FG Promises To Prioritise Welfare Of 3.1m PLWDs Across Nigeria

The Federal Government has reiterated its determination to prioritise the welfare and wellbeing of 3.1million households of People Living With Disability (PLWD) across the country to ameliorate the debilitating effect of Coronavirus.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadia Umar Forouq who made the disclosure Saturday at the flag-off of the distribution of palliatives to the Karomajiji PLWD community said they would carry out the same exercise in other colonies.
Speaking further, she said, “In this very community we are attending to 460 households numbering over 1000 individuals.
Next week we will start with other communities in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States after which we would move to Kano.”

She said the ministry has done all the processes adding that by early next week they will commence, the model via food ration to the households.

“As a follow up we shall also be visiting other communities and clusters of the persons with special needs and to provide them with the same relief materials.”
At the State level, she indicated that they will ensure their portion in the palliatives for the States, is adequately set aside for distribution to such communities in the States.

Farouq indicated that the ministry had earlier visited the community in April to distribute Hygiene materials.
“We are very aware of the issues concerning people with special needs and we have made their issue a priority of the ministry.

“This special group constitute 15% of the Nigerian population and they represent one of the most vulnerable groups in the country. “During a pandemic such as the COVID-19, we always emphasize that palliative measures and social safety net intervention be activated to reach out to this very special group.”
She said her ministry is set to do exactly that by prioritizing their wellbeing and their welfare.

She recalled that persons with special needs stakeholders met last month at the Army resource centre where she chaired the meeting.
“The meeting provided the framework to mitigate the challenges of the persons with disability to implement the Federal Government’s plan as well as the ministry’s roadmap for sustainable mitigation on all matters relating to PLWDs.

“The purpose is how the PWDs can benefit from the Federal Government’s interventions aimed at cushioning the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.”