The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Wednesday asked the States and Union Territories to ensure that the Covid-19 centres for testing/ quarantine and treatments at the hospitals are disabled-friendly.

In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and UTs, Shakuntala Gamlin, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) at the Ministry, pointed out that the current crisis poses greater threats to the PwDs not just due to their compromised immunity and ability to perceive or comprehend information but also due to absence of accessibility features in the physical environment and eco-system provided at such Covid-19 related facilities.

Asking the States to implement the guidelines prepared in this direction by the Ministry in letter and spirit, the senior official said that “ priority treatment for the PwDs and provisions of safety, healthy living and hygiene for them, attendants, care-givers and accessible service providers, such as sign language interpreters should be ensured.”

In addition, it is also necessary that basic physical accessibility features are ensured, as per reasonable accommodation in the centres for Covid-19 testing and quarantine facilities as well as for treatment at hospitals and health centres, said Gamlin.

It must be ensured that basic features of accessibility such as signages, requisite items like soaps and gloves are provided at these centres so that persons with restricted mobility and those dependent upon attendants/caregivers are not inconvenienced further, especially during the times of this pandemic, she reminded.

The Government has classified health facilities into three categories Covid-19 Care Centre, Dedicated Covid-19 Health Centre and Dedicated Covid Hospital. These dedicated facilities will have separate earmarked areas for suspected cases and confirmed cases, and ensure the available hospital bed capacity is used only for moderate to severe cases of the infection.