Erudite Women’s Empowerment Foundation (EWEF), a not-for-profit organization (NGO) based in the Asante Akim area of the Ashanti region last Friday launched the ‘Empowering Adolescent Girls-With-Disability For Improved Sexual Reproductive Health(SHR) Services’ project at Konongo in the Asante Akim Central Municipality.
Known as EAGDIS project, the initiative is to encourage and promote inclusive sexual reproductive health services for all and is being funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWOF).
Mrs Ohenewaa Constance Ankoma, the Executive Director of EWEF in a statement explained that girls with disabilities encounter barriers such as societal stigma, lack of accessible resources and limited opportunities for education and Empowerment, which makes them more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and poor health outcomes.
She explained that the EAGDIS initiative is committed to “breaking down these barriers and ensuring that every girl with a disability has the knowledge, skills and support to make informed decisions about her sexual and reproductive health’.
Mrs. Constance Ankoma said the project will provide comprehensive sexuality education specifically designed for the needs of the disabled adolescent girls to ensure that it is “accessible, relevant and empowering” so as to increase access to reproductive health services including menstrual healthcare and cervical cancer prevention and treatment.
Girls with disabilities are often marginalized and overlooked when it comes to discussions about sexual and reproductive health, but the Executive Director emphasized that the EAGDIS project would strive to create a “more inclusive and supportive environment where they can thrive and fulfil their potentials”.
Mrs Ankoma stressed that empowering girls with disabilities on their sexual and reproductive health needs is not just a matter of justice, but also public health and human rights and that by “investing in their empowerment, we are investing in a more just, equitable and healthy society’.
Dr Francis Aboagye Kwarteng, the CEO of FRANBENNY group of companies who chaired the launching ceremony observed that there are a lotof people with disability who are being locked up by their parents in their rooms for fear of marginalization and discrimination. He appealed to EWEF to expand the recruitment process to cover those people as well and not focus only on those in the schools.
Dr. Kwarteng, who is also a trained Social Worker and a consultant, expressed worry that culture still makes some parents to harbour the notion that giving birth to disabled children is an anathema or curse and, therefore, do not want to showcase them. He emphasized that there are lots of NGOs and special schools, which are interested in these children with disability and willing to take care of them. Â
From Thomas AgbenyegahAdzey, Kumasi
