Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youths (HIFWY) has sensitized health workers with the aim of ensuring improved access to quality healthcare services for women and girls with disabilities.
The sensitization workshop which held at the Ogba Primary Health Centre was supported by the Disability Rights Fund and it had in attendance healthcare workers from Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
While facilitating a session on Sexual Health, Mrs. Amaka Nnaji, a Development worker advised the health workers to avoid discriminating against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) but rather provide the adequate support that they require to get quality health care treatment.
Nnaji buttressed that PWDs, like their counterparts without disabilities, have the right to access Sexual and Reproductive health services, and such should be provided without any form of bias or discrimination.
She charged the health workers to begin to change their negative perceptions about PWDs and help to break every form of barrier they experience in accessing quality healthcare.
The development expert also appealed to the health workers to always inform PWDs about different interventions and support that have been provided by the government, which would in turn help them to access quality healthcare.
“I believe that at the end of this project by HIFWY, health workers across Lagos State would be better informed about inclusive health services and that there would be no more gap between persons with disabilities and persons without disabilities,” Nnaji added.
The health workers pledged their commitment to provide the necessary support to PWDs at all times.
Earlier, Maria Kazeem, the Programme Manager, Hope Inspired Foundation, explained that the sensitization programme was organized to create awareness among health workers on how to provide adequate support to PWDs.
“Health workers should not see PWDs as outcasts, but treat them whenever they present themselves at the hospital,” kazeem added.
She mentioned that HIFWY will continue to work on promoting the rights and inclusion of women and youths in diverse sectors.
The sensitization workshop was well attended by health workers and PWDs across Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area and Ojodu LCDA.
Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youths (HIFWY) has sensitized health workers with the aim of ensuring improved access to quality healthcare services and improved access to sexuality information for women and girls with disabilities (WGWDs) in Lagos.
The sensitization workshop which held at the Ogba Primary Health Centre was supported by the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and was well attended by health workers and PWDs across Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area and Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
While facilitating a session on Sexual Health for women and girls with disabilities, Mrs. Amaka Nnaji, a Development worker advised the health workers to avoid discriminating against women and girls with Disabilities (WGWDs) but rather provide the adequate support that they require to get quality health care services.
Nnaji buttressed that WGWDs, like their counterparts without disabilities, have the right to access Sexual and Reproductive health services, and such should be provided without any form of bias or discrimination.
Amaka Nnaji training health workers during the sensitization workshop.
She charged the health workers to begin to change their negative perceptions about WGWDs and help to break every form of barrier they experience in expressing their sexuality positively and accessing quality sexual health services.
The development expert also appealed to the health workers to always inform WGWDs about different available interventions and support provided by the government, which would in turn help them to access quality sexual health information and services.
“I believe that at the end of this project by HIFWY, health workers across Lagos State would be better informed about inclusive health services and that there would be no more gap between women and girls with disabilities and those without disabilities,” Nnaji added.
The health workers pledged their commitment to provide the necessary support and enabling environment to WGWDs at all times.
Earlier, Maria Kazeem, the Programme Manager, Hope Inspired Foundation, explained that the sensitization programme was organized to create awareness among health workers in the local government on how to provide accessible and comprehensive support to WGWDs who are more vulnerable in those local communities with even lesser access to sexual health services.
“Health workers should not see WGWDs as outcasts, but treat them as equal citizens with rights whenever they present themselves at the health facilities, ” kazeem added.
She mentioned that HIFWY is using the opportunity to call on all duty bearers in the local government to prioritize the sexual health needs of WGWDs and ensure all programs are inclusive of WGWDs within the local government. HIFWY will continue to work on promoting the rights and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in diverse sectors within the local government.