Sightsavers Advocates Inclusion Of PWDs For National Development 

By Rabi Jibo Mohammed

Stakeholders have called for greater social inclusion of persons with disabilities to promote national development.

The call was made during a media engagement organised by Sightsavers in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The Country Director of Sightsavers, Prof. Joy Shu’aibu, represented by the Country Advocacy Coordinator, Esther Bature, stressed the need for persons with disabilities to have equal opportunities across all sectors of the economy, in line with existing laws.

She called for increased public awareness and effective implementation of policies to protect the rights and improve the welfare of persons with disabilities.

Shu’aibu also highlighted the important role of the media in promoting awareness and thanked partners for their continued support of the organisation’s activities.

The Sightsavers’ Eye Health Programme Officer, Dr Joshua Ibenu, said the organisation had continued to promote equal access to eye health services, including the provision of eyeglasses to people in need.

Ibenu noted that more than one billion people globally were living with preventable visual impairments, describing the situation as a major concern.

He said Sightsavers had treated more than 4.6 million Nigerians for various eye conditions through its programmes in the last 10 to 15 years.

He noted that the Sightsavers Vision and Eye Health Programme focuses on addressing the global vision crisis by promoting equal access to quality, inclusive and sustainable eye care services.

Giving an overview of Sightsavers’ global impact, Ibenu said the organisation had supported 9.7 million cataract operations and conducted 235.8 million eye examinations worldwide.

Earlier, the organisation’s Senior Finance Officer, Mr Fabian Tukman, spoke on the Sightsavers Disability Inclusion Programme, saying its vision was to create a world where no one is blind from avoidable causes and persons with disabilities can participate equally in society.

Tukman said the programme focuses on creating employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, while promoting economic empowerment through skills acquisition and mentorship.

He added that Sightsavers had provided revolving funds to persons with disabilities to enable them to establish and expand businesses.

Other components of the programme, he said, include education support for persons with disabilities, inclusive family planning, as well as training for more than 1,600 teachers and health workers.