The Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to carry them along in his policy implementation policies and also sign their Disability Rights Bill into law.
The deaf women made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during its third edition of Health awareness week to commemorate the 2016 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, themed “Achieving 17 SDGs goals for the future we want” which focused on creating an inclusive and equable world for people with disability.
Speaking at the occasional, the President of DWAN, Abuja chapter Mrs. Hellen Udoye, said inclusion of deaf women in national policies will help increase awareness, advocate their plight and challenges, as well as help in the achievement of sustainable Development Goals.
They advocated for inclusion in economic growth and opportunity to participate in the job market, health service and politics as over 5million women are living with deafness in Nigeria and are making tremendous impact in national growth.
While calling for free health care insurance scheme, permanent sign language interpreters in Federal Government Hospitals, and 20% waiver slots of Job placement in Federal Government Agencies they bekoned on Non Governmental Organizations to implement programmes beneficial to them and also prayed the society to refrain from stigmatisation against persons with disabilities.
Ipas Country Director Hauwa Shekarau who spoke through the organisation’s Advisor on Policy, Edosa Oviawe, called on the government and concerned individuals to help alleviate the plight of the deaf women. In the same vane the director of rehabilitation Mrs Victoria Akintaro on behalf of the ministry of women affairs and social development gave the assurance that they are doing everything possible to harken to the needs of the deaf women.
