TheCable

Alex Otti, governor of Abia, has urged People living With Disabilities (PWDs) in the state to take action whenever they are discriminated against.

The governor who was represented by David Anyaele, his special assistant on PWDs, said this during a dialogue with the disability community in Umuahia, the state capital.

NAN reports that the dialogue was organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) to commemorate this year’s International Day of PWDs.

The event which is celebrated annually on December 3, had as its theme: ‘United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with, and by PWDs’.

The governor asked all PWDs in the state to take advantage of government programmes to improve their lives.

He said his administration is ready to remove the hurdles preventing them from realising their potentials.

Otti said his administration will continue to create awareness around disability inclusion to reduce the stigma and discrimination.

“As a government, we recognise that the disability community is challenged by a plethora of barriers,” he said.

“These barriers were made worse due to unimaginable neglect of the disability community by the previous governments since 1999.

“Abia belongs to all of us and no one would be left behind because of disability.”

In a goodwill message, Wisdom Okechukwu, chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Abia, called for inclusion of PWDs in government activities.

Alozie Iroabuchi, Abia chairman, Persons with Physical Disabilities, called for a change of attitude towards PWDs.

He listed some of the challenges plaguing PWDs to include stigmatisation, inaccessibility of buildings, lack of amenities and poor empowerment.

Okechukwu Kanu, a member of the Abia state advisory committee on disability matters, urged PWDs to work hard and ensure full implementation of the state disability law.

Female PWDs at the dialogue said they face plenty of discrimination and barriers including sexual abuse, unemployment, and a lack of education.