Taofeek Lawal, Abuja
More than 30 organisations of women with disabilities have signed a petition demanding justice for a Bida-based nurse, Aisha Aminu, who was relieved of her appointment by the management of the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State.
Addressing a media conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the President, Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD), Lois Auta, who spoke on behalf of the Coalition, said Aisha is facing significant challenges and discrimination due to her visual impairment even when she has qualified and licensed to practice as a nurse after attending the Niger State College of Nursing Science, School of Nursing, Bida.
Auta added that Aisha has shown commitment to duties with dedication and passion she has attended to patients at the Centre.
“In early 2024, Aisha applied for a nursing position at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida. She passed the Computer-based Test exam and was appointed as a nurse which she resumed work on June 5, 2024. During the documentation process, the Executive Director of Quality Life for Persons with Special Needs Foundation informed the Director of Nursing at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida about Aisha’s impairment, advocating for her ability to work effectively.
“On her first day, Aisha was posted to the antenatal clinic where she provided health education and documented patients’ vital signs. Despite her visual impairment, she performed her duties with dedication and passion. On June 19, 2024, Aisha was called to the admin office, where her appointment letter was taken without her consent.
The admin staff claimed to have received a memo from management and instructed her to wait for their decision. Two weeks later, the Head of Nursing Department, expressed concerns about her ability to work due to her impairment and management requested a medical fitness certificate. Ultimately, the results from Opthalmic Unit were used to question her ability to work at the hospital.”
Frowning at the growing discrimination against people with disabilities despite existing laws, she called for a task force to be put in place to enforce the implementation of the Nigeria Disability Act to address the challenges being faced by PWDs.
The Coalition also called for the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, in Aisha’s case so she can go back to her job.
“We are going to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and ensure that these recommendations (raised by the Coalition) that we have outlined are followed and implemented accordingly. We are going to engage the key stakeholders and do a protest and also collaborate with all the duty bearers.
“In the absence that the 14 days ultimatum given to the Centre lapsed, more actions will be taken and one of those activities we’re going to do is that we’ll organise ourselves, women and girls with disabilities and embark on a protest in front of the hospital demanding for the rights to be included in employment opportunities and demanding that Aisha should be reinstated.”
Some of the organizations among others who signed the petition include; Ability Plus Initiative, Albinism Association of Nigeria, Cedar Seed Foundation, Disabled Women Action Against Violence and Exclusion, Sign Language Club, Sauri Growth Initiative for Women and Youth with Disabilities.
