UNIMED advocates disability-inclusive societies

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, has advocated the need for disability-inclusive societies.

Speakers at the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities organised by the university, warned against discrimination against people living with disability in the society.

Speaking on the theme, “Fostering Disability-inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” the guest speaker, Miss Oluwatoyin Akanni, described disability-inclusive societies as communities where people with disabilities have real access, real participation and real opportunities.

She said: “It takes collective effort to create a society that actively supports disability inclusion for people with disabilities to fully participate.”

This approach, she said, would enable everyone to benefit and move forward as a society.

She stated further that, “disability-inclusive society is not charity work or favour. Rather, disability-inclusive societies are a basic requirement for any community that wants progress.”

Also speaking, Dr Oladosu Praise, who spoke on the topic, “Mental health inclusion and dignity: Leaving no one behind,” said mental health is a state of well being in which every person can thrive, work, build relationships and contribute meaningfully to the society.

While linking the relationship between mental health and disabilities, Dr Oladosu said: “Many people living with disabilities have faced being talked down on, pitied, stared at, excluded and ignored.”