By Perpetua Onuegbu
The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Isa, says that partnership is key to addressing the challenges faced by Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
Isa made this statement during the launch of a capacity building, training and Free Distribution of Re-usabke Sanitary Pads for Women and Girls with Disabilities and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Farming on Thursday in Abuja.
He said his office had a clear mandate to creat equal opportunities for all in line with the renewed hope agenda of President BolaTinubu.
“Achieving this mandate is only possible through partnerships like this one, we are committed to partnering with you and provide all the necessary support.
“As part of our efforts to promote good menstral health and hygiene practices among women with disability we will champion the campaign of the reusable sanitary pads.
“It is significant strife towards enhancing the dignity and quality of lives of women and girls with disabilities.
“To support this initiative is not only Innovative but has the potential to a produce that can yield sufficient produce offering a substantial nutrition and medicinal value.
“By integrating agricultural training and menstral health initiative we are addressing the multiple face of the challenges faced by the person’s living with disabilities.”
Isa commended NigWED for the initiative and encouraged the beneficiaries to embrace it.
Speaking on behalf of the ministry of women affairs, Mr George Salau, said empowerment was at the heart of training.
“By providing essential providing essential training on the use and maintenance of reusable sanitary pads, we are taking a critical step towards enhancing menstrual hygiene management.
“The introduction and training in the cultivation of orange fleshed sweet potatoes is a testament to our dedication to improving nutritional standards and food security.
“This initiative not only addresses the issue of vitamin A deficiency but also opens doors to economic opportunities.
Salau said by empowering women and girls with disabilities to engage in sustainable agricultural practices, they were paving the way for increased income generation and self-reliance.
On his part, the initiator of the project and Director-general, NigWED, Mr Lugard Okonobo, said the training is meant to empower and engage the women to be self reliant and healthy.
He was optimistic that the project would go along way, expanding to other parts of the country.
The director general of NigWED said they would train the women on how to saw the sanitary pads, engage and pay them for their services and then distribute the products to other PWDs.
“Also the farming of the orange fleshed potatoes that is rich in vitamin A, would be cultivated by the women, is good for pregnant women, the good thing about it is that everything about it is useful.
He therefore called on the SSA to help them get lands from any part of the country so that the plant can be cultivated and aid in economic empowerment PWDs and food security.
The representative of the Country Director of UNFPA, Mrs Wunmi Laolu-Akande said they were partnering with NigWED because at UNFPA sexual reproductive health of women was their heartbeat.
She believed that the community would benefit greatly from the training through the distribution of the sanitary pads.
Aisha Ndakun, WASH advocate on her part said more than 1.8 billion girls and women menstruate every month, adding that 500 million women in the world do not have access to sanitary pads.
She said coming up with the initiative would go a long way in solving the problem of access to sanitary pads and the burden that comes with it.
Ndakun they look forward to impacting up to 10,000 women across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that programme was organised by Nigeria Women Economic Development (NigWED) in partnership with UNFPA.
Other partners are Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Advocacy for Women With Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI), Africa Tomorrow Plus Foundation among others.(NAN)