To God be the glory, Deaf Women Association of Nigeria, Abuja Chapter and Deaf Women Aloud Initiative will be partnering with US Embassy, Abuja to implement a 12 months project for Deaf women and girl under this project titled: Project HER- Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) of Deaf Women and girls within FCT.
What is Project HER all about?Project HER is an acronym letters mean – Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) of Deaf Women and girls with special focus on sensitization and empowerment about deaf women and girls on SRHR, and the training of health care providers in acquisition of sign-language to ensure that deaf women and girl have access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and other related information.
The project will further give deaf women a chance to make a decision on their health care; it will also address the problem of ensuring inclusiveness and equality for deaf women and girls in Sexual and reproductive Health Rights SRHR.
Why the Project HER?
Project HER was borne out on the need to address the communication gaps that Deaf Women and unexpected deaf mother living within Abuja environs often lament; the absent of sign-language interpreters and limited information within health facilities and other related health matters especially in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Deaf Women and young girls have not been provided with enough information on Sexual and Reproductive Health rights which include child bearing and pregnancy experience in health services as a result communication barriers. They are often neglected within maternity service by the health workers and their sexual reproductive health needs are frequently unmet. They also face great difficult in participating in decision-making without sign language interpreters. These also worsened the health condition of deaf women. Imagine a world without information for this group of women.
What are the goals and objectives the project seeks to achieve?
The project seeks to achieve the following goals:
1. To improve access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and maternity services especially in childbirth and pregnancy experience for Deaf Women.
2. To offer basic sign language training for selected health practitioners, which would enable them to be more prepared towards meeting the special needs of Deaf Women who visit their institutions.
3. To empower and educate Deaf Women especially girls who are students aged between 13 – 25 on personal hygiene, menstruation and other factors particular to womanhood that are sometimes not taught in sign-language.
4. To empower Deaf Women with the right information on fundamental human rights and social responsibilities, especially on health matters and childbirth through shared experience by service providers and Deaf women.
Therefore, our first activities of the project will begin with opening ceremony & seminar to mark the 5th Edition of Deaf Women Health Awareness Week and commemoration of International Day for persons with Disabilities (IDPWDs).
We invite you to celebrate with us by joining us to brighten this day as well as equip our women and the general public with right information on sexual and reproductive health needs of Deaf women scheduled to take place on Wednesday 6th December, 2018 at National Press Conference Hall, Radio’s House, Garki, Abuja.
We also welcome more partnerships and sponsorship for this project.
Kindly contact us on: abujadeafwomen@gmail.com or text/whatsapp 08037500671, 08032199301 or call 08114229969 for more details.
Thanks.
Hellen Udoye Beyioku-Alase.
Chairperson/ Project cordinator
Deaf Women Association of Nigeria,
Abuja Chapter.