The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is to adopt a public-private sector partnership approach in rehabilitation Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has said. Speaking in Katsina at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Conference of Directors Responsible for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in the country, Hajiya Maina said efforts were geared towards ‘meaningful collaboration between government, non-governmental organisations, donor agencies and corporate organisations, noting that ‘government cannot do it alone because of the enormous resources involved.

The Minister observed that the Africn Decade for Persons with Disabilities did not achieve much in improving the quality of life, rights and privileges of Persons with Disabilities, and assured that the Ministry would create ‘sustained advocacy and awareness on the rights, plight and privileges of Persons with Disabilities.

According to the Minister, Government has concluded plans to have a data bank of Persons with Disabilities so as to plan towards restoring hope and ensure their participation in political, social and economic development.

She challenged participants at the conference to work out modalities “for effective and efficient techniques in rehabilitation service delivery especially in areas of care, training and overall development of Persons with Disabilities.”