Cluster heads with Lois Auta at the strategic planning meeting
Cluster heads of people with disabilities (PWDs) which consist of the representation of each categories of disabilities met on Tuesday to strategy on the way forward for the distribution of palliative for members in the FCT.
The committee meeting, which held on Tuesday, was chaired by Dr Jake Epelle, Chairman of people with albinism, to strategize on the way forward for distribution of palliative for PWDs in the FCT.
Recall that INN had earlier reported that the Minister of State For FCT, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu had agreed to distribute palliative to people with disabilities through their cluster heads after a meeting between cluster heads and the Minister was facilitated by Lois Auta, a representative of the cluster heads.
In a statement sent to INN, Auta narrated how she met with Dr. Aliyu with help from the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and Madam Rose, the CSOs Coordinator on the COVID-19 FCT Paliative as well as Aunty Jophia for facilitating her involvement as a representative of PWDs in FCT.
Lois Auta (right) dressed in purple, holding the microphone
She said “I was at the flag-off by the Minister of FCT for State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu on Friday 17th April, 2020 at Arts & Culture Area 10, Abuja. I represented persons with disabilities under the CSOs group. I thanked the Honourable Minister for including PWDs on the list of beneficiaries.”
Speaking at the event, while thanking the Minister for including PWDs on the list of beneficiaries, Auta proposed for more engagement of PWDs especially the leadership because of the peculiarity of the group.
As a follow up to her request, the FCTA proposed a meeting with her on Monday April 20 for further discussion.
On Monday 20th April, rather than attend the meeting alone as expected by the minister and being an advocate for inclusion, Auta called up heads of all Disability clusters to follow up with her to meet with Madam Jummai, one of the Directors in FCTA sent to represent the minister.
“I called all the head of clusters in the disability community to meet with Madam Jummai, one of the Directors in FCTA and we came together not minding who is the leader with one voice and submitted our recommendations to the HM through the Director at the HM meeting room.
“We held a meeting with one of the Directors at FCTA, Madam Jummai this morning (Monday).
“All of the cluster groups were represented. I refused to go alone, I went with all the heads of the clusters. The deaf, blind, people affected with Hansen diseases (leprosy), the albinos and physically challenged. I also went with my videographer to record everything from photos to videos,” Auta recalled.
At the meeting along with Auta and Madam Jummai, some recommendations were proposed by Disability community.
The group proposed that since they know their people, where they are and have their database, the minister should give the group what belongs to them so that they can distribute alongside FCTA staff or volunteers.
The group added, “That Minister said the palliative will be shared via representatives and we are the representatives of PWDs.”
“That we should be accompanied by security personnel and cameramen.
“This is a special group we should be treated with care and inclusivity mindset.”
Responding Madam Jummai said she will take the messages received from the meeting to the Hon. Minister and revert.
She continued by asking the group to give her the database so that her team could locate those they have not reached yet.
She added that her team are already doing the distribution but that the group should hold on for her response back to them soon.
The next day being Tuesday, Jummai reverted to Auta informing her that the Minister has accepted that the team will distribute palliative to the PWDs in FCT in company of the cluster heads.