Edo Health Comm. Expresses Govt Readiness To Support PWDs
Iduozee Efe Paul
Edo state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samuel Ali has lamented that with the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government last year, that over 675,000 Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in Edo state have been critically affected.
Dr. Samuel Ali, represented by the permanent Secretary, Edo state ministry of health, Dr. Stanley made the statements in an event organized by PWDs on NDI PAIRS IV PROJECT, with Resilientnet-Empowering Inclusivity and Adaptability in Emergency for project closeout meeting agenda, Benin city, Edo state.
The health commissioner therefore called upon both the state and federal governments to implement comprehensive social protection mechanisms to make life meaningful for the PWDs and ordinary people.
He said,"Today as we gather to mark the close-out of the ResilientNet Project. We are reminded of the journey we embarked upon to empower and uplift the lives of Persons living with Disabilities (PWDs) in our beloved Edo State.
"This project, aimed at empowering inclusivity and adaptability in emergencies, has been a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change amidst the challenges our society faces.
‘in recent times. our community has been significantly impacted by the removal of fuel Subsidy. A decision that has inadvertently heightened the hardships of over 675,000 PWDs in our state.
These individuals, already navigating the complexities of daily life with resilience and courage, have found themselves at the crossroads of increased vulurability and economic strain.
" The Resilient tet Project, under the sterling leadership of Melody Omosah Esq, the Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), has been instrumental in bringing to light the profound adversities faced by PWDs.
"Through exhaustive surveys focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, we have gained invaluable heights into the everyday reailities of our disabled brothers and sisters. As we move forward, let us take the lessons learned and the successes achieved through the ResilientNet Project as a foundation upon which to build a more inclusive future.
" It is imperative that we, as a community, call upon both the state and federal governments to implement comprehensive social protection mechanisms.These should include accessible healthcare, inclusive employment policies, vocational training programmes, and interest-free business grants specifically tailored to the needs of PWDs."
In his welcome address, the Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), Melody Omosah, Esq, said the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of foreign exchange had really affected the lives of many Nigerians, especially the PWDs.
He said the policies had affected most of their members which made majority of them to suffered untold hardship. He said because of this, they quickly embarked on research that make them to identify some key areas on how to reduce the suffering on their members.
Omosah Esq said they also engaged seven MDAs, government officials, and other stakeholders with the help of CSOs and the media to ensure lasting solution are in place for PWDs.
" Persons living with disabilities have been marginalized. It follows that when there is policy and programme of government that affect the PWDs.
" Virtually persons with disability are those that usually at the receiving end of these policies. The 29 of May, 2023, during the inauguration of our President, Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy.
" It automatically had a negative impact on the lives and livelihood of Nigerians. It affected the price of goods and services. From the increase in fuel to the impact of other commodities that depended on fuel.
" And Nigerians groaned under the hardship. When that was on, the policy of flouting the naira against the dollar came about. We saw quick rise dollar against the naira.
" What that means is that the lives and livelihood of Nigerians were affected. It was a case of economy emergence. At that point no one was thinking about his neighbour," he stressed.
He thanked governor Godwin Obaseki for the supports giving to the persons living with disability especially for setting up Edo State Disability Commission.
He promised that they will continue to engage various candidates that emerged from the three major political parties in the state to see how they can enact policies that would affect PWDs positively.
In her remarks, Edo state commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issue, Mrs. Christabel Omoh Ekwu, expressed the state government readiness to always support and work with persons living with disability in Edo state.
Omoh Ekwu said," this project is a huge one. I remember when Barri Melody Omosah came to our office to tell us about this project. I said the governor needs to be part of this project.
" If people that have no visible disability at a time like this are finding it difficult to cope in this hash economic in the country, talk less of people living with disability who inconvenient themselves to get certain things done in their daily life.
" You and I know what is happening in the economy today, and how it is biting hard on everyone. The reality of what we are going through in Nigeria is biting on everyone.
" So we consider PWDs who cannot help themselves, and they need assistance from other people to get their daily activities done. This is a timely intervention and I hope that at the end of this all the recommendations will properly be look at.
" We are also working hard to ensure that the disability Commission comes to reality. And every other intervention that the state government had put in place to cushion the effect on the hardship for the citizens of Edo state," she added.
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