The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Royal School of Educational Therapy Foundation have declared that persons with special needs can no longer be overlooked in healthcare planning, warning that gaps in access and awareness continue to put vulnerable families at risk.

The statement came during the second edition of the Free Family Health Fair, organized by the Foundation in collaboration with the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, which focused on children with developmental disabilities, maternal health, and preventive care.

Founder of the Foundation, Dr. Badewa Adejube Williams, said the fair aimed at confronting dangerous health myths and ensuring parents understood critical developmental milestones for children with special needs.

She revealed that, in the FCT alone, over 250,000 children with developmental disabilities had been identified, though many more likely remain undocumented, especially in rural areas.

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On her part, the Acting Director of the FCTA Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Salma Belgore, warned that persons with special needs must be deliberately prioritized under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

Belgore, who was represented by the acting Head of Equity and Special Programmes, Vershima Igyundu, said sidelining this group has long-term consequences for families and the health system.

Hundreds of residents were screened for diabetes, hypertension, BMI and other risk factors at the fair.