By CHARLES IWUOHA

An NGO, the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has lauded Enugu State Government for distribution of palliatives to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

The Executive Director of CCD, Mr David Anyaele, gave the commendation in a statement made available to newsmen at the weekend in Enugu.

According to Anyaele, CCD received with joy the news of distribution of palliatives to PWDs in all the 17 local government areas by the Enugu State Government.

“By this singular act by the State Government, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has demonstrated that he is a listening governor.

“This gesture is a welcome development considering the economic hardship persons with disabilities in Enugu State are facing by reason of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The CCD boss, however, called for inclusion, participation and sustainability of this good gesture by the Enugu State Government towards PWDs and issues affecting PWDs in the state.

“This inclusion, participation and sustainability will be achieved when Gov. Ugwuanyi collaborates with the state House of Assembly, to as matter of priority, activate measures for the adoption of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act

2018,” he noted.

He said that CCD was encouraging members of the disability community, in specifically PWDs Local Governments Area Chairmen, to take

appropriate measures to ensure no PWD in their council area was left behind in the palliatives distribution.

“CCD calls on Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to close ranks and work together to ensure successful distribution of the palliatives as one good turn deserve another,” he added.

News Express reports that recently, CCD conducted a survey in five states of the Federation, Enugu State inclusive, to gain insight into the extent to which PWDs are benefitting from the distribution of the COVID-19 palliatives.

The survey was part of the activities for the implementation of our project on Strengthening Citizens Resistance to the Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C).

The project is implemented in five states namely: Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos State in partnership with Action Aid and funding from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (UK-DfID).

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