PWDs: Albino Foundation Advocates access to health services, provision of Sign Language Interpreters and Desk Officers in Osun

The Albino Foundation, an organization whose objective is enhancing the Civic and political participation of persons with disability has advocated for access to health care services for persons with disability in Osun.

This is as the organization also demanded that sign language interpreters and desk officers be provided to serve as intermediaries between government establishment and the disability categories cluster.

This was made known by the Disability Rights Fund Steering Committee of the Albino Foundation during the advocacy call made to Osun Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu and the ministrys' management.

They advocated to Osun State Government to reconstruct hospitals and office buildings under the Ministry of Health and other agencies of the government, while ensuring that ramps are provided in the facilities for easy accessibility by Persons with Disability on wheelchairs.

In his opening remarks, the Osun state Coordinator for Disability Inclusion Project, Mr. Kehinde Ogunbiyitan said the committee during infrastructure accessibility audit to selected hospitals and the Ministry of Health office building in Osun, noted that the infrastructures were not accessible for Perons with Disabilities.

Mr. Ogunbiyitan advised that permanent or temporary ramp be put in place for easy movement for people using wheelchair, he added that it is important for the service of sign language interpreter to be made available in hospitals for deaf people.

Appreciating Osun government for its disability inclusion programs, he added that the government can still do more to make things easy for persons with disability in the state.

In his words, the General Secretary of Joint National Association of Persons with Disability JONAPWD, Mr. Joseph Oguniran appealed to the state government to continue to include Persons with Disabilities in their intervention programmes.

In response, the Commissioner for Health Dr. Rafiu Isamotu assured that the government of Osun through the Ministry is ready to partner with the committee to make life easier for Persons with Disabilities.

The Commissioner represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Kayode Adegoke said the Ministry would take necessary step to work on the recommendations of the committee, he added that the administrator of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will not neglect persons with disability in Osun.

The Albino Foundation Disability Inclusion Project is set up to influence policies and programmes of government towards improving access to quality education, health and justice system in government agencies for the benefit of Persons with Disabilities in Osun State.

Other members of the Albino Foundation Disability Rights Fund Steering Committee of the DRF, include Mrs Funmi Abdullahi, Mr Nafiu Lukmon, Adeola Oyetayo , Jeleel Adekilekun, Dr Lukman Adeleke, Ishola Omotola Elizabeth, and Mrs Bosede Bangboye

Others are Mrs F.B Akinola Director of Admin and Supply Ministry of Health, Bolarinwa Rahmon, Ogunniran Joseph, Funmi Adekoya, Olatunbosun Taiwo, Nasiru Hammed Agbaje, Oladapo Foluke Oyetola and Abisola Ariwodola.