Physically challenged persons in Borno allege neglect

Umar Muhammed, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Borno chapter, stated in a letter addressed to Governor Alhaji Ali Modu Sherrif that persons with disabilities were being discriminated against in all areas of human endeavours.  “The prices of drugs these days are high hence most persons with disabilities find it very […]

Umar Muhammed, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Borno chapter, stated in a letter addressed to Governor Alhaji Ali Modu Sherrif that persons with disabilities were being discriminated against in all areas of human endeavours.

 “The prices of drugs these days are high hence most persons with disabilities find it very difficult to afford. It is either they are low income earners or basically unemployed. The government should provide a health insurance scheme where the hospital bills of PWDs would be taken care of. Recently, there was increase in the rate of persons affected by leprosy and the usually impaired, therefore something needs to be done to that effect.’’ he stated.

Muhammed also said that people with disabilities are less educative than the girl child saying most children with disabilities can not cope with a conventional school. He therefore calls on the government to lay more emphases on education of child with disabilities as they have been doing to girl child education.

According to him persons with disabilities in the state were also facing problem of insufficient scholarship for children with disabilities by local government councils saying it goes against the convention of UN which state that the LGA should be responsible for educating children with disabilities.   

Muhammed lamented the non availability of basic amenities and social welfare for persons with disabilities in the state saying the association still has financial claims in the ministry of women affairs amounting to the four hundred and twenty thousand naira being money spent on its national convention.

 “We were asked to go and bring receipt so that we can be reimbursed but nothing has been done not even acknowledging receiving our letter. None of the ministry has even granted any of the disabled association the opportunity to pay a courtesy call,” he lamented.

He appealed to the governor to appoint senior special adviser among persons with disabilities so that they could look into their problems and take adequate, proper actions in matters that affect PWD. He thereafter called on Borno State House of Assembly to pass a legislation that will back the right of people with disabilities in the state.

Ibrahim Musa, a diploma graduate lamented treatment they were receiving from the society. He said most people see persons with disabilities as abnormal persons. According to him, they are facing a lot of challenges in the society. He appealed to Borno government to come to their aid in the area of education, stressing that the only thing that could empower the physically was education.

 Hajia Adama Yerima Bala, a teacher at Federal Government College Maiduguri, a disabled, said persons with disabilities where being excluded from scheme of things in the state. She said they had written countless letters to the Government House for a courtesy call on the governor but none of the letters had been acknowledged.

 According to her, among all the states of the federation, it was only in Borno State that there was no special adviser on matters concerning people with disabilities. She called on governor Sheriff to appoint a special adviser that will be in charge of persons with disabilities.