By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The Kaduna State Government has launched a N33 billion Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for persons with disabilities (PWDs), reaffirming its commitment to inclusive, equitable, and accessible healthcare for all, regardless of physical, mental, or sensory abilities.

Speaking at the dissemination event for the CIP in Kaduna, Naomi S. Kukah, Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the urgent need to address longstanding exclusion of PWDs in healthcare planning.

“For far too long, persons with disabilities have remained on the margins of our health systems—their sexual and reproductive health needs overlooked or underprioritized,” she said. “They face numerous barriers ranging from stigma and discrimination to inadequate facilities, lack of trained service providers, poor policy implementation, and outright exclusion in planning.”

According to Kukah, the new CIP is more than a policy document. “It is a bold statement of our commitment to equity, dignity, and human rights. It outlines strategic actions, allocates resources, and sets clear priorities to ensure that persons with disabilities—women, men, adolescents, and youth—are not left behind in the quest for universal access to SRH services.”

She said the plan was developed through rigorous consultations and data analysis, with the active participation of persons with disabilities. “It is founded on the principles of inclusion, participation, accountability, and sustainability,” she noted.

Kukah issued a call to action to all stakeholders: Government ministries and agencies: Integrate the CIP into national and subnational health strategies and budgets.

Civil society and advocacy groups: Continue amplifying the voices of PWDs and hold implementing bodies accountable.

Development partners: Provide technical, financial, and logistical support for implementation.

Health workers and institutions: Commit to building disability-inclusive, respectful, and responsive health systems.

Persons with disabilities: Take ownership and leadership as equal partners and rights-holders in the movement.

“Access to sexual and reproductive health is not a privilege—it is a right. And when we uphold the rights of the most vulnerable, we uplift society as a whole,” she emphasized.

The N33 billion, three-year plan—the first of its kind in Nigeria—targets five key thematic areas: public awareness, service delivery barriers, infrastructure, governance and coordination, and monitoring and evaluation.

According to Dr. Mohammed Liman, a consultant on the project, about N21 billion of the total sum is allocated to infrastructure upgrades. “One of the major barriers is physical access. Many health facilities are not designed to accommodate persons with disabilities. Communication barriers also persist, especially for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing,” he explained.

Riskat Muhammed, Executive Director of the Women with Disabilities Self Reliance Foundation, hailed the plan as a milestone in empowerment.

“This document represents our voices and our dreams. It was not done for us, but with us. We participated in advocacy, drafting, and dissemination. Next week, we will be in Zaria to train 40 women with disabilities on their SRH rights. They will return to their LGAs to continue the awareness campaign,” she said.

Muhammed also stressed the need for safeguarding measures to protect women with disabilities from abuse in healthcare settings.

Anita Gwom, Programme Director of SightSavers, described the plan as a practical step towards true inclusion. “The government has developed a holistic plan, and as partners, we are aligning our support with this national vision,” she said.

The Kaduna State Government’s initiative is seen as a pioneering step toward addressing longstanding gaps in healthcare access for persons with disabilities, potentially setting a precedent for other states to follow.