DISABILITY BILL: STAKEHOLDERS URGES KADUNA STATE LEGISLATORS TO SPEED UP PASSAGE

“We are certain that the Kaduna state legislature will give the Bill its consideration and hopefully, before the end of 2021, the Bill will be assented to”..... Suleiman Mohammed Nat. Pres. Association of PLWD

“It is very unfortunate that, as citizens of this country, we should be the ones coming out to request of our government, such things like the passage of a bill for persons with disabilities. This is supposed to be the responsibilities of our elected leaders.

The Hope for the Village Child Foundation, one of the most consistent Non-Governmental Organizations, NGO’s based in the Chikun Local Government  Area of Kaduna state, Northwest region of Nigeria, has continued to take the lead in catering and providing succor to the less privileged, especially those with disability challenges.    

In one of its very recent outreaches at creating enlightenment and sensitization campaigns, the HVCF organized a One-Day programme and Workshop with the theme; “Management of Accidents at Home for Persons Living With Disabilities”. This event was widely attended by not only persons with disabilities but concerned stakeholders from the various LGA’s in the state, including the leadership of Persons Living With Disabilities in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Suleiman Mohammed, National President of the Association of Persons Living With Physical Disabilities In Nigeria commended the organizers; the Hope for the Village Child Foundation and the Daughters of Charity Foundation for initiating the programmes.

According to Suleiman Mohammed, this is coming at the right time because the leadership of the association has been making concerted efforts at ensuring that the Bill gets the needed attention and approval.

On this issue of disability, Comrade Mohammed noted that, “as a body we have been doing it on our own and I think that is why it has suffered neglect. If you have observed, we people without any form of disabilities attending this parley. What does that tell you; we have interested stakeholders gathered here. This informs that we have more people showing their interest in the passage of this “Kaduna State Disability Bill”.

“I am sure that at the end of this gathering, just as the Organizers have assured us, that there will be a small committee that will pursue the signing of the “Kaduna State Disability Bill” to its logical end”.

“We are certain that the Kaduna state legislature will give the Bill its consideration and hopefully, before the end of 2021, the Bill will be assented to”, he stated.

“It is very unfortunate that, as citizens of this country, we should be the ones coming out to request of our government, such things like the passage of a bill for persons with disabilities. This is supposed to be the responsibilities of our elected leaders. In the developed nations, things are not done in this manner. The Bill started as a “Private Bill” in the House of Assembly by us. This is something that should have been initiated by our leaders”, Mohammed said.

“I am therefore appealing to our elected leaders to understand that, this is one of their responsibilities to the people as it will put smiles on the faces of their citizens, particularly, the vulnerable ones. When talking about vulnerable persons, people with disabilities are number one in that category”.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our elected leaders and representatives to please hasten up and pass the “Kaduna state Disability Bill” into law and see how to involve Corporate organizations to contribute their own quota in making life more meaningful for Persons With Disabilities”.

One of the facilitators at the event cautioned that consideration be accorded to persons with physical disabilities in times of emergencies such as, fire outbreak, falls in their homes and every other form of accidents. Several measures need to be applied in tackling incidents and accidents in the homes.

He enumerated such measures as;

·       Availability of a First Aid Box

·       Provision of a safe place for chemicals

·       Continuously check for hazards

·       Take care to eliminate hazards (safety)

·       Develop a home escape plan in case of emergencies.

People mostly consider accidents to be out there only forgetting that accidents can happen or occur anywhere or even in the home where, many see as a safe place but unfortunately, the home harbours a lot of hazards especially in some situations we tend to ignore. Persons with Disabilities tend to face some challenges even in their homes. Therefore, precautionary measures ought to be in place to protect the people with disabilities even in their homes.

However, it is imperative to understand that such accidents in the homes are not peculiar to persons with disabilities alone and this is also one of the reasons I said it is necessary to have a “First Aid Box” at home. As we all know, accidents are unplanned events that can happen anywhere and anytime and this is the reason why we must know what to do in such situations. Many people die or have their conditions worsened during and after accidents because they are not properly handled by those at the scene of such accidents. Having the prerequisite knowledge of how to administer “First Aid” at such occasions helps victims of accidents.

One of the accidents that frequently occur in homes is falls, especially for persons with disabilities. Therefore, there is need to have the First Aid Box in the house and know how to apply it.

Michael Ogundele, a staff of the HVCF who is popularly known as “BABA YARA” while speaking with journalists, disclosed that at the Hope for the Village Child Foundation, “we work with the people with disabilities and, as we are all aware, this is the period that they need to be guided.

“We are here today to encourage them that they have rights in spite the fact that the “Bill for the Rights of Persons With Disabilities” has not been passed here in Kaduna state. Although, this particular Bill has become law in several other states in the country we are still hopeful that the State Assembly here in Kaduna will join its colleague states to do the needful. We are hoping that, after we brainstorm here, we should be able to know steps that can be taken that we bring to fruition, the fast tracking of the passage of the Bill”.

“The challenge is the inability of the Government not doing the right thing. If the government puts in place, all that is required for Persons With Disabilities, I think, as an NGO, HVCF will have lesser responsibilities. In fact, the country will become better off”, he opined.

“One of the purposes for this meeting is to enable the leaders come together and discuss on their challenges and how these identifiable challenges can be addressed. Some of these issues or challenges can be linked to issues of disunity and, again, why has the Bill not been passed here in Kaduna. A united body will see to the speedy passage of the “Bill of Disability”.

“In addition, one major reason why the Bill has not been getting the proper attention is that, many of the leaders are not educated enough and that forms another challenge. Education is of great essence and this is something people must look into as it enable them advocate for their rights”.

On some of the other activities being introduced by the Hope for the Village Child Foundation”, Ogundele disclosed that the Foundation is also “trying to train and educate people, especially people with Disability on the need to know their rights as it help to further their course in relation to the “Disability Bill”.