have and operate businesses.”
In her response, the Chairperson FIDA Rivers Adata Bio-Briggs said FIDA is already providing probono services for PWD while assuring that they will collaborate with the foundation towards ensuring the Act is domesticated and the Rivers State Person with Disabilities Welfare (Enhancement) Law is amended or repealed.
“it is one of the five strategic goals of FIDA Nigeria to provide legal services for the vulnerable which PWD are amongst and to push for their inclusion in social, economic, and political spheres.
“Also, FIDA Rivers will collaborate with the foundation towards ensuring that the Act is domesticated and the Rivers State Person with Disabilities Welfare (Enhancement) Law 2012 is amended or repealed in line with the new law.
“We promised them that FIDA Rivers will carry out advocacy on the law and that the law will further be translated to pidgin English, an audio and braille version will also be produced for both the hearing and visually impaired.
“FIDA Rivers is already sensitizing people on the need for inclusive education and will do even more now, in partnership with the foundation. We will look at inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all of them, this is what we owe persons living with disabilities because it is their right and something they need”.
Meanwhile, the head of the Faecare Foundation Entourage presented advocacy materials to FIDA Rivers, in reciprocation to the gesture, the chairperson of FIDA Rivers, presented copies of the book “Relevant Laws Beneficial to Women in Rivers State” authored by FIDA Rivers.
