TQM Report,
Voice of Disability Initiative VDI on Monday, 13th December, 2021 continued distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to women and girls with disabilities in FCT.
In a chat with TQM during the distribution exercise, Barr. Catherine Edeh said that the COVID-19 palliative distribution being carried out by VDI is supported by Amplify Change to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on women and girls with disabilities.
“COVID-19 Lockdown and restrictions brought about a lot of economic challenges on women and girls with disabilities, therefore as we are teaching them to know their right and how to report right violations, it is important we cushion the effect of the COVID-19 on persons with disabilities which has been improvised PWDs in no small measure especially women and girls with disabilities.”
“Items being shared today go beyond food(Oil, Noodles, rice, tomato paste, beverages), it also includes sanitary pads, soap, hand sanitizers” she added.
Edwin Ogenyi, Program Officer at VDI said that the palliative is one of other components of VDI project under Amplify Change which is an 18months project started on June 2021 and will end on September 2022. It is being implemented places like Abuja, Benue State and Enugu State. The palliative distribution has taken place in Benue, Enugu and now Abuja.
“The project is aimed at creating awareness about Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women With Disabilities, when they are aware of the right, they can be able to protect, defend and demand for it as well as report any right violation”.
‘Through the project, capacities of women with disabilities have been built to tackle cases of sexual abuse and violation of the right of women and girls especially when accessing sexual and reproductive health services at the Health facilities”.
He said that the palliative distribution they have concluded at the three states that they are implementing VDI project under Amplify Change is one off based on the design of the project but VDI team have realized through this exercise that across board women with disabilities from these states cherish the palliative given to them, it is making impact in their lives therefore VDI through other projects they are implementing will look inward and incorporate components of palliative distribution to women with disabilities because it is obvious that they like it so since COVID-19 pandemic is still around, VDI would be working to access resources to cushion the effect of it among women with disabilities.
“Impact of COVID-19 pandemic has been more on women and girls with disabilities more than their counterparts without disabilities. For instance, the COVID-19 messages on TV without sign language interpretion can not be accessed by the Deaf Women and Covid-19 messages on TV without proper description can not be accessed by blind women and so also fliers that are not brailled.
He called on government to support local NGOs on disability issues like VDI, JONAPWD and others to mainstream issues of women and girls with disabilities in the COVID-19 programmes including the Post Covid-19 intervention programmes.
