An Abuja-based NGO, Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) has suspended operations from 19/03/2020 till further notice. The Executive Director of the NGO, Irene Ojiugo Patrick-Ogbogu who released the statement however stated that the organization can still be reached through emails and calls.


*STATEMENT FROM DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCACY CENTER (DRAC) ON COVID19 RESPONSE*

Dear Colleagues,

I bring you warm greetings from DRAC.

As you are aware, the whole world is currently battling with the *Coronavirus or COVID 19* which has led to it being declared a global pandemic.

As soon as the news broke of its presence in Nigeria, we at DRAC took immediate steps to put in place response and prevention measures. This was further necessitated by the vulnerability of persons with disabilities who constitute the majority of our staff, volunteers and beneficiaries and who are not usually prioritized in emergency responses.

We put in place a 5-person “COVID19 response team” with the task of educating and updating us on new information, conducting ongoing risk assessments and advising us on necessary measures.

Our response team has today advised that, in view of the latest information on the identification of 5 new cases today March 18, we suspend all project activities and close down the office for at least 2 weeks while we review the situation and see how things play out.

This decision is even more crucial as our healthcare facilities are currently inaccessible to persons with disabilities, it would therefore be a double jeopardy and almost fatality to expose them to risks that could land them in hospital.

Therefore, with effect from March 19, 2020, DRAC hereby suspends all activities and will be shutting down our offices temporarily until the situation clarifies. We can still be reached via email and phone calls.

Let us all stay safe and take necessary precautions as we hope this blows over soonest.



*Irene Patrick-Ogbogu*
*Executive Director*



CC: Lalasticlala

Nigeria always doing things from back to front.
NGO that should be at the rescue at these trying times are the first to shut down operations
North that is very far behind in education are the first to shut down schools.
Lagos that treated an Italian and made him start eating Amala is now hopeless in the face of real coronavirus

Nawa oo

Iyiataata92:
Nigeria always doing things from back to front.
NGO that should be at the rescue at these trying times are the first to shut down operations
North that is very far behind in education are the first to shut down schools.
Lagos that treated an Italian and made him start eating Amala is now hopeless in the face of real coronavirus

Nawa oo

You are senseless. Do you think NGOs do not have a target group? Or you you think because they are called NGOs they will be everywhere attending to every issue? Every NGO has a capacity to which they can do certain things. You what have you done for your household or community?

North being far behind in education and first to shut down schools show s that they are wiser than some 'educated' idiots like you. They are wise enough to have shut down operations and stem the spread of the disease.

Lagos? Are you saying when people recover from illness they shouldn't eat? Mr Man or Woman you are a compound idiot. Even Italy with all their technology are hopeless in the face of COVID-19 so who is small Lagos?

Randal:


You are senseless. Do you think NGOs do not have a target group? Or you you think because they are called NGOs they will be everywhere attending to every issue? Every NGO has a capacity to which they can do certain things. You what have you done for your household or community?

North being far behind in education and first to shut down schools show s that they are wiser than some 'educated' idiots like you. They are wise enough to have shut down operations and stem the spread of the disease.

Lagos? Are you saying when people recover from illness they shouldn't eat? Mr Man or Woman you are a compound idiot. Even Italy with all their technology are hopeless in the face of COVID-19 so who is small Lagos?

quote me again when you've learned to reply without insult