By Muhammad Amaan
The Vulnerable People Support and Development Initiative (V-PeSDI) has advocated for the provision of an accessible ramp at the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) facility in Kano State.
The call was made when the V-PeSDI Coordinator, Aftahana Dahiru Sarina, paid an advocacy visit to the management of the organisation to seek for disability-inclusive and accessible infrastructure.
Accompanied by Technical Adviser, Mallam Salisu Yusuf, alongside members of V-PeSDI Coordination Group, the team engaged the AHBN management under the leadership of its Coordinator, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, to highlight the importance of providing a safe and accessible entrance to the facility.
The engagement followed an accessibility audit conducted earlier in the week by a representative of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).
The audit identified the need for improved physical accessibility to enable persons with disabilities and other individuals with mobility challenges to access the facility safely, independently and with dignity.
During the engagement, V-PeSDI emphasized that the provision of an accessible ramp goes beyond physical infrastructure. It represents a practical commitment to disability inclusion, equal access, dignity and human rights.
The organization noted that removing physical barriers is essential to creating an environment where persons with disabilities can participate equally in meetings, consultations, training programmes, advocacy activities and other engagements without unnecessary restrictions.
V-PeSDI further highlighted that accessible infrastructure benefits a broad range of people, including wheelchair users, persons using mobility aids, older persons, pregnant women, individuals recovering from injuries and people carrying heavy items.
“Accessibility should therefore be approached through the principles of universal design and inclusive development, rather than being considered solely as a disability-specific intervention,” part of the statement read.
The advocacy also stressed the importance of ensuring that the proposed ramp is appropriately designed and constructed in accordance with relevant accessibility standards, with due consideration to slope, width, handrails, landing areas, surface safety, drainage and ease of use.
Health Reporters Newspaper reports that a key outcome of the engagement was the approval by Dr Magashi for the provision of an accessible ramp at the AHBN facility.
V-PeSDI commends him and the management of AHBN for their positive response and willingness to translate disability-inclusive advocacy into a practical infrastructure intervention.
The approval demonstrates the value of constructive engagement between civil society organizations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and institutional leadership in identifying accessibility barriers and developing practical solutions.
It also reinforces the importance of accessibility audits as an evidence-based tool for identifying environmental barriers and informing corrective action.
V-PeSDI believes that disability inclusion must move beyond policy commitments and become visible in the physical environments where people live, work and participate.
The organization therefore calls on government institutions, development organizations, private-sector actors, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to:
• Conduct regular accessibility audits of their offices, facilities and public spaces.
• Remove identified physical and environmental barriers.
• Incorporate accessibility and universal design principles into new construction and renovation projects.
• Engage OPDs and accessibility professionals in infrastructure planning and assessment.
• Ensure that accessibility interventions meet appropriate technical and safety standards.
• Recognize accessibility as an essential component of inclusive governance and sustainable development.
V-PeSDI appreciates JONAPWD for its role in the recent accessibility audit and commends AHBN for its openness to address the identified accessibility gap.
The organization remains committed to advancing disability-inclusive governance, accessible infrastructure, social accountability and equal participation, while working collaboratively with institutions and stakeholders to ensure that no one is excluded because of physical or environmental barriers.
