Ekiti State Government says it has registered ver 2,300 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to benefit from its comprehensive free healthcare policy.
Princess Adetoun Agboola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, disclosed while featuring on “Ekiti Loni/Ekiti Today” a radio program.
According to her, the free healthcare policy is part of the state government’s initiatives to improve the lives of Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs).
She added that other efforts include providing free education, empowerment opportunities, and equal access to employment are also being extended to the PWDs.
Agboola said significant investments are being made to improve the quality of life for PWDs in Ekiti State.
According to her, these include upgrading of facilities and procuring essential tools like wheelchairs, hearing aids, and braille machines for government-owned special schools in Ido, Ikere, and Ikoro.
Others are establishment of therapy rooms for speech and occupational therapy,employing physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and rehabilitation scientists to support students and pupils.
The Special Adviser explained that the State Executive Council has also mandated that all public buildings, including malls, supermarkets, churches, mosques, schools, banks, and official buildings, must provide ramps and accessibility for people with mobility difficulties by the end of 2025, in compliance with global best practices.
Agboola urged parents, community leaders, religious leaders, and stakeholders to advocate enrollment of children with special needs in government-owned special schools, free of charge.
She advised unregistered PWDs to register to gain access to free medical care at any Primary Health Centre across the 177 wards.
Additionally, parents of children with special needs are encouraged to visit the Office of the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion at the Governor’s Office Complex in Ado Ekiti on weekdays, she said.(vitalnewsngr.com)
