“No One Left Behind”: A Call for Inclusive Healthcare in Cross River State
On behalf of persons with disabilities in Cross River State, I, Job Napoleon Agbor – the Voice of the Voiceless, extend heartfelt appreciation to Her Excellency, Bishop Dr. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, for her compassionate leadership and impactful gesture through the 7th Edition of the Free Medical Outreach and the launch of the Health Insurance Scheme for the Elderly. This initiative, powered by Humanity Without Borders and FaithCare Outreach International, marks a significant step forward in achieving the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 Agenda.
We warmly welcome Prof. Peter Schnatz, the team leader of FaithCare Outreach International, to Cross River State – the People’s Paradise, known for its hospitality and rich cultural heritage. On behalf of the disability community, we extend a warm welcome and express our gratitude for your commitment to humanity.
We also appreciate the untiring effort of the State Ministry of Health under the leadership of my Boss, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, PhD, for his commitment towards reinvigorating the health sector of Cross River State
However, to truly reflect the spirit of “People’s First” and “Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative,” we respectfully urge that future interventions be made disability-inclusive and fully accessible. To that end, we recommend the following:
- Appointment of a Disability Desk Officer at all outreach centres to coordinate and support the needs of persons with disabilities.
- Provision of mobility and communication aids (e.g., wheelchairs, sign language interpreters, braille materials) to ensure equitable access to medical services.
- Extension of the Health Insurance Scheme to include adults with disabilities, many of whom are among the most vulnerable in our communities.
Most importantly, we humbly appeal to Her Excellency to fast-track the establishment of the Cross River State Disability Rights Commission, as provided under CRS Law No. 11 of 2021. A fully operational Commission, with committed, trainable and knowledgeable appointees working in synergy with Her Excellency’s Office, will be critical to designing and implementing inclusive programs aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the 2025 Amman-Berlin Declaration—especially as Nigeria prepares for the next Global Disability Summit, and Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Let us walk the talk. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind and that healthcare in Cross River State becomes a model of inclusion and dignity for all.
Published by Job Napoleon
Editor and publisher of the Voice of the Voiceless for PWDs
An Academic Don and a Person with Disability
Convener: Pioneers of Nigeria's National and International Disability Civil Rights Movement and Policy Change Advocates.
Email: vov4@pwd@gmail.com
0706 847 3214