The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Wednesday donated 700 dignity kits to the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) in Accra.
The items valued at GHC56, 000 included sanitary pads, underwear, sanitisers, washing soaps and nose masks for onward distribution to their various units.
Dr Agnes Ntibanyurwa, the Deputy Country Representative of UNFPA, Ghana said the effects of COVID 19 on vulnerable populations such as Persons with Disabilities (PWD) were more devastating due to the uniqueness of their impairments and already existing inequalities in accessing services.
She said the inequalities included; environmental barriers in accessing public health information, barriers that make it difficult for PWDs to take up health measures such as hand washing and physical distancing.
She added that underlying health conditions made PWDs to be at greater risk of developing more severe cases of COVID-19 if they become infected which may be as a result of COVID-19 exacerbated existing health conditions or because the pandemic response created barriers to accessing health care.
Madam Rita Kusi Kyeremaa, Executive Director of GFD, said the Federation was working with partners to increase and improve on citizen’s access to accurate, timely, inclusive and relevant information on COVID-19 and response action and to support communities, NGOs and other citizen’s group and commended the UNFPA for their support and donation.
She stated that the major concerns of PWDs in the COVID-19 period had been to accessing information in formats, government’s interventions excluding the peculiar needs of PWDs, the difficulties of self-isolating when PWDs depended on caregivers to live normal lives.
She said that the Federation had engaged the government on the needs of PWDs and how their interventions had not met their unique needs, as a result the Ministry of Information and the President brought on board the services of sign language interpreters during the nation’s address and other public engagements.
Meanwhile, the UNFPA with support from the Ghana Health Service educated members of the Federation on the preventive measures and safety protocols on COVID 19, sexual and reproductive health issues and domestic violence.
