Association of Anambra State Women with Disabilities (AASWOWD), an umbrella body of clusters of women with disabilities, have lamented over discriminations and barriers they face while trying to access health institutions in the State.
According to the group, this include 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.
The State Chairperson of AASWOWD, Comrade Ncheta Nwanokwara, who stated this at their annual August meeting held at Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, noted that over the years the barriers and discrimination have excluded many women from the quality healthcare and services they deserve.
Nwanokwara, who said the theme for the August meeting was ensuring an accessible and inclusive reproductive healthcare system for women with disabilities, advocated for improved healthcare service delivery to people living with disabilities (PWDs), because reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right yet women with disabilities were denied the opportunity.
She said, “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.”
Also speaking, another guest speaker and President, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Dr Ogochukwu Ofiaeli, urged public institutions to strive towards implementing the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018) by ensuring that their infrastructure are accessible to all.
Ofiaeli, while also advising the PWDs to seek knowledge to improve their health status and economic sustainability, added that there was need for improved data documentation of their members accessing medical institutions so as to easily use them for advocacy campaign among stakeholders.
