In a move towards achieving inclusive healthcare, the Kaduna State Government through Ministry of Health unveiled a Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) worth N33 billion to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRH) services for persons with disabilities in the State.
The three-year plan (2025–2027), first in the country, was launched at a dissemination meeting held at the Sightsavers office in Kaduna, bringing together government officials, development partners, health professionals, and disability rights advocates.
The document, which was crafted after extensive consultations and input from people with disabilities themselves, focused on five thematic areas which include public awareness, service delivery barriers, infrastructure, governance and coordination, and monitoring and evaluation.
Speaking on the sideline of the event, a consultant who supported the plan’s development, Dr. Mohamed Liman said the disability community has been neglected over time, hence the need for the CIP.
“A substantial portion of this, about N21 billion, is allocated to infrastructural upgrades. This is because one of the major barriers limiting access to SRHR services for persons with disabilities is physical infrastructure. Many facilities are simply not accessible. “
“Improving access is not just about buildings, another significant barrier is communication. Many healthcare providers lack the training or tools to communicate effectively, especially with people who are deaf or hearing impaired,” he noted.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health, Naomi Kukah described the CIP as not just a policy document, but a bold statement of commitment to equity, dignity, and human rights.
According to her, for far too long, persons with disabilities have remained on the margins of the health systems, hence the plan to identify strategic actions, allocation of resources, and setting clear priorities.
Kukah urged government bodies to integrate the CIP into national strategies and called on civil society to hold them accountable and amplify the voices of those most affected.
She also praised the involvement of persons with disabilities in the plan’s development.
“The real success of this document will be measured not by its pages or costings, but by the lives it transforms,” she added.
Program Director at Sightsavers, Anita Gwom, described the plan as a practical step toward inclusion.
“We see our involvement as part of a pilot phase. The government has developed a holistic plan. When partners like Sightsavers come in, we align our support with that national vision, “she said.
Tool for Empowerment.
Executive Director of the Women with Disabilities Self Reliance Foundation, Riskat Muhamed, welcomed the CIP as a long-overdue tool for empowerment.
“Next week, we will be in Zaria to train 40 women with disabilities on their sexual and reproductive health rights.
“These women will return to their local government areas to continue raising awareness,” she assured.
Riskat emphasized that women with disabilities must understand SRHR as a fundamental human right, stressing the need for safeguarding training to help women recognize and report abuse in healthcare services.
To her, the disability community is not a passive recipient of the plan, “We were part of the advocacy, the drafting, and now the dissemination.
“This document represents our voices and our dreams. It was not done for us with us. We were there at every step, “she affirmed