COVID-19: Group says socio-economic benefits reason for PWDs vaccination

Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), an NGO, has identified Socio-economic benefits as major factor for  increase in accessing of COVID-19 vaccine by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

The organisation disclosed this in a statement on Thursday from a survey it recently conducted on “Assessment of Access to COVID-19 Vaccine by PWDs in Abuja”.

The report showed that many PWDs’ interest in accessing the vaccine had increased as a result of the socio-economic benefits attached to the vaccination certificates.

“For instance, many PWDs accessed the vaccine to secure their jobs and  participate in sporting activities as advised by their employers and coaches, while others accessed the vaccine to secure future travel benefits,” it stated.

The report also pointed at some laudable factors that increased the interest of PWDs in accessing the vaccine, especially accessing the vaccine in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

It stated that the online application for registration and various social media platforms,  enhanced access to quick information about COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination centers in Abuja.

“Findings have showed that having proper dissemination of inclusive information about COVID-19 vaccine,  stimulated access to the vaccine among PWDs in Abuja.

“Proximity to the vaccination centers has also been a major contributing factor to the increase in PWDs COVID-19 vaccination.

“Absence of physical, structural, attitudinal and communication barriers at the vaccine centres in Abuja also encouraged PWDs to access the vaccine”.

The report, however, pointed at some concerns and challenges being faced by PWDS in Abuja, which called for quick intervention.

According to the report, part of the major challenges faced by PWDs are, unmodified health facilities and a non-inclusive health stakeholders channels of communication on the COVID-19 vaccine,  to all disability clusters.

“Also the limited doses of COVID-19 vaccines made available, insufficient data of PWDs and lack of proper implementation of the health provisions in the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act,” it said.

The report made recommendations on how to eliminate the identified challenges that might  decrease PWDs’ interest in vaccination,  if  unaddressed.

“Based on the findings of this assessment, the following recommendations are made for implementation by various organs and groups.

“The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA) and the Ministry of Health,  should collaborate with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWDs) to build the capacity of managers, administrators and field health workers.

“Both authorities should also work closely with the commission to design a stand-alone policy guideline,  that can support COVID-19 health workers during service delivery to PWDs.

“The appropriate authorities should also decentralise the COVID-19 vaccine centres across Abuja and by extension,  to other parts of the country to enhance access for PWDs,” it stated.

It advised that the NPHCDA should work closely with the National Orientation Agency, and Ministry of Information to sensitise PWDs communities on the available mobile vaccination health facility within and outside Abuja.

The group also appealed in its report, that deliberate effort be made to remove structural, physical and communication barriers,  by enforcing priority public queuing for PWDs at the vaccine centres.

NAN