International Day for Persons with Disabilities: a moment to listen, include and act

 International Day for Persons with Disabilities: a moment to listen, include and act

Each year on 3 December, the world marks the International Day for Persons with Disabilities — a simple date that opens space for a powerful conversation about rights, access and dignity. The day is about more than awareness: it’s about making real changes so disabled people can participate fully in family life, work, faith communities and public services. (United Nations)

What’s happening in Nigeria — the numbers (and the gaps)

Estimates vary, but recent international and national reviews suggest tens of millions of Nigerians live with some form of disability. Different methods of counting give different totals — a reminder that disability is both widespread and under-recorded. Better data is an urgent need if policies and services are to match real lives. (openknowledge.worldbank.org)

On the ground, the effects are visible: people with disabilities face barriers in health care, transport, education and employment. When health systems fail to supply essential medicines or rehabilitation (for example, disruptions that worsen preventable disabling conditions), the consequences ripple through families and communities. (Reuters)

What this means for older people and family carers in Nigeria

Disability and ageing are tightly linked. Many older Nigerians live with mobility, sensory or cognitive difficulties that look like — and are treated as — disability. Family members do the lion’s share of care: unpaid daughters, sons, spouses and neighbours who step in to help with washing, feeding, medication and hospital visits. Research from similar Nigerian contexts shows informal carers carry significant physical, emotional and financial burdens, often without training or support. Strengthening support for carers is therefore also a direct way to support older people living with disabilities. (BioMed Central)

Nurse-led care: why EOON Care’s approach matters

Nurse-led, person-centred care fills a crucial gap. Nurses bring clinical know-how together with holistic care planning — mobility support, safe medication practice, skin/pressure-sores prevention, and family training on everyday tasks. At EOON Care we combine clinical competence with our C.A.R.E. values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. That means listening to the person first, training family carers where needed, and coordinating with local clinics so every client benefits from continuity of care.

Real examples across Nigeria — community rehabilitation groups, prosthetic services and grassroots support networks — show how rehabilitation and simple assistive devices transform independence and dignity. When these services are coordinated by trained nurses, outcomes improve and families feel less alone. (AP News)

Practical steps communities and families can take

• Start conversations at home: ask older relatives about difficulties with mobility, hearing, sight or memory.

• Make small home adjustments — a handrail, clearer lighting, non-slip surfaces — that prevent falls and make life easier.

• Seek nurse-led assessments early: timely rehab and training for family carers often avoids hospital readmissions.

• Advocate locally: demand disability-inclusive services from clinics, schools and transport providers.

A final thought — dignity is non-negotiable

Disability is not an individual problem; it’s a social challenge shaped by policy, attitudes and services. On International Day for Persons with Disabilities we renew a simple promise: design services and homes so people of all ages can live with dignity, safety and independence.

Please share this post to raise awareness — the more people we reach, the more voices we amplify.

(United Nations)

10 relevant hashtags

#IDPD #DisabilityInclusion #ElderCareNigeria #FamilyCaregivers #NurseLedCare #AccessibilityForAll #Rehabilitation #InclusiveHealth #EOONCareCares #CaringWithCARE