Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Women Living With Disabilities (WWDs) in Anambra State have been trained on ways to avoid cervical cancer and other dangerous infectious diseases that threaten human life and existence.
The one-day workshop tagged: “D-Health Talk on Disability Inclusive Dialogue on Family Planning & Cervical Cancer,” was organised by the Association of Anambra State Women with Disabilities (ASSWOD) for her members in the state.
Addressing the women at Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka, during the weekend, Anambra State Hygiene Education Officer, Ministry of Health, Dr. (Mrs) Rose Amasiani, urged women to desist from acts that could expose them to dangerous diseases and infections.
According to her, sexual relation with multiple partners is one of the reasons many women are battling cervical cancer today in the society.
She urged the singles among them to strive to keep themselves from such life to be safe from infectious diseases.
Dr Amasiani, who doubles as the Coordinator of Food Safety and Hygiene in the same ministry regretted that 90 percent of disease transmissions in Nigeria today emanate from poor hygiene.
Noting that diseases are better prevented than cured, the health expert advised the women to adopt good personal hygiene, food hygiene, safe excreta disposal, and maintain clean water from the source to be safe from contracting diseases that could be harmful to their bodies.
On his own, the chairman, of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, decried that persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra still face difficulties in their bid to access health facilities in the state.
He called on doctors and health specialists to give more attention to PWDs who visit their facilities for antenatal, delivery, and other health-related matters. He also appealed to them to engage the services of sign language interpreters so that deaf patients would not feel discouraged or have difficulty accessing healthcare in their facilities.
Speaking further, Okeke encouraged the women not to relent nor embrace a culture of silence but to speak out about their health issues and challenges, warning that failure to report ailments quickly may lead one to an untimely death.
Okeke who urged the women not to allow their conditions to prevent them from accessing whatever opportunity that is available in the state, tasked them to report issues of their rights infringements or cases where they are mistreated in the society.
He appreciated Governor Chukwuma Soludo for the palliatives he rolled out including the free antenatal care and delivery services for pregnant women. He, however, appealed to the governor to consider special packages for PWDs, most of whom he complained are not under the payroll of the state government.
In his goodwill message, Chairman, of the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ASDRC), Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie, encouraged the women to be very active and plug into the programmes and opportunities of the current administration for women in the state.
Ezewuzie reminded that one of the cardinal points of the disabilities community remains oneness of purpose, and urged them to strive to care for one another irrespective of situation and circumstances.
Earlier, JONAPWD State Woman Leader, Comrade Nwanokwara Ncheta, said the idea behind the programme was to ensure that PWDs are not left behind or excluded from important discussions and decisions that affect their lives.
She said it was to improve knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer among women with disabilities, provide a platform for them to voice their concerns and questions, and create a supportive environment that promotes their well-being.
