Visually impaired Nigerians struggle to navigate coronavirus challenges

FILE PHOTO: Visually impaired Juliet Gbefwi, president, Yeyedu Outreach Foundation, walks out of a door, while the government struggles to contain coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Abuja, Nigeria May 1, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

Lawal Adebimpe knows she must remain a safe distance from people to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Nigeria. But her blindness means she usually holds people to navigate her way around the heaving megacity of Lagos.

Adebimpe, a baker who lives with her parents, lost her sight in 2018 after suffering retina detachment in a car accident. She said the need to remain 2 metres away from others hit her "like a bomb".

Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, speaks with his friend in his room amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

"I have to depend on people to go out. I have to cross the road, I have to walk around, get a bus," said the 31-year-old.

"Some people would not want to hold you because of the fear," she added.

Unlike in other countries, Nigerian traffic lights do not make a sound when pedestrians can cross. And the lights often do not work.

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, walks through the corridor at his church with assistance from his friend amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

Social distancing is particularly tough in a country with little support for blind people. Nigeria has had over 6,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 192 deaths.

Lockdowns in Lagos, neighbouring state Ogun, and the capital Abuja lasted just over a month before being eased on May 4.

Nationwide restrictions - including social distancing, the mandatory use of masks, an overnight curfew and a ban on interstate travel - have been in place for more than two weeks.

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, buys a soft-drink bottle at a store in Iyawa area amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

Juliet Gbefwi, who runs the Yeyedu Outreach Foundation for visually impaired people in the capital Abuja, said her charity is trying to help people like Adebimpe by encouraging adjustments to daily life: more hand washing due to the regular touching of surfaces, and teaching the use of a cane.

But each day throws up questions about the dangers of seeking help and whether help would be forthcoming.

Blind musician Shobowale Kehinde no longer ventures out to areas he does not know well.

FILE PHOTO: Visually impaired Juliet Gbefwi, president of Yeyedu Outreach foundation, walks around her home, while the government struggles to contain coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Abuja, Nigeria May 1, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

As a cautionary tale, he recalls a recent incident when someone walked away when he needed help navigating his way in a busy Lagos street.

"I couldn't call him back to say, 'please hold me, I'm corona-free.' I cannot prove myself innocent," he said.

(Reporting by Angela Ukomadu in Lagos and Abraham Achirga in Abuja; Additional reporting by Seun Sanni in Lagos; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Mike Collett-White)

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, makes the bed in his room amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

FILE PHOTO: Visually impaired Juliet Gbefwi, president of Yeyedu Outreach foundation, walks around her home, while the government struggles to contain coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Abuja, Nigeria May 1, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, poses for a photo in the corridor at his church amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

FILE PHOTO: Visually impaired Juliet Gbefwi, president, Yeyedu Outreach Foundation, is seen during an interview with Reuters, while the government struggles to contain coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Abuja Nigeria May 1, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, poses for a picture in his room amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, holds the gate of his church while he waits for his friend amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, poses for a picture with his musical instrument called "shekere" in his room amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, sings as he plays his musical instrument called the "shekere" in his room amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

FILE PHOTO: Shobowale Kehinde, 28, an entertainer who is visually impaired, climbs the stairs from his room amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria May 5, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja