The Ekiti State Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Program has organized a one-day roundtable discussion in Ado-Ekiti aimed at strengthening disability inclusion in the design, implementation, and use of WASH facilities across the State.
The engagement brought together disability groups, and WASH stakeholders, government agencies, and community representatives to identify gaps, share experiences, and develop strategies for ensuring that the interests and needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs) are effectively integrated into Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services.
Speaking on behalf of the State Program Coordinator, Engr. Steven Adewumi, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the SURWASH Program, Mr. Olorunfemi Olatunji, commended the State Government for prioritizing disability inclusion.
He emphasized the need to continue addressing gaps and ensuring that WASH facilities are fully accessible, convenient, and user-friendly for persons with disabilities.
Mr. Olatunji also provided an overview of the SURWASH Program, highlighting its objectives, achievements, and ongoing interventions aimed at expanding access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services across Ekiti State.
In a separate presentation, the Small Town, Engineer on the SURWASH Program, Engr. Olajide Olatilu reaffirmed that all WASH facilities constructed under the SURWASH Program comply with disability-inclusive standards in both infrastructural design and implementation processes across the Local Government Areas to enhance accessibility for PWDs.
A panel session headed by a Social Safeguard officer, Mr Olugbenga Aladegbola and a Communication Officer, Oyerinde Yetunde provided an interactive platform for stakeholders from various sectors to examine the extent to which PWDs are considered in the design, implementation, and usage of WASH facilities.
Discussions at the forum also centered on identifying actionable steps to improve support for persons with disabilities and ensure their needs are adequately addressed in subsequent project phases.
One of the panelists, Mr. Femi Oni, raised concerns about the limited involvement of Persons With Disabilities in decision-making processes, stressing that no policy or facility design should exclude the direct input of those it affects.
Also speaking, Mr. Funsho Olajide, representing the Non Governmental Organization,Disability Is Not a Barrier, in his presentation emphasized that persons with disabilities constitute about 15 percent of the global population and approximately 35 million people in Nigeria alone.
He commended the State Government for its efforts toward inclusivity but highlighted existing challenges such as social isolation, health risks, limited opportunities, inadequate funding, and the insufficient involvement of PWDs in WASH policy development.
Mr. Olajide recommended several strategies for mainstreaming disability inclusion in the WASH sector which include:
reviewing existing policies, collecting and disaggregation data by disability, ensuring active participation of PWDs in decision-making processes, prioritizing accessibility, increasing funding, strengthening stakeholder capacity, promoting partnerships with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and sustaining effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
He also lauded SURWASH for integrating persons with disabilities into its implementation team.
The roundtable discussion was attended by representatives of the Ekiti State Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Agency (EK-STRUWASSA), the Ekiti State Water and Sewerage Company (EKWSC), State Program Coordinating Unit (SPCU), Civil Society Organizations, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Local Government WASH Directors, and officials from the Office of Disability Affairs.