Lots of the single males with disabilities we labored with didn’t know they may go to the hospital and get condoms freed from cost. Now additionally they know that in the event that they don’t use contraception, particularly condoms, they threat getting sexually transmitted infections. There’s been a fantastic enchancment and each day we get constructive suggestions from them.
Accessibility in well being care services has additionally improved. A number of the services now have ramps and there are plenty of ongoing modifications. We’ve established good relationships with well being care service suppliers – they nonetheless get again to us with questions, we do visits/checks and we discuss to individuals with disabilities about their experiences.
Placing girls with disabilities within the driving seat
This venture was capable of make an affect as a result of the individuals concerned had been the individuals sporting the sneakers. I used to know perhaps one or two sorts of household planning, however now I do know so many. I may even inform individuals about it as a result of though I’m not a service supplier, I can communicate to them due to the information and coaching I’ve acquired. I can prepare individuals on how one can attend to individuals with disabilities too.
It was the very best factor to have Nigeria’s nationwide coverage on sexual and reproductive well being and rights for individuals with disabilities adopted by Kaduna state authorities – with the coverage, individuals with disabilities can declare their rights. It should encourage others to stick to the coverage and can make individuals extra dedicated in direction of implementation.
The implementation of the coverage is ongoing, so the federal government should have interaction organisations of individuals with disabilities. We play an oversight function – once we discover a change in the neighborhood, or when the rights of individuals with disabilities are infringed, we have now to comply with as much as see that implementation is being sustained. Sightsavers has completed loads for individuals with disabilities, particularly on this inclusive household planning venture. The federal government has to leverage this and maintain what they’ve began to ship higher circumstances for individuals with disabilities.
What extra can governments, donors and well being companions do?
I’ve a message for them: in Kaduna state, we have now 255 services and it’s a really massive state with a inhabitants of about 10 million. We’ve a excessive variety of individuals with disabilities – this venture lined two native governments out of 23 and these had been metropolitan native governments. We additionally want to deal with medical well being in a few of our rural communities. I would really like them to do extra, to succeed in out to extra communities, extra services and prepare extra well being care service suppliers so we will attain extra individuals with disabilities. The governments ought to be a part of arms with non-governmental organisations like Sightsavers so we will bridge these gaps.
I need to say thanks to Sightsavers for bringing the venture to Kaduna. Even after the venture’s lifespan, the organisations of individuals with disabilities will maintain the venture going.
