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Anambra State Women with Disabilities Decry Healthcare Discrimination, Demand Inclusivity
Ekohotblog reports that the Association of Anambra State Women with Disabilities (AASWOWD), an umbrella organization representing various clusters of women with disabilities, has expressed deep concern over the discrimination and barriers they encounter when attempting to access healthcare services in Anambra State.
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Speaking at the association’s annual August meeting held in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, the State Chairperson of AASWOWD, Comrade Ncheta Nwanokwara, highlighted the systemic barriers, discriminatory attitudes, and lack of accessibility in health institutions across the state.
Nwanokwara emphasized that many health facilities lack essential features such as ramps, adjustable beds, sign language interpreters, and readable information materials, which are crucial for women with disabilities.
According to Nwanokwara, these barriers have, over the years, excluded many women from receiving the quality healthcare they are entitled to.
The theme of this year’s August meeting, “Ensuring an Accessible and Inclusive Reproductive Healthcare System for Women with Disabilities,” underscores the importance of inclusive healthcare services for persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
Nwanokwara called for a concerted effort to improve healthcare delivery for PWDs, stressing that reproductive healthcare is a fundamental human right, yet women with disabilities are often denied access.
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“We have consistently faced these barriers and discrimination, but we have also made significant strides in raising awareness and advocating for a more inclusive reproductive and healthcare system.
Our voices must be heard, and our needs, perspectives, and rights should be central to the design and delivery of reproductive healthcare services in Anambra State,” Nwanokwara stated.
She further urged stakeholders in the health sector to invest more in infrastructure, enhance training for healthcare providers, and work towards a future where no woman is denied quality healthcare due to her disability.
“We envision a future where disability is never a barrier to health, happiness, or the realization of one’s full potential,” she added.
Dr. Ogochukwu Ofiaeli, President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), echoed these sentiments, urging public institutions to implement the Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018) by ensuring their infrastructure is accessible to all. She also encouraged PWDs to seek knowledge to improve their health status and economic sustainability.
Dr. Ofiaeli highlighted the need for better data documentation of PWDs accessing medical institutions to strengthen advocacy efforts.
Ms. Blessing Nnaeme of the Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNI) delivered a lecture emphasizing that an accessible and inclusive healthcare system removes barriers and provides high-quality, respectful, and equitable care to all individuals. She stressed the importance of making medical facilities physically accessible and providing communication aids like sign language interpreters and Braille materials.
The event also saw contributions from the State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, represented by his Vice Chairman, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Ugwegbe, who urged AASWOWD to explore opportunities such as waste recycling, and government programs aimed at economic empowerment and skills acquisition.
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