By: Chioma Nkama
As the world celebrates International Women’s day, Alliances for Africa a Non Governmental Organization has marked the event with People Living With Disability.
The event which took place at Rockview has as its theme, “Fostering The Inclusion of Women Living with Disability in Leadership Spaces”.
Speaking during the event, the Keynote speaker, Ezeonwuemelu Vivian, explained that disabilities cuts across all parts of the world and is on the increase on a daily basis.
Speaking further, she stated that those living with disability should be encouraged, rather than being stigmatized.
Speaking during her presentation, Alliances For Africa’s Programme Manager, Blessing Duru, stated that the essence of this program was solely to help fight violence against women and Girls.
Continuing, she stressed that policies have been made but has always lacked implementation, even as she expressed disatisfaction that women are excluded in decision making especially in the South East with particular reference to Imo.
Another staff of AA, Faith Kalagbor, who spoke stated that people living with disabilities should be considered with room for their social protection.
She stressed that for this to actually come to reality, there is need for solidarity action where PLWD must come to mutual agreement and fight to achieve one course.
Among the issues raised by the special citizen was for the for Government to realise that they are human beings and should be treated as such.
They appealed for a level playing ground to project themselves and display their talents than overshadowing them and remembering them only during elections.
Furthermore,they listed some of their needs to the Imo state governor to include, provision of more wheel chairs and crutches, place punishment on people who discriminate and violate them,that they be given subsidy in education and also ensure they have equal opportunities in job creation and leadership.
