Stakeholders led by the Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN), alongside key government agencies, civil society groups, and representatives of the albinism community, have called for integrating disability-inclusive approaches into Nigeria’s climate change and health policies
The stakeholders made the call recently at a pivotal one-day stakeholders’ meeting held at the Casa De Lucy Hotel in the Gudu District of Apo, Abuja.
The meeting was convened by AAN with funding support from the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and brought together stakeholders from the Ministries of Health, Environment, and Education, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and various organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs).
In a communiqué issued at the close of the meeting, participants raised strong concerns about the growing vulnerability of persons with disabilities (PWDs), particularly persons with albinism (PWAs), to climate change effects such as extreme heat and limited environmental access, which further compound existing health inequities.
The stakeholders urged national and state climate adaptation plans to incorporate disability-focused frameworks.
They specifically called on the Ministry of Environment to ensure accessible early warning systems and sun-protective interventions for rural and underserved PWAs.
They particularly called on the Ministry of Health was tasked with implementing provisions of the National Policy on Albinism, including subsidized dermatological and eye care. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was also encouraged to expand coverage for specialised services for persons with albinism.
They also called for education reform and tasked the Federal Ministry of Education to revise curricula to promote awareness of albinism and provide assistive devices and inclusive infrastructure in public schools.
The group also endorsed a multi-sectoral approach, urging coordination among MDAs for effective program delivery. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) was also asked to amplify positive messaging around climate and health issues facing PWAs.
The communiqué emphasised the need for full representation of PWAs, especially women and girls, in all relevant decision-making platforms. It advocated institutional involvement of OPDs like JONAPWD and AAN in policy dialogues.
Government ministries were urged to improve disability-disaggregated data collection and commit to monitoring and evaluating climate-health interventions.
“This communiqué reflects our collective resolve to ensure that no one, especially persons with albinism, is left behind in the face of climate and health challenges,” said Mr Joseph Akuse, Program Manager of AAN, who signed the communiqué on behalf of participating stakeholders.
The meeting marked a significant step toward mainstreaming disability inclusion in Nigeria’s policy landscape, especially as climate impacts intensify and health disparities widen for marginalised communities.