DRAC Urges Inclusive Healthcare Access for Women and Girls with Disabilities

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By Hadiza Abdulrahman 

The Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC) has reiterated the urgent need for inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for women and girls with disabilities. 

This call was made during the close-out and dissemination meeting of the WeLead project in Abuja, where key stakeholders gathered to review the achievements and lessons learned from the initiative. 

The project, which focused on amplifying the voices and leadership of young women with disabilities, was implemented in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Benue state.

At the heart of the WeLead project was advocacy intensified efforts to raise awareness about SRHR among marginalized groups, particularly women and girls with disabilities. According to Balqis Amoo, Programme Officer at DRAC, the initiative prioritized equipping these right-holders with the knowledge and tools to demand their rights. 

Through school outreaches and community sensitizations, DRAC worked to bridge the knowledge gap and reduce stigma around SRHR topics, including menstrual health.

A major highlight of the project was DRAC’s leadership in reviewing the National Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health for Persons with Disabilities. In collaboration with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), rights holders, and the Federal Ministry of Health, DRAC identified gaps in the existing policy and produced a policy brief to advocate for more inclusive and effective implementation. 

The policy brief is being shared with key stakeholders, including the National Orientation Agency and the Ministry of Transport, to ensure a multi-sectoral approach.


However, despite notable progress, DRAC raised concerns about persistent barriers in healthcare access especially attitudinal and structural issues. “Many health facilities are still not accessible,” Amoo, lamented, citing the absence of ramps, braille materials, and sign language interpreters. She emphasized that disability should not limit access to essential SRHR services and called for urgent reforms in how services are designed and delivered.

In her remarks, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Mrs. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi represented by the Overseeing Director of Gender, Beatrice Pwajok urged stakeholders to act as ambassadors of inclusion. “The success of this laudable programme lies in our collective responsibility to sustain it,” she said, calling on government agencies, civil society, and communities to ensure the WeLead project’s impact does not fade with its conclusion.

Programme Officer at DRAC, Balqis Amoo, said the initiative equipped beneficiaries with the knowledge and tools to advocate for their rights through targeted school outreaches and community sensitization campaigns.

Also speaking, DRAC’s Deputy Executive Director, Bukola Fakunle, noted that the meeting served as a platform to share achievements, outcomes, and challenges of the project.




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