The right to health of persons living with disabilities: COVID-19 pandemic and the issues of “accommodation” and “discrimination” in Nigeria

Abstract

The novel coronavirus afforded the world the opportunity to showcase the quality of healthcare made available to humanity. The paper as such investigates if the right to health of people living with disabilities were duly protected in terms of COVID-19 responses, and in the alternative whether they did not experience health care denial and discrimination. The state’s response to the contagious virus were borne out of economic melt-down, excess demand for health services over supply of accessories and personnel, with attendant lock-down, social distancing and introduction food palliative. The paper considers the effect of omission to monitor budgetary allocations to health sector, supply of health facilities and personnel in Nigeria. It particularly focusses on the treatment meted out to people with disability, the demands of non-discrimination and dignity of human being, given the triage protocols and rationing of ventilators and beds under COVID-19. It inquires whether in the pre-pandemic environment people living with disabilities were living beyond their limits. The paper adopts doctrinal research approach to investigation, which in secondary terms advances comparative exploration of rights as it calls for responsive governance.