The Association of Anambra State Women with Disabilities (AASWOWD), an umbrella body of various women with disabilities, has advocated for improved healthcare service delivery to people with disabilities (PWDs).
The State Chairperson of AASWOWD, Comrade Ncheta Nwanokwara, disclosed this at their annual August meeting held at St Matthew’s Catholic church Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, of the state She stressed that over the years, they have faced barriers and discrimination while trying to access medical care.
Nwanokwara stated that the occasion, themed: “Ensuring an Accessible and Inclusive Reproductive Healthcare System for Women with Disabilities,” was inspired by the fact that reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right yet women with disabilities were denied the opportunity.
“We face systematic barriers, discriminatory attitudes and lack of accessibility especially with respect to the provision of ramps, adjustable beds in some health facilities, sign language interpreters, as well as readable information materials. Because of that, many women have been excluded from quality health care and services they deserve.
“We have continued to face these barriers and discrimination, but we have also continued to make important strides in raising awareness and advocating for a more inclusive reproductive and healthcare system. As we continue to amplify the voices of women with disabilities, ensuring that their needs, perspective, and rights are central to the design and delivery of reproductive healthcare services in Anambra State.
“We are hereby calling on all the relevant stakeholders in the health sector in Anambra State and advocating for increased investment, improved infrastructure, and enhanced training for healthcare providers. More importantly, there is a need to build a future where every woman, regardless of her disability, can access the quality, dignified and empowering reproductive healthcare she deserves. A future where disabilities is never a barrier to health happiness and the realisation of one’s full potential,” she said.
Delivering her lecture, the President, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Anambra State chapter, Dr. Ogochukwu Ofiaeli, urged public institutions to strive towards implementing the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018) by ensuring that their infrastructure is accessible to all.
Dr. Ofiaeli, who is also a consultant paediatrician and a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, informed the women on the different health problems that can happen generally in females, including fertility issues, problems with menstrual cycle, accessible healthcare, and child care.
She equally advised the PWDs to seek knowledge to improve their health status and economic sustainability. Ofiaeli added that there was a need for improved data documentation of their members accessing medical institutions so as to easily use them for advocacy campaigns among stakeholders.
“There is no way the healthcare system will know your problems without you as a group coming to tell them the problems,” she said.
She urged them to leverage their togetherness and embark on advocacies to seek solutions to the challenges they face in society, particularly in the healthcare sector.
On her part, Ms. Blessing Nnaeme from the Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNI), represented by Clent Okim, described an accessible and inclusive health care system as a means of removing barriers and providing high-quality, respectful, and equitable care to all individuals while leaving everyone in a better and more healthy state without categorisation nor discrimination.
This according to Okim, included ensuring that medical facilities are physically accessible, with features like ramps, elevators, and wide doorways to all, and offering of accessible communication methods such as sign language interpreters, Braille materials, or communication devices if needed.
“Engage with disability advocacy groups or a healthcare navigator who can help you access appropriate services and ensure your needs are met. Work with your healthcare provider to create a personalised health plan that considers your disability and any specific accommodations or modifications you might need,” he added.
He urged the women to always speak out in areas where they are neglected or discriminated against, so as to attract the attention of the government and public.
Earlier, the Chairman Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke represented by his vice, Ifeanyi Igwegbe, urged the women to key into several programmes of the government, particularly the soft grants being awarded to women of the state by the federal government.
He also encouraged them to participate actively and contest in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
Igwegbe also urged them to explore every good opportunity such as waste recycling, state and federal government programmes for economic empowerment, skills acquisition and development.
Some of the participants, Ifeoma Eze and Joy Chukwuma, appreciated the organisers of the occasion and called on Nigerians to always accommodate them and assist them when necessary.