PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR SURVIVAL AGAINST COVID-19

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR SURVIVAL AGAINST COVID-19

According to the United Nations, about 2 billion persons (which is roughly 30% of the world population) experience some form of disability. In 2019, the National Assembly of Nigeria estimated that 20 million persons in Nigeria are living with disability.

Disability is defined as any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to carry out certain activities or interact easily with the world around them. It may be in the form of physical, cognitive, developmental, or a combination of multiple factors which may affect mobility, ability to learn, ability to communicate easily, etc.
Multiple barriers deprive Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) access to education, health, employment, political participation, recreational and social life.

The limitations vitiate human rights to access justice, health care services, and enjoy meaning social and economic life like other individuals. With regard to physical access, existing services are still inadequate to address PWDs access to buildings, bridges, walkways, churches, mosques, offices, etc. The enjoyment of social life is not any different, as programs, competitions, talent hunts, awards are rarely organized with a conscious inclusion of PWDs. Within the educational system, the creation of designated schools for PWDs in secluded locations as against integration in regular schools reinforces discrimination than inclusion.

The Coronavirus pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time, with a trace of its origin but without an in-depth understanding of its nature, mode of transfer, and worst of all, no vaccine yet. All these reasons put together make it critical as Countries are racing to slow the spread of the virus by testing and treating patients, carrying out contact tracing, limiting travel, quarantining citizens, canceling large gatherings, and enforcing lockdowns. This pandemic is moving like a wave and one that may soon crash on those least able to cope.

As the world is currently battling with the COVID-19 pandemic and as health care services are being enhanced by various countries, PWDs should be considered because they have more healthcare needs than others and are therefore more vulnerable to the impact of this pandemic during this lockdown. There should be an urgent response to preventing discrimination against people with disabilities.

Living with disabilities does not immediately put one at a high risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus, but specific challenges may increase the chances of contracting this disease.

Challenges such as:
• Difficulty in implementing the basic hygiene measures
• Inability to practice social distancing because they require care and support from others.
• Pre-existing/Severe health conditions

With all these challenges, coupled with the higher cost of living with disability, this calls for urgent moral, economic, and health practices to help PWDs, especially during this lockdown period.
Priority should be given to PWDs as health kits and other palliatives are been distributed.
We, therefore, call on the government, CSOs, and every responsible individual to help prioritize and maintain the health, safety, freedom and independence of PWDs in their communities throughout this COVID-19 outbreak. While also empowering them with useful information on how to stay safe.

#LeaveNoOneBehind
#SDGoals

This blog post was written by:
Charity Onwubiko – Communication Officer and Theresa Awulor – Communication Assistant