The Kaduna State Government and some development partners have been lauded by some persons Living With Disability, PWDs, on Wednesday for floating an inclusive-coated implementation plan for Sexual and Reproductive Health, SRH.
They made the commendation in separate interviews with journalists shortly after a meeting for the dissemination of Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) for Sexual and reproductive health of Persons living with disabilities.
CIP was developed by the state government under its Ministry of Health with support from Sightsavers, Lafiya, among other development partners.
Actively Participated
The Executive Director, Women with Disabilities Self Reliance Foundation, Riskat Muhammed, said that they actively participated in the entire process of the plan
She said, “This is from advocacy, to policy formulation, and the dissemination of the working document.
“This document represents our voices and our dreams. It is not something that was done for us without . We were there at every step.
“Of course, as implementation begins, we will continue to monitor and engage, ensuring that the government remains responsive to emerging issues and continues to listen to the lived experiences of women with disabilities.”
Similarly, Salome Net, the Executive Director, Heart to Heart Foundation for Inclusive Education, said CIP was a dream come true for persons with disabilities.
She explained that the plan would address the issue of marginalisation of PWDs in accessing health services, saying that they were fully involved in the development of the plan.
“We were fully involved in it, and Persons with Disabilities of different kind were carried along and our voices were heard; all our needs has been captured in the plan.
“It means so much for us that today we are here to learn and disseminate this costed implemented plan for SRHR of persons with disability ; we are very happy and really feel we’ve been listened to,” Muhammed said.
Earlier,the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, stated that access to sexual and reproductive health was not a privilege but a right that must be upheld. Especially for the most vulnerable in the society.
The commissioner,who was represented by the Deputy Director, Nursing Services, Naomi Kukah, said that the development of the CIP was a policy document that promotes inclusion.
She explained,”CIP identifies strategic actions, allocates resources, and sets clear priorities to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the quest for universal access to SRH services.
“This plan is the product of rigorous consultations, data analysis, and the voices of persons with disabilities themselves.
“It is built on the principles of inclusion, participation, accountability, and sustainability.
While speaking , Mohammed Liman, the consultant who supported in the development process of the plan, stated that CIP for Sexual and reproductive health of persons with disabilities was set to run from 2024 to 2027.
He said that the plan was projected to cost approximately N33 billion over the three-year period,adding that a substantial portion of N21 billion would be allocated to infrastructural upgrades.
Physical Infrastructure
He stated that some of the major barriers limiting access to SRH services for persons with disabilities were physical infrastructure and poor communication between service providers and PWDs.
Meanwhile, the Programme Director, Sightsavers, Neglected Tropical Diseases,Anita Gyom, stated that their role was to demonstrate that the implementation was possible.
“While Sightsavers is supporting the implementation of specific components, the ownership and coordination of the broader plan rests squarely with the government,” she added.
NAN/ Shakirat Sadiq