A physically challenged female lawyer, Catherine Edeh, has called on the Ebonyi State Government to establish a Disability Commission in the state to cater for the welfare of People With Disabilities.
Edeh, the founder of a non-governmental organisation, Voice of Disabilities Initiative, made the call in Abakaliki Ebonyi State capital while distributing food items to over two hundred physically challenged women and girls in the state, as part of measures to cushion the effects of harsh economic challenges ravaging the country.
The lawyer, who has hearing and speech impediments, regretted that people with disabilities are often neglected and treated with disgust in the South East, even when their state of disability did not affect their brains.
She disclosed that she got university admission and sponsorship from people who saw beyond her disabilities in the Northern part of Nigeria.
Edeh called for an end to stigmatisation and inclusion of PWDs in all spheres of endeavour to enable them contribute their quotas to nation building .
“I am using this avenue to appeal to the executive government of Ebonyi State to ensure that Disabilities Rights Law is domesticated in the state. Establishment of disability desks in public health facilities will ensure that women and girls with disabilities get access to healthcare easily. If there is a law that protects the rights and health of people with disabilities in the state, it will encourage funders to support people with disabilities and it will guarantee that they are not left behind in the developmental agenda of the state,” she said.
According to her, the government can easily achieve this by establishing a Disabilities Commission in the state, adding, “I earnestly plead with the state governor and stakeholders to look towards this direction. Today, I am a lawyer because northerners assisted me. They are aware that I am deaf but still gave me university admission. They supported me individually and collectively as a government till my graduation.
“Everyone needs to benefit from the government. All those in public offices should ensure they fulfill all their campaign promises to the electorate. We are assets, we are resourceful, and we can contribute enough to both state and national building. Today, I am an asset; I carry out projects to various states of Nigeria despite my speech and hearing impediments. I was empowered by those who saw beyond my disabilities. There are many people who are more resourceful than me among us but what they need is just empowerment. Especially our women, they suffered in the hands of people including men with disabilities. We ask for inclusive health. It is only in Ebonyi State among all South East states that people with disabilities are mostly neglected.”
