28% of Nigerian health facilities inaccessible to persons with disabilities —Report

More than a quarter of health facilities in Nigeria lack basic accessibility features for persons with disabilities (PWDs), creating major barriers to essential healthcare, a new report has revealed.

The State of Disability Inclusion Report (SDIR) 2024, launched on Friday in Abuja by Project Enable Africa, in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, highlights widespread gaps in disability rights implementation since the passage of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in 2019.

The report paints a troubling picture of healthcare access for Nigeria’s disability community, citing inaccessible public health infrastructure, high medical costs, and unmet disability-specific health needs as persistent challenges.

“28% of health facilities lack basic accessibility features, creating significant barriers to essential services,” the report states.

“Healthcare costs create insurmountable barriers for the majority of the disability community.”

It also noted that over 90% of persons with disabilities live in poverty, and that 80% of women with disabilities have experienced sexual abuse, compounding their vulnerability and further limiting access to care.

The report evaluated compliance with disability rights across Nigeria’s 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT), using national laws and international benchmarks like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). While 23 states have passed disability laws, only 15 have established agencies to enforce them.

Kola Olugbodi, speaking on behalf of the Project Enable Africa board, said the five-year compliance period granted after the 2019 Act has expired, making the report a critical tool for accountability.

“This is not just a document. It’s a wake-up call,” he said.

“Only Lagos state has implemented both social protection and inclusive education policies specifically addressing disability needs.”

Ayuba Gufwan, executive secretary of the NCPWD, represented by Nkem Uchegbulam, said the commission will work with ministries and state governments to align their responsibilities with the report’s findings.

With health systems remaining largely unaccommodating for PWDs, the report urges renewed action to make medical facilities accessible, provide disability-sensitive healthcare, and enforce existing laws that mandate inclusion.