The Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) and the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) have pledged to strengthen collaboration towards ensuring accessible, responsive and inclusive healthcare services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across Lagos State.
The commitment was made on Thursday, September 10, 2026, when a delegation from the LSPHCB paid a courtesy visit to LASODA to explore areas of collaboration on improving healthcare delivery for PWDs.
The delegation was led by the Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Temitope Balogun-Alo, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa.
Receiving the delegation, the General Manager of LASODA, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, identified several barriers affecting PWDs within the healthcare system, including physical accessibility, effective communication, inclusive employment, capacity building for healthcare workers and appropriate disability identification and classification.
She also highlighted the need for improved disability data and database management, accessible restrooms and other facilities that would enable PWDs to access healthcare services with greater dignity and independence.
On employment, Oyetunde-Lawal urged the Board to give due consideration to qualified PWDs in its recruitment processes, in line with the employment quota provided under the Lagos State Special Peoples Law.
She stressed the importance of stronger collaboration among relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to address systemic barriers and build a healthcare system that responds effectively to the needs of PWDs.
The LASODA General Manager noted that the Lagos State Government had continued to demonstrate its commitment to improving healthcare access for PWDs through various medical interventions facilitated by the agency. She, however, emphasised that sustained inter-agency collaboration was necessary to achieve lasting impact.
“There are several areas where we can work together to achieve true inclusion. Beyond providing interventions, we need to strengthen the systems around healthcare delivery to ensure that Persons with Disabilities can access services with dignity and without unnecessary barriers,” she said.
Responding, Balogun-Alo acknowledged the need for LASODA and LSPHCB to deepen their partnership through stronger advocacy and the development of sustainable structures to improve healthcare services for PWDs.
She disclosed that the Board would adopt a pilot approach by selecting a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in each Local Government Area for targeted interventions.
According to her, the initiative would involve engagement with PHC leadership, healthcare workers, community stakeholders and cluster heads to promote greater awareness and improve the delivery of disability-inclusive healthcare services.
“We will work on a pilot approach by selecting a PHC in each Local Government Area, engaging the leadership for awareness and piloting interventions that will cut across both the communities and staff. We will also engage the cluster heads to ensure that the initiative is properly coordinated,” she said.
Balogun-Alo further disclosed that the Board would develop a work plan in collaboration with LASODA to guide joint efforts towards enhancing healthcare service delivery for PWDs across the state.
“This meeting is a huge eye opener, and we are pleased to be here. The discussion has been very rich, and we are going back to develop a work plan that will further enhance service delivery for Persons with Disabilities in Lagos State,” she added.
The meeting provided both agencies with an opportunity to identify practical areas of collaboration and develop strategies for addressing barriers that continue to limit access to healthcare for PWDs.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the partnership and advancing disability inclusion towards a more accessible, responsive and inclusive primary healthcare system across Lagos State.
Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.