Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Rights Activist, Chidinma Ajemba, has called for special consideration for women with disabilities to give them a sense of belonging and opportunities to prove their mettle.
The accomplished journalist, and communication strategist, made the call while featuring on Ikengaonline townhall meeting.
Ajemba who spoke on the theme, “Access and political participation of PWDs in the South-East“, said women with disabilities deserve special consideration because of the peculiar nature of their challenges first as women, and then as PWDs.
According to her, women with disabilities suffer the worst of marginalisation from society, a situation, that imposes psychological trauma on them.
She said: “Women with disability are being marginalised a lot. We should also be given opportunities in the political space.”
Ajemba further decried stigmatisation against PWDs, and appealed that they be embraced and given the convivial atmosphere to contribute their quota in development of society.
“The society should start accepting PWDs. People with abilities should start accepting us. We are capable of doing great things. They should believe in us. Disability is not a disease but a condition.
“People with abilities should stop stigmatising us because the stigmatisation is making so many of us to shy away.”
She, however, commended Ikengaonline for yielding the platform for PWDs to be heard, urging other media organisations to follow follow suit.
“I sincerely commend Ikengaonline for always giving us the opportunity to be heard through its platform “.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State chapter; Comrade Ernest Okeke, also applauded Ikengaonline for giving special attention to the PWDs community in the media space.
Recall that besides the usual reportage of their activities, Ikengaonline has always given a slot to the PWDs in its monthly townhall meetings to lend their voice on various issues in society.
Okeke who is an Accountant by training, enjoined other media platforms to emulate the good examples of Ikengaonline, however, urged PWDs not to dwell in self pity but to courageously confront their challenges.
“I call on my fellow PWDs to wake up and take the bull by the horn. Let’s be fully involved in politics and political activities. Don’t be waiting for a quota to be given to you. Get up and prove that we have capacity.”
He also called on Government to get serious with the implementation of disability rights laws to enable PWDs fully participate in every legitimate activity in society.
