FCT chief judge bemoans lack of access to justice for victims of health rights violation

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3 years ago

The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Chairman, FCT Judicial Service Committee, Honourable Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf has observed that access to justice for victims of health rights violation has been an issue of grave concern in Nigeria.

He said this during a human rights sensitization and legal training workshop on tuberculosis, organized by Lawyers Alert, a nonprofit human rights organisation.

At the training which focus on theme: “The Vital Roles of the Court and Lawyers in Promoting Human and Health Rights”, Yusuf said international human right law has gone a step further to provide for the right to health through inclusive and resilient health care for all.

Represented by a Judge of FCT High Court, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, Justice Yusuf noted that the international human right law provision is justified and universally supported because it is believed that the essence of recognizing and safeguarding human rights is to ensure the possibility of living healthy in dignified freedom.

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He lauded Lawyers Alert for its thoughtful initiative culminating in organizing the training workshop and urged organisation to organised more trainings for judicial officers on Human and Health Rights.

Speaking at the training, the Director and National Coordinator of National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme at Federal Ministry Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike said the programme was aimed at making Nigeria free of Tuberculosis.

The President of Lawyers Alert, Mr Rommy Mom called on the Executive and Legislative arm of government in the country to ensure adequate funding for the initiatives and programmes put in place to end Tuberculosis in Nigeria.

One of the Tuberculosis survivors, Mrs Oluwafunke Dosunmu said the discrimination and stigmatization that many TB patients experienced in the hands of health workers made them abandoned the treatment. She encouraged TB patients to learn more about their health rights and demand justice whenever their health rights were infringe upon by health workers or anyone else.

An American Human Rights Lawyer and Researcher, Professor Brian Citro observed that adequate information about TB will reduce stigmatization and discrimination against person affected by Tuberculosis in Nigeria.

Also speaking, an American Human Rights Lawyer and Researcher, Professor Brian Citro has observed that adequate information about TB will reduce stigmatization and discrimination against person affected by Tuberculosis in Nigeria.

Professor Brian said the more people understand TB better, the less discrimination and stigma. He said lack of adequate information and awareness were major factors fueling discrimination against persons affected by Tuberculosis and worsening their situation.

He called on media to sensitize the public on the need to end discrimination against the affected persons and support them to overcome the challenge.

He said “TB is curable and it’s not a death sentence. When people take TB treatment very quickly, the are no longer contagious. If people know this, it will reduce the fear and the stigma.”

“Also, we need to use the law. So, we have to have a law that protects the persons affected by TB. A law that expressly and explicitly prohibits discrimination against persons affected by TB”.

Participants at the training include lawyers, journalists and persons affected by TB. They all commended Lawyers Alert for organising the training and pledged to work together towards ending TB and prevent discrimination and stigmatization against affected persons.