The Network
of Civil Society Organisations, Borno Chapter, has called on the state
government to conduct head-count of Persons with Disabilities (PLWD), to fast
track
implementation of support services to them.
Mr Ahmad
Shehu, Chairman of the organisation, made the call at a rally to commemorate
the 2017 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, on Monday in
Maiduguri.
Shehu said
that the call was imperative to build a comprehensive data of persons with
disability to facilitate proper planning and implementation of support
programmes.
He said that
lack of population data on persons with disabilities hindered effective implementation
of programmes, designed to improve their social and economic well-being.
“The
government should create an enabling environment for PLWD to attain their
potentials because it is the only way to prevent them from street begging.
“Absence of data
of persons with disabilities affect planning and interventions, hence the need
to carry out census.
“Establishment
of social protection programme is essential to guarantee their support and
survival. Special programme for employment and education of the PLWD should be
implemented in the state,” he said.
Shehu urged
the United Nations (UN) agencies and development organisations to accord
priority in their interventions to persons with disabilities in the state.
Also, Malam
Umar Muhammad, the Chairman of the Blind Association, appealed to the National
Emergency Agency (NEMA), to include their members in the emergency food
intervention programme.
Muhammad
lamented that persons with disabilities were not benefiting from the programme
in the crisis affected areas of the state.
“We
registered 41, 414 members, most of them were displaced by the Boko Haram
insurgency.
“It is
disheartening to see that we are not benefiting from the food intervention
programme,” he said.
Muhammad
also called on Gov. Kashim Shettima, to appoint their members into various
political positions, to ensure their representation in governance.
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