Yemisi Izuora
The Center for Citizens with Disabilities at (CCD) has called on federal government to introduce policy measures that will eliminate prejudices, discriminatory practices and other barriers against people with disabilities.
Speaking at the launch of a research book on ‘Access To Public Infrastructures For Persons With Disabilities In Nigeria’ president of the CCD, David Anyaele said such barriers can be addressed through the enactment of laws by the legislatures at national and state levels.
Anyaele said the study which was presented to the public provides an evidence-base for actions and strategies to redress the gaps in service provision to People With Disabilities (PWD) countrywide.
“It has thrown up with concrete examples the kinds of daunting challenges that PWDs face in trying to access services that would enable them live normal, healthy and productive lives.
It has also illustrated clearly some of the key challenges facing MDAs who have the mandate to make these services available to all (Including PWDs)” Anayele explained.
He further referred authorities to the domestication and implementation of measures prescribed in the Draft African Protocols on Protection of Rights of Persons with Disabilities by States and Parties, which he said will also support the realisation of the rights of PWDs, to a large extent.
“Implementation is the key word here as it is easy to adopt policies and never really implement them” the CCD president observed.
Anyaele also suggested the need for increased public awareness and education by all tiers of government to increase knowledge of needs of PWDs especially with regard to provisions that facilitate basic access to public facilities.
He called for implementation of national, multi-media, public education campaigns that raise awareness about the needs of PWDs as a way to reach the wider publics.
There is also the need for “Government to strengthen and improve the judiciary and legal enforcement processes by training and re-training personnel such as prosecutors, judges, police and correctional officers on the rights of PWDs to access public services” he suggested.