Abuja: The Federal Government has embarked on a pioneering initiative to develop Nigeria’s inaugural National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan. This effort is focused on enhancing disability-inclusive healthcare and broadening access to rehabilitation services throughout the nation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the plan was introduced during a three-day stakeholders’ zero draft meeting in Abuja. Dr. Ahmed Ozi, Director of the Family Health Department at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted that this marks Nigeria’s first organized approach to rehabilitation services. He emphasized the plan’s significance in creating a national framework for rehabilitation and assistive technology.
Dr. Ozi further explained that the strategic plan aligns with the ministry’s mission to achieve Universal Health Coverage, ensuring equitable healthcare access for persons with disabilities. This initiative also follows the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO) on rehabilitation and disability-inclusive healthcare. He stressed that the plan would guide rehabilitation programs and reinforce disability-inclusive health policies across Nigeria.
Dr. Umeh Sunday, Head of the Georgia Society for Healthcare Engineers (GASHE), noted that the work on this strategic plan commenced with the establishment of a Rehabilitation Technical Working Group by the ministry. Previously, Nigeria lacked a federal rehabilitation policy, leaving states without a coordinated framework. The proposed strategy corresponds with the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 initiative and the World Health Assembly Rehabilitation Strategy 2025-2035.
Dr. Nassib Tawa, Regional Rehabilitation Consultant for Africa, revealed that the strategic plan’s development followed almost two years of preparation and consultations. A national situational assessment identified key challenges such as the absence of a national rehabilitation policy, inadequate financing, and infrastructure deficits. The plan aims to address these issues, with the government prioritizing realistic interventions over a five-year implementation period from 2027 to 2031.