![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bonewsng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Bags-of-rice-2.jpg\")
\u201cSo, when we got it, we had to share with our executives, since it couldn\u2019t go round all the members. We have 16 executives across all the LGAs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Akinsola Akeem, Chairman, Nigeria Association of the Blind, NAB confirmed that 20 bags were given to NAB from the share JONAPWD got. He disclosed that the 20 bags were shared among few members.<\/p>\n
Ayoola Asaolu, a visually impaired man in Osogbo who received the COVID-19 relief Christmas package said, \u201cI didn\u2019t get any palliative throughout the lockdown and this is the first and only palliative I would ever receive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commissioner for information said that people got palliatives\u00a0during the lockdown but there is no data to show those who got it. Even if PWDs got, it must have been very minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike now, I heard that it was 20 bags that got to my association, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m able to get a 5kg bag of rice for myself. Imagine several others that would not get\u201d adding that, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have been able to get if I\u2019m not a known member within the association and you can\u2019t blame the excos because how would they share 20 bags among hundreds of persons.\u201d<\/p>\n
How Other States, Countries Fared In COVID-19 Interventions to PWDs<\/b><\/p>\n
Some states that were reviewed didn\u2019t perform excellently well in the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to PWDs, but there were established platforms, processes and procedures which provided for orderly distribution of palliatives.<\/p>\n
In Lagos State, the Ministry of Agriculture engaged the state chapter of JONAPWD to distribute food palliatives to 3000 households and the association through its chairman, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo commended<\/a> the Lagos State Government in its effort to reach out to vulnerable groups in the state, but pleaded more support to be able to reach its teeming members.<\/p>\n Dr. Adebayo confirmed that\u00a0 \u201cfood and other relief materials from Lagos state government and other private donors reached over 5000 PWDs in the state but noted that the population of PWDs reached was too insignificant compared to the nearly 2 million population of PWDs in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the Lagos State governor on September 23rd handed over food palliatives from the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) to Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, where the food was later distributed to disability cluster heads<\/p>\n Also in Kano State, The JONAPWD Chairman in Kano State, Engr. Musa Mohammed Shaga, disclosed that, \u201cthe palliatives were shared through the Ministry of Information and JONAPWD was called.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were informed about the distribution and cluster heads were involved.\u201d<\/p>\n Engr. Shaga however noted that, \u201cof the over 2.5 million PWDs in Kano State, it is just a very few persons that got palliatives. But we still appreciate the State government for what they did.\u201d<\/p>\n In response to COVID-19, Bulgaria, Malta and Lithuania<\/a> have increased funding to their social protection systems to expand social support services and cover more beneficiaries, including persons with disabilities. In Argentina and Peru, persons receiving disability benefits will receive an additional amount in light of the COVID19 crisis.<\/p>\n France announced a similar measure favouring beneficiaries of the disability allowance and Tunisia\u2019s emergency plan includes cash transfers for low income households, persons with disabilities and homeless people.<\/p>\n The United States of America has established tax relief programs that may contribute to alleviate the financial situation of persons with disabilities in this context.<\/p>\n PWDs\u2019 Expectations From the Government (Recommendations)<\/b><\/p>\n Onitiju explained that the State government should establish a robust relationship with the disability community in the state.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have an established body, and it is important that the government go through the associations to engage with PWDs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this is done, we won\u2019t be lamenting that we are being excluded or that the government is not reaching us. The government should not lump us with others, we should be considered directly.<\/p>\n Adetiba Lateef believes that, \u201cthere is need for increased inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance. If we were involved in the committee that handled the palliatives distribution in the state, we would have been able to provide adequately for our members.\u201d<\/p>\n Adebolu Eluwade also noted that, \u201cin cases of humanitarian crisis like COVID-19, the government needs to design specific strategy to be able to reach us. If the government wants to distribute items and wants us to benefit, we can\u2019t be packed together with able bodied persons, we can\u2019t struggle or stand in line like them. That\u2019s the reason there should be specific arrangements that would targe us directly.\u201d<\/p>\n Ayoola Asaolu, a visually impaired person, wants the government to learn international best practices and apply that in its relations with PWDs.<\/p>\n To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on work and livelihood of PWDs<\/a>, the United Nations on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNRPD, and the International Labour Organization, ILO, recommended that States must provide financial com<\/a>pensation for self-employed persons with disabilities who find their income reduced; Implement financial assistance programmes for persons who stop working to support or to prevent contamination of their family member(s) with disabilities and who are not covered by unemployment or sickness benefits.<\/p>\n \u201cProvide financial support, including through tax credits, to employers of persons with disabilities to provide equipment required for teleworking.<\/p>\n \u201cEnsure that food provision schemes include persons with disabilities and are responsive to their needs, including logistical measures to deliver food at their houses.\u201d<\/p>\n It is also imperative that States and relevant stakeholders provide financial aid for persons with disabilities without any income such as; lump sum payments; tax relief measures, subsidisation of goods, and increase existing disability benefits, including through advancing payments to cover extra costs.<\/p>\n