By Chioma Umeha
Persons With Disabilities,
(PWDs) has called on the State Government to address Sexual and Reproductive
Health, (SRH) policy as well as accessing SRH commodities by disabled.
Addressing Journalists in
Lagos during a round table discussion to mark the International Day of Persons
With Disabilities organised by Journalists Against AIDS, ( JAAIDS) in
collaboration with National Association of The Blind, (NAB), a member of the
board of Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs, (LASODA), Mr Adebayo
Adebukola who represented the General Manager, Mr Babatunde Awelenje said the
government is working on implementing the Special Peoples Law in the State.
He said the law when
implemented will guarantee free, health care services, education and
transportation, stressing that such freebies will be accessed when PWDs are
registered and certified by LASODA, adding that drugs collected by PWDs at
health care centers will be paid for.
Alewenje however said that
Lagos State door is disability sensitive and PWDs inclusion of participation
without restriction is guaranteed, stating that efforts are made to provide
sign language in hospitals for PWDs for easy communication.
Speaking during her
presentation on “addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of
adolescent with Disabilities towards sustainable and resilient society for
all”, Mrs Rose Mordi of the Down syndrome Foundation Lagos said PWDs should be
part in decision making especially about sexual and reproductive health.
Mordi said, “provision of SRH
rights education and information about sexuality and relationship education is
essential learning for young people with disability who are more likely to
require direct instructions to learn positive and protective skills and are
more vulnerable to sexual and abuse and exploitation.”
She however added, that
research consistently shows that sexuality and relationship education is
important to young people with disability and can be successful in contributing
to knowledge and skill acquisition as well as influencing positive behavioral
development.
Mordi stated that “there is
need for implementation of policy and practice guidelines. The needs of PWDs
are often overlooked or neglected, therefore addressing the SRH needs for
adolescent with disabilities should be part of the everyday reality for all people
so we can understand that everyone has a right to receive information and make
decisions when it comes to sexuality.
