Person with Disability calls for accessible hospital for pregnant women with special needs

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (PWD) Celebrity of the Week 006:

Imam Oluwakemi Mosidat’s story like others is inspiring. She is a poliomyelitis survivor and wheelchair user. She lost the use of her legs to wrong injection at the tender age of 18 months.

A second class (upper) graduate of the prestigious University of Ibadan and a single mum. In this interview with Bernice Oyeleke, she urged hospital management to make their services more accessible for pregnant special needs women.

Kindly give us an overview of your educational history

I started my primary school education at Atunda-Olu school for the physically challenged, Surulere, Lagos State where I spent two years before changing school to Engreg International School, Somolu Lagos State where I obtained my Primary School Leaving Certificate. After my Primary Education, I got admission to Federal Government College Odogbolu, Ogun State where I obtained my Secondary School Leaving Certificate. After my Secondary education, I proceeded to Federal College of Education Special, Oyo (SPED) where I studied English/Education of the Hearing Impaired. I obtained my NCE in 2001.

Shortly, after that, I gained admission to study Special Education/English Education at the prestigious University of Ibadan where I graduated with a Second Class Upper. Immediately after my NYSC, I put in for my masters degree also at the University of Ibadan, Adult Education department and graduated in the year 2011.

What type of disability do you have?

I am a poliomyelitis survivor which affected my waist and my two legs leaving me wheelchair bound.

Tell us a little but in depth story of how the disability happened?

I heard from my mom that the disability is an aftermath of a wrong injection which was administered to me when I had an attack of measles at the age of 18 months. I learnt that I suffered severe paralysis which affected me from the neck down but with physiotherapy coupled with other interventions, I was able to recover the use of other parts of my body except my two legs.

How did the disability affect your growing up?

Well, growing up was quite “normal” for me because I have a very strong family support system. My mom and my siblings never made me feel different. In fact, I was raised under very strict and disciplined conditions. Also in school, my friends understood my peculiarity but accepted me as one of them. Hence, growing up for me was very “normal”.

What are the things you have been able to achieve in spite of the disability?

Today, I am a graduate, a civil servant, a mother and above all a role model to persons with disabilities and even people without disabilities. I must say that God has indeed been faithful to me. I have achieved as much as my mates and even better, all to the glory of God.

How has the career world been to you? Where do you work?

I am presently working at Federal Government Girls College Sagamu, Ogun State as an Education Officer. I teach English Language both at the Junior Secondary Level and at the Senior Secondary Level. I have been able to blend well into the career world though the issue of accessibility still rears its head at every point. I have had to use my money to improvise ramps to enable me access my office and other places within my work area. I must however mention that my colleagues at work have been exceptionally supportive as they lend helping hands whenever I need it.

Let’s talk about your motherhood experience, how was the experience as a lady who is wheelchair bound?

Motherhood for me has been really exciting. It has shown the people around me that women with disabilities also make wonderful mothers. I take care of my child to the best of my ability with help from people around me.

How was the nine months pregnancy experience?

My pregnancy journey was really wonderful. I didn’t have trouble with the pregnancy at all. No spitting, no vomiting or unnecessary sleep. The only thing was that I ate a lot of Amala and Ogbono soup throughout my pregnancy period.

Kindly share with us your birthing process with peculiarities of your being a wheelchair user.

Immediately I got pregnant, I was informed by my doctor that as soon as the pregnancy is matured enough, I will be scheduled for an elective caesarian section. So, I had the CS and I had my Prince successfully.

You must have used a very special hospital, right?

I registered at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), but delivered at a private hospital because OOUTH was on strike when I was due for delivery.

What can you say about the medical  services you obtained during pregnancy and delivery?

The hospital needs to be more accessible for pregnant special needs women. At times, I couldn’t access a lab or a room where certain tests/check had to be done. One therefore has to be attended to in an open space or rather forgo such a test if possible. Our society should recognize this peculiarity and make provision for us to have the best medical attention especially during pregnancy and childbirth.

I expected something like difficulty with weighting as I read in some research article that physically challenged women can’t be weighted when pregnant

Even without pregnancy, we (people with physical challenge) can’t be weighed. It’s not peculiar to pregnancy alone. I wasn’t weighed throughout my pregnancy period. I got scanned at every visit from which the babys weight is derived.

Welcoming a new baby and nursing such, was the experience same as other women or what made it peculiar being a wheelchair user?

As a wheelchair bound, the only difference was that one needed to have someone around to assist with the baby in terms of carrying or putting the baby on the back to sleep. Aside that, it was relatively the same experience.

You mentioned being a mother but not a wife, are you a single mother by choice or by chance? What advice can you give to the society about marrying person with disabilities?

Hmmm…my journey into been a single mother is not by choice, it’s due to circumstances far beyond my control.

I’ll advice the society to see people with disabilities as human who can give love and also deserve to be loved. In actual fact, I know that people with disabilities are more loving and very romantic. They should learn to accept us and not feel that they are doing us a favour by being with us as spouses.

However, I still believe that there’s a man out there for me, smile.

I learnt you once won a miss wheelchair, can you talk to us about the experience?

Laughs, I didn’t win the Miss Wheelchair contest then, I was a participant and I got to the final round. It was organized by Mr Cosmos Okoli of MAARDEC in Surulere, Lagos State and it was quite an experience.

It would be nice to have such contests for people with disabilities as it helps us feel beautiful. It’s also an avenue to showcase our talents and intelligence.

What are you doing to contribute positively to disability advocacy in Nigeria?

In the area of disability advocacy, I must confess that I have not been actively involved due to my work, taking care of my son, and mainly because I do not have any disability group that I belong to. However, I’ll be willing to serve if I am called upon at any time.

Thanks for your time so far, kindly give your parting shot for fellow people with disabilities/ their family; the society; and the government.

People with disabilities should believe in themselves and know that there’s nothing they cannot do if they set their minds to it.

Families of people living with disabilities should accept them and give them all the support they can.

The government on their part should see to the implementation of such policies.