Stakeholders have called on the Ondo State Government to implement targeted policies and allocate resources to enhance healthcare and social protection services for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
This appeal was made during a stakeholders’ validation meeting on a draft report evaluating PWDs’ access to essential services in the state. The meeting, held at the Royal Bird Hotel, Akure, was organized by the Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI) with funding from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF).
Findings from the assessment, presented by Project Research Consultant Mr. Martin-Mary Falana, highlighted several systemic barriers limiting PWDs’ access to healthcare. Key challenges include inadequate infrastructure, insufficient disability-trained medical personnel, and long travel distances to healthcare facilities. Notably, only 38.8% of respondents reported partial access to healthcare, while 57.9% faced significant physical barriers due to the absence of ramps, accessible signage, and disability-friendly restrooms in health facilities.
The report emphasized the need for decentralizing healthcare services and enforcing inclusive policies to ensure equitable access. While the government has initiated the inclusion of PWDs in the state’s health insurance scheme, 73.7% of respondents stated that they had yet to benefit from it. Stakeholders recommended immediate interventions to facilitate PWD enrollment and reduce financial constraints on healthcare access.
Social protection gaps were also identified, with 64.5% of respondents unaware of any disability-focused programs and 75% having never received financial assistance or vocational training. Poor dissemination of information, inadequate outreach, and bureaucratic inefficiencies were cited as key obstacles.
DINABI’s Executive Director, Mr. Funso Olajide, reiterated that the objective of the assessment was not to criticize the government but to promote strategic collaboration aimed at improving the well-being of PWDs. He highlighted DINABI’s role in advancing disability rights through advocacy, policy development, and capacity-building initiatives.
Despite the challenges, some progress was acknowledged, including the establishment of disability-support facilities in specialized schools and the construction of a disability hostel at Adekunle Ajasin University. Representatives from the state’s health, budget, and social welfare ministries, as well as the Law Commission and the Agency for the Welfare of PWDs, expressed their commitment to strengthening policy and legal frameworks for inclusivity.
Stakeholders emphasized that sustained government investment in inclusive services is essential for fulfilling the rights of PWDs and ensuring equal opportunities in healthcare and social welfare programs.
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