Incorporate the Needs of Persons with Disability in National Relief Plan of COVID 19 - NCPD

The National Council on Persons with Disability has advised the Presidency to incorporate and prioritized the needs of persons with disabilities in the National Relief Plan of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID 2019)

A statement issued by the Executive Secretary of National Council on Persons with Disability, Ms Esther Akua Gyamfi said that Persons with disabilities particularly, persons with auto-immune conditions and persons with multiple disabilities were most likely to have their immune systems easily compromised by this virus. 

The Council gave the advice when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo granted them audience.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Council f Mr. Yaw Ofori – Debra, also included Mr. Alexander Williams and Mr. Mathew Kubachua from Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, Dr. Akwasi Osei of Mental Health Authority, Special Mothers Project represented by Mrs Hannah Awadzi and Mr.  Frimpong Manso, a Sign language interpreter.

The Council urged government to make e budgetary allocation towards strategies that target persons with disabilities in the eradication of COVID-19.

The statement said access to information is often a barrier for persons with a disabilities who have specific communication needs including the deaf, deafblind, the hard of hearing, the non-verbal etc. 

“They remain at a higher risk of being socially isolated if deliberate measures are not implemented to include them.”

It therefore called on government to have specific communication needs including the deaf, the hard of hearing, the non-verbal in the sensitization on COVID -19 by including sign language interpretations at least within the period of COVID-19  and all information on COVID-19 meant for the general public should have a video version with subtitles, captioning and sign language interpretation. 

Social distancing is the biggest form of concern to persons with disabilities who depend heavily on human support to go about their daily activities, “The message on social distancing education without the disability component leaves persons with disabilities vulnerable, neglected and potentials for abandonment. “

The statement said sensitization on social distance must stress on the need for the personal assistants, caregivers, guides to wash their hands and arms as well as sanitize their hands and arms as they offer support to persons with disabilities.

 
The National Council on Persons with Disability,  the State agency mandated to coordinate all activities related to the mainstreaming and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Ghana, together with its stakeholders including Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), Mental Health Authority and Special Mothers Project commended the Government for providing the general public with relevant information and awareness on the COVID-19 epidemic, and providing sign language interpretation in some of information dissemination sessions which aimed to update Ghanaians on the situation in the country.

The Special Mothers Project is an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy issues and issues affecting families raising children with disabilities.