The Nasarawa State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the reproductive rights of women with disabilities.
Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Gaza Gwamna stated this at a one-day stakeholders meeting on Tuesday in Lafia for the adoption of the National Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.
The stakeholder engagement was organized by the Advocacy for Women With Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) for women and girls with disabilities in the state.
The Commissioner, represented by Mrs Esther Yonah, Head of Gender Adolescent School Leather Services and Elderly Care (GASHE) in the ministry, said that the government would ensure full implementation of the policy to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Commissioner appreciated the organization for the initiative and promised to ensure that all public health facilities in the state create easy access for women with disabilities.
He promised to ensure that all public health facilities have sign-language interpreters to help persons with disabilities.
He also promised to engage with proprietors of private hospitals to ensure compliance with a view of ensuring inclusion of the persons with disabilities.
Gwamna added that women and girls with disabilities have the right to give birth, to adopt any method of family planning, to have sex and children just like any other human being, and must be supported to enjoy their lives.
On her part, Barr. Justina Allu, Director of Public Defender at Nasarawa State Ministry for Justice, appreciated the group for advocating for the rights of vulnerable groups in the state.
She added that the ministry has the power of prosecution and promised to prosecute anyone found culpable for the violation of the rights of women and girls with disabilities.
“We will ensure that anyone who breaks the law faces the full wrath of the law, so women and girls with disabilities should be rest assured that we will fight for them,” she added.
In a goodwill message, Salah Keana, Chairman of Nasarawa State Disability Rights Commission, explained that they had engaged with government officials and the organized private sector on the need to ensure adherence to the rights of their members.
He added that Gov. Abdullahi Sule had assured them that special elevators would be installed at the new State Secretariat complex for persons with disabilities.
“We have also written to government officials and the private sector to ensure easy access by our members in public buildings within two years.
“We are ready to sue anybody who fails to comply within the next years to court to enforce compliance,” he added.
Earlier, Mrs Asaba Averson, Nasarawa State Coordinator of Advocacy for Women With Disabilities Initiative appreciated all the stakeholders for supporting the plights of people with disabilities.
The Coordinator who herself is living with disability, said that they were facing a lot of barriers and difficulties in day-to-day life engagement.
She explained that sometimes, other members of society often challenge them on why they allowed themselves to be impregnated.
“They also laugh and mock us when we seek to use contraceptives or adopt family planning methods as if we are not human beings,” she stressed.
She further said that public buildings were built without recourse to ensure accessibility to persons with disabilities.
Averson therefore, appealed to all stakeholders to consider the plights of persons with disabilities in policy formulations and execution of projects.
In a presentation of the national policy, Mr Kolawale Jayeoba, Programme Manager of AWWDI, appreciated Nasarawa State Government for being disability friendly.
He explained that the government had created a special school and the Disability Rights Commission and offered free education from primary to tertiary institutions to persons with disabilities.
He, however, appealed that the government should domesticate the National Policy on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities to enable them to achieve their full potential.
He added that women with disabilities have rights to have sex, education, give birth, employment, and family planning, among others, and should be supported by all to enjoy their lives like any other person. (NAN)..