Uyo – The Joint Association of Persons Living with Disabilities in Akwa Ibom has called for greater inclusion of their members in the activities and programmes of the government.
Mr Ubong Udo, South-South Coordinator of Nigeria Association of the Blind, said in Uyo on Thursday that they were first Nigerians before being disabled and should be treated as such.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the joint association is made up of the physically handicapped, the blind, the deaf and dumb and people affected by leprosy.
Udo said it was high time the government and Nigerians stopped relegating them to the background, adding that the group’s participation in the state and national affairs was minimal.
“All the disability groups in Nigeria under the aegis of the Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities have come together to pursue a common goal and that common goal is social inclusion.
“We are looking forward to a Nigeria where disability will not be a barrier to marriage and employment and where the rights of persons with disability will be protected by every other person.
“We are first Nigerians before being identified as persons with disability.
“The disability issues in Akwa Ibom state as well as other states in the country have not been properly positioned the way we expect”, he said.
He, however, appreciated the Akwa Ibom Government for sponsoring some blind persons in the state to Uganda and for providing study aids like brail machines and laptops to the blind.
Other items he said the government provided included wheel chairs, tricycles, crutches and special support chairs to some physically handicapped persons. (NAN)