ByChiomaOBINNA
The International Day of the Persons with Disabilities may have come and gone but the agonies of living with disabilities may still linger within the  affected population.

However, in Nigeria experts have called for practical action to mainstream disability in all aspects of development as well as to further their participation in social life and development on the basis of equality.

Speaking in Lagos, on this year’s Day with the theme; “Keeping the Promise: Main streaming Disability in the MDGs Towards 2015 and Beyond”, Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP), Mrs Benedicta Njokanma  called on government to ensure  public buildings, henceforth, have a ramp.

According Njokanma, it is time government, corporate organisations consider  persons with disabilities in all their plans for the future.

She stressed that having ramp in public places would encourage Nigerians with disabilities to come out and also enjoy themselves.

She said the Lagos State NSP has commenced series of strategies to relay the message as well as identified public buildings and organisations that have some considerations for disabled persons. “We are publicly acknowledging them for being disabled friendly. “This will also create a forum for us to table other issues and encourage them to do more towards alleviating challenges of disabled persons, we also hope that from this effort, others can take a cue from this initiative”

Noting that the Lagos State government had already begun the course for installation of ramps in all public buildings, she said government needed to do more to support people with disabilities by implementing the UN convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities.

“On this day, let us recognise that the battles against poverty, disease and discrimination will not be won without targeted laws, policies and programmes that empower this group.”

The NSP also presented an award to Silver Bird Group fo” being “disabled friendly’ in the construction of its Silverbird Galleria in Lagos.