By Blessed Chauke
ICOD Zim challenged the government for the inclusion of PWDs in all government sectors during a virtual meeting that was held on 20 September 2021.
The ICOD held the virtual meeting with the agenda to unpack the SRHR guidelines and advocate for People living with disabilities to be included in all activities in the country.
ICOD Zim is a women led non – profit organisation for women seeking to promote and advance women’s rights and play special attention to women with disabilities.
The organisation aims to protect, promote and empower women in their diversities economically, politically and socially through amplifying their voices in all local and national process, creating platforms for engagement, advocacy and capacity.
Consultant Andrew Chimatira unpacked the SRHR guidelines during the virtual meeting that the Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) service providers give full effect to the rights of vulnerable people in the communities.
Also some of the major key important issues from the guidelines that were unpacked by Chimatira is that the guidelines must save as a tool for advocacy to the PWD and DPOs when they are negotiating their rights.
“The purpose of the SRHR guideline is to provide hand on guidance to ensure that the rights of the women and girls with disabilities are fully integrated and understood in the provision of SRHR services by providers in Zimbabwe.
“To serve as a tool for advocacy by PWDs and DPOs when negotiating their rights and inclusion in nation programmes.
“Also to offer practical and consistent suggestion for making SRHR services more inclusive and open to WGwD and for prioritizing strategies to meet their unique needs,” said Chimatira.
Director of ICOD Zim Talent Maposa also gave some strong points urging the government to include PWDs in their planning points and also integrate disability programmes in all ministries.
“The government must include the PWDs in their planning points and also making sure that PWDs having access to all services in the country.
“PWDs must be also recognized in Agricultural activities, mining sectors and the government must also allocate resources for PWDs.
“Also the PWDs must participate in all economic activities,” said Maposa.
She also said that the Ministry of Education must make sure that these people are full accommodated at schools and also the Ministry of Health have to develop new strategies that will help the PWDs.
“The Ministry of Education must make sure that there is education for all and no child is left out from school and justice must occur among such people.
“Ministry of Health must also come up with new strategies that will help PWDs,” she said.
Dr Thokozani Khupe who also attended the virtual meeting commended on the chat box saying that Women with disabilities have important needs than those who are not disabilities.
“Women with disabilities have different needs from those without and therefore their needs must be appreciated differently and budgeted for adequately,” said Khupe.
Sharai Makava who also commented on the chat box saying that the SRHR programme is living neither girl child nor women with disabilities out.
“I also feel that no girl child or women with disabilities should be left out I this SRHR program,” said Makava.
Makomborero Muropa also commented saying that the SRHR programme will go some miles helping vulnerable communities.
“The SRHR programme will go a long way on giving the intended recipients adequate protection and empowerment,” said Makomborero.
