Stakeholders in Benue state have continued engagement on the development of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres for the implementation of National Policy on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
The review of the draft SOP was done in Makurdi, at a meeting organised by Disability Rights Advocacy Centre, (DRAC),with support from Disability Rights Fund.
Speaking at the meeting, Programme Officer DRAC, Michael Mulungi said to have policies that will serve PWDs, they must be involved in the design of such policies because they know their peculiar needs.
He explained that the National Policy on SRHR of PWDs has five thematic areas including Increase knowledge, awareness creation, popular support and issue mainstreaming, improved access to SHR for PWDs; inclusion of PWDs in health governance; partnership, collaboration and building capacity across stakeholders; and promotion of research, Monitoring and Evaluation for evidence-based programming for PWDs issues.
Mulungi who stated that PWDs are sexually active like every other person noted that their sexual reproductive health needs are more than often neglected and unmet.
He therefore insisted that the task of meeting these needs should not be overwhelming saying the issues cannot wait until other populations or issues are addressed and to meet development goals, we must address the needs of PWDs.
Executive Director, Disability Advancement Initiative, Ekujereonye Obinna, while urging stakeholders to make useful input into the SOP, said the most important thing to do in delivering on projects is to construct universal projects that will benefit all including PWDs.
A nurse, Akpagher Esther who said the meeting has improved her kownledge on delivering services to PWDs
“I am a nurse and I think it’s an opportunity to further encourage my colleagues on how to better serve this category of the people. But indeed, we need more trainings,” she said.
On his part, Dr. Francis Agbo of Hospitals Management Board, noted that most of the problems facing PWDs is because of the issue of awareness. He said there is the need for PWDs to have desk officers to enable them make recommendations on how best they can be served.
Earlier, Assistant Programme Manager, DRAC, Jennifer Bomnger, explained that the stakeholders meeting was organized to review Standard Operating Procedures for Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres for the implementation of National Policy on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
