By Chidimma Ajemba.
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) together with Office of the Governor on Disability Matters and Ministry of Children and Women Affairs with Support from European Union ROLAC Support program organised the International Disability Day with series of activities for the week.
The media chat was held on Tuesday 2nd November with the topic “Highlighting Government Commitments on Issues/Challenges facing persons with disability in Anambra State” at Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Center Awka .
Leading the interactive sections Mr Chude Emmanuel emphasised that not all disability are visible . He highlighted the significance of International Day for Persons with Disabilities and mentioned numerous programs lined up like the media chat, awareness rally, international Day of Persons with Disability celebration/award giving on 3rd December and Thanksgiving Mass on 6th December .
Secondly Miss Ncheta Nwanokwalu gave a lecture on the effects of Covid 19 on Persons with Disabilities. She noted that the disability community were mostly exposed because of their vulnerablilty during the pandemic and this pose as a challenge.
Moving forward, the chairman of Jonapwd Comrade Ugochukwu Ernest Okeke delivered a lecture on the Imperativeness of establishment of the Disability Right Commission. He elaborated the need for the State Government to quicken the process of establishment of the Disability Right Commission as this will help to provide full Implementation of the Disability Right Law in Anambra. He explained further that the presence of the Disability Right Commission in Anambra will improve the lives of persons with disability through massive employments and also give pwds access to the various provisions of the Disability Right Law 2018.
Another host speaker,Miss Chidimma Ajemba gave a lecture on Media and Disability Ethics. She enumerated several ways the media has fallen short while reporting on pwds. She noted that the media should be mindful of the way and how they potray stories about pwds. She equally mentioned some disability etiquettes like avoiding condescending words like handicap, lame,deaf and dumb,imbecile etc.
The last speaker Mr Amobi Nwagwu spoke on Disabilities and Access to Justice. Here he said pwds finds it hard to access justice because of lack of sign interpreters,no access to buildings like provision of ramp for the wheelchair users and providing audio instructions for the blind and visually impaired. He also said that pwds are denied of employment opportunities especially in private sectors because of one disability or the other. He called on parents to send their disability children to school because they have right to Education. He suggested that sign language Interpreters be made available in police stations and hospitals.
Responding and Highlighting the Commitments of the Anambra State Government towards the Disability Community, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters Barrister Chuks Ezewuzie appreciated Jonapwd and Ministry of Children and Women Affairs for their efforts towards the success of this year’s International Day for Persons With Disabilities. He announced that Governor Willie Obiano has approved the establishment of Committee on the Implementation of the Disability Right Commission. He said this is a step towards the establishment of the Disability Right Commission in Anambra State.He recalled that Anambra State was the first to sign the Disability Right Law in the south east even ahead of the Federal Government.He noted that the Disability Community in Anambra State is blessed to have a Governor that has the best interest of the Disability Community at heart. He also stated that anyone caught falling short of all the provisions in the Disability Right Law 2018 shall be dealt with. He noted that Disability is not liability but an asset if given the opportunity . He assured all pwds waiting for appointments,that their appointment shall come through before the tenure of Governor Obiano runs out if the economy permits.
Highpoints of the Media Chat was the questions and answers section from the media officials to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matter Barrister Ezewuzie and the host speakers.