The Nigerian Healthcare system ought to be the most inclusive system in Nigeria, taking into consideration the amount of children and young adults living with disabilities in the country. At our last outreach at Ijora Badia, we had Dr Tijani Temitope Adebayo amongst other doctors carry out basic tests and assessments on the children, and what we found was quite interesting. The data does not lie; 90% of the children had not been properly diagnosed before, 99% of them were not on any medication of any sort. We had a chat with Dr Tijani and asked some questions as to why early diagnosis is important and the role that an inclusive Healthcare System plays in the lives of children and young adults living with disabilities.

Purple Dew: What role does early diagnosis play in managing disabilities effectively?

Dr Tijani: Generally early diagnosis is important, but beyond early diagnosis, prevention is literally the best. There are quite a lot of children I saw that some poor decisions were taken as regards to their health and if some intervention had been done, it could’ve prevented some of this conditions. Likewise, even after the diagnosis had been made if they had sort for help early- and not just early, from the appropriate medical facilities it would’ve brought about better outcomes, so early diagnosis or prevention is important. 

Purple Dew: What are the specific challenges in accessing healthcare for children with disabilities in Nigeria?

Dr Tijani: First and foremost the government needs to recognize that there are people with special needs that need special care and their care is quite unique because it needs a lot of planning, a lot of training as there’s some of form of variation to the quality of care that can be provided for them. So the government really needs to wake up to this responsibility and make provisions for them, recognize that there are individuals like that among us and they’re already going through quite a lot in terms of living their daily life and trying to improve their quality of life so the government needs to do more to address that. 

Likewise, as a community, we also need to be conscious of such individuals among us and be considerate with them. I know some establishments make provisions for example create wheelchair for individuals that don’t have it already. Like for a particular child I saw that was particular about what he wanted, he had been having issues with mobility due to paraplegia. So making provisions for walkways so that even after getting the wheelchair it would be easy to move around, we all need to come together to improve the lives of individuals with special needs. 

Purple Dew: What can you say about the outreach at Ijora Badia?

Dr Tijani: First, I must really thank Purple Dew for thinking it wise to conduct this outreach, particularly in this setting, it was quite strategic due to the socio-economic status of this area and the support I think they need and I must commend them on that. 

The importance for someone like me is, it reminds me of the present condition of our healthcare and the different needs that have to be met at different levels. It also gives an idea about the children among us with special needs, how they’re going through a lot and need all the support they can get. 

Our conversation with Dr. Tijani Temitope Adebayo at the Ijora Badia outreach program highlights the importance of early diagnosis, prevention, and community support in managing disabilities and improving the lives of children with special needs. 

Dr. Adebayo emphasizes the need for the government to recognize the unique needs of children with disabilities and provide adequate care and support. He also stresses the importance of community consideration and provisions for these individuals.

The conversation sheds light on the critical issue of accessibility and support for children with disabilities in Nigeria. It is disheartening to note that many children could have avoided their conditions or achieved better outcomes with timely interventions and proper medical care. The onus lies not only with the government but also with communities to provide adequate support and provisions for children with special needs.

The outreach program at Ijora Badia is a commendable initiative, and it is essential to have more such programs to raise awareness and provide support to children with disabilities. As a society, we need to work together to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for these children, enabling them to lead fulfilling lives.

Overall, the conversation serves as a call to action, emphasizing the need for collective responsibility and support to address the challenges faced by children with disabilities in Nigeria.