The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to strengthening inclusive and sustainable reproductive health programmes for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), pledging closer collaboration with Sightsavers and other development partners to ensure equitable access to family planning services nationwide.
This assurance was given by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Abba Isa, at the close-out ceremony of an inclusive family planning project targeted at women with disabilities in Abuja.
Describing the initiative as a model of disability-inclusive development, Isa said the project strongly aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and global sustainability goals. He called for the replication and scale-up of the initiative, particularly in northern states grappling with high fertility rates and limited access to family planning services.
“The success of this project shows that inclusion is not optional—it is essential,” Isa said, commending Sightsavers and all stakeholders for restoring dignity, amplifying voices, and empowering women with disabilities to make informed decisions about their health and future.
In her remarks, Prof. Joy Shuaibu, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria, said the Inclusive Family Planning Programme clearly demonstrated that intentional inclusion delivers measurable and life-changing impact for women and girls with disabilities.
She disclosed that the next phase of the intervention will focus on institutionalising disability inclusion within health policies, while ensuring that persons with disabilities are not just beneficiaries but active participants in shaping future health programmes.
“Equipping stakeholders with the right knowledge is one of the most sustainable investments we made through this project,” Prof. Shuaibu noted, stressing the long-term benefits of inclusive policy and practice.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, described the project as a beacon of hope that has brought tangible progress to families by guaranteeing equitable access to family planning services for PWDs.
She added that the impact of the programme will endure as a critical pillar in the nation’s collective pursuit of Universal Health Coverage, a goal Nigeria continues to strive towards.
As stakeholders reflect on the successes of the project, the call to action remains clear: inclusive healthcare is not charity—it is a right, and a necessary pathway to sustainable national development.
