Persons with disabilities under the umbrella of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, on Thursday, urged the Edo State government to domesticate the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.

The association made the call at a rally in Benin to commemorate this year’s international day of persons with disabilities set aside every December 3 by the United Nations.

They noted that the law would eliminate discrimination, provide the right to healthcare, education, and allow full integration of persons with disabilities into society.

The chairperson of the group, Ann Ojuigo, said this year’s theme, “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world,” re-echoed calls for inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance and other aspects of life.

Ojuigo, who lamented that persons with disabilities are stigmatized, abandoned and left to rot away in communities across the country, said disability is a global issue and should not be treated lightly.

She said, “We have had issues of disability bill in Edo State. We are here to call on Edo State to emulate its counterparts like Lagos, Plateau and many others. We are reiterating that the bill should become law so we can have an enabling environment to make us comfortable.

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While commending the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government for the support and recognition of some of her members, she pleaded that it should be evenly distributed to other persons with disabilities.

“In Edo State, we have so many persons with disabilities and some of us are doing well in our various fields but we still have some persons who yet to be reintegrated into the society due to poverty, lack of education, limited access to basic amenities among others,” she added.