calls for accessible venues, information, education, others
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has urged Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritize persons with disabilities in the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
The group called for accessible venues, information, education and communication to ensure no one is left behind by reason of his or her disability
The director David Anyaele disclosed this in a press statement released on Friday.
CCD while commending the efforts of the Federal government in combating the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria and other activities, expressed concern that the developing protocols for vaccination of Nigerians made no reference to persons with disabilities.
He said “Our worries are premised on the fact that persons with disabilities are most likely susceptible to contact COVID bearing in mind their inability to operate independently in most time hence the need to be given topmost priority in vaccination exercise.
He called on the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the States Task Force (STF) on COVID-19 to prioritize persons with disabilities in the first groups of public vaccination.
This he said is because PWDs in Nigeria are highly discriminated against by State and non-State institutions in particular healthcare service providers.
Anyaele urged PTF/STF to ensure the venues for vaccinations are accessible to persons with disabilities in line with Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
“PWD must not suffer further disability in their efforts to get vaccinated as more than 95% of public infrastructures are not accessible to citizens with disabilities” he said
He also called on FG to ensure all Covid-19 vaccination information, education and communication materials are accessible to all, adding that where there is a video material, a sign language interpreter should be made available on the video.
He added “audio advert must ensure that all information are pronounces for the benefit of the deaf and blind citizens, process should be communicated in accessible manner to all persons with disabilities.”