NCPWD Calls For Adequate Consideration For Persons With Disabilities
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
To enforce Part V(24) of the 2018 Discrimination of Persons With Disabilities (prohibition) law, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, NCPWD, Mr James David Lalu has tasked all Health Maintenance Organizations, HMOs, in Nigeria to make adequate provisions for special consideration of PWDs to enable them access healthcare services.
The Executive Secratray made the request while playing host to the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, and some HMOs who visited him in office, yesterday.
In a press statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit of the Commission, John Michaels, which was made available to journalists in Abuja, quoted the Executive Secretary Mr. James David Lalu in his opening remarks as empathizing the importance of quality healthcare services for PWDs due to their conditions and circumstances.
According to the statement, the NCPWD boss further informed his visitors that some member staff of the commission find it very difficult to access health insurance as a result of increasing unemployment in the country.
The statement stated in parts “Numerous Persons With Disabilities are very intelligent and are willing to work in order to earn a living but, they do not have the opportunity to do so”.
He therefore used the opportunity to explain certain challenges being faced by PWDS in Nigeria pointing out that the law which mandates that 5% employment opportunity for those with disability across the board, will become fully operational in the country by 16th January, 2024.
He eqallly emphasized the need to have sign language interpreters at various points of access to healthcare for easy communication between the physicians and the deaf community in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary equally seized the opportunity provided by the visit to urge the Health Management Organizations in the country to review upward their workforce and include skilled PWDs who will empathize with other members as well as the community for them to keep seeking for healthcare services in hospitals.
During the visit, presentation was also made by the invited Health Maintenance Organizations (Synergy Wellcare Medicaid limited, DOT Hmo limited as well as the Regenix Healthcare Services limited).
Speaking at the event, the Ag. Coordinator, National Health Insurance Authority, Mr. Theophilus Egwudoh interrogated the stance of the HMOs and urged them to be committed in their services to PWDs.
Also, Mrs. Grace, a NHIA representative while speaking informed the commission that the narrative is changing and everyone must flow with the hands of time.
She assured that the National Health Insurance Authority will not hesitate to delist any HMO that defaults in delivering the expected quality healthcare services to Nigerians especially those with special needs.
