Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights for Girls and Women with Disabilities

This project aims to enhance the sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) of girls and women with disabilities. The core focus is to provide education, increase access to services, and promote policies that ensure the protection and inclusion of girls and women with disabilities in matters concerning their SRHR. The target beneficiaries included girls and women with various disabilities, stakeholders in the healthcare system, local community leaders, and advocacy groups.

Objectives:

  1. Raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights among girls and women with disabilities.
  2. Provide access to SRHR services tailored to the needs of women with disabilities.
  3. Train healthcare providers on disability-inclusive SRHR service provision.
  4. Advocate for policy changes that ensure the protection and inclusion of women with disabilities.
  5. Empower women with disabilities to become SRHR champions and advocates within their communities

Activities

  1. Baseline Assessment and Needs Identification
    • A baseline survey is conducted to assess the SRHR needs, challenges, and barriers faced by girls and women with disabilities in accessing services. This survey involves focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews with participants, healthcare providers, and caregivers.
  2. Awareness and Sensitization Campaigns
    • Several community outreach events and sensitization campaigns are organized to raise awareness of SRHR issues affecting girls and women with disabilities.
    • The campaigns use various media, including radio, social media, and in-person gatherings, to disseminate information. Educational materials are made available in accessible formats, such as Braille, sign language interpreters, and audio resources.
    • Impact: These campaigns have reached over 500 participants, both women with disabilities and the general public, helping to reduce stigma and promote understanding.
  3. Capacity Building Workshops for Healthcare Providers
    • Workshops are organized for healthcare professionals to provide training on disability-inclusive SRHR service delivery. This training cover topics such as communication with persons with disabilities, offering confidential services, and understanding the specific SRHR needs of women with various types of disabilities.
    • Outcome: 50 healthcare providers were trained across Kisumu County resulting in a more inclusive approach to SRHR services in their respective clinics and health facilities.

 

  1. Access to SRHR Services
    • Mobile clinics and health outreach programs have been established to provide free SRHR services to women with disabilities. The services included sexual education, family planning, maternal health services, and HIV/AIDS screening and counseling.
    • Results: Over 200 women with disabilities accessed these services. Feedback collected indicated increased satisfaction and trust in the healthcare system.
  2. Policy Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement
    • A series of dialogues and consultations have been held with policymakers, healthcare authorities, and disability rights organizations to advocate for stronger policies that protect the SRHR of women with disabilities.
    • Achievements: This engagement resulted in commitments from local health authorities to improve accessibility in healthcare facilities and to incorporate disability-inclusive practices in national SRHR strategies.
  3. Empowerment of Women with Disabilities
    • Leadership and advocacy training programs have been conducted for women with disabilities to empower them as advocates for their own rights. Participants learned about their legal rights, SRHR, and ways to actively participate in decision-making processes at the community level.
    • Success: 30 women have become local SRHR advocates, sharing their knowledge and challenging discrimination in their communities.

 

Recent Work