Alliance for Reproductive Health Right (ARHR), a non-governmental organization (NGO) which made the call noted that persons with disabilities particularly women, faced multifaceted discrimination in health institutions, particularly when accessing reproductive health.

Mrs Joyce Amedoe, the National programme Manager of ARHR, expressed these concerns at a ‘Disabilities Health Right Education’ held at Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality.

The programme was organized by ARHR, in collaboration with the Progressive Youth Organization (PEYORG) and funded by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. It was aimed at building the capacity of PWDs at the district level to empower them as effective advocates to engage service providers and duty bearers on their rights.

She called on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration offices to organise special registration and renewal of Cards exercises for PWDs. Mrs. Amedoe said the PWDs Bill developed by government to promote disability rights, with reference to women and adolescent girls, failed to make provision for support for special needs of such women to promote equal rights as their non-disabled counterparts,

She, in this regard, urged Parliament to incorporate their support needs in the bill to engender equal rights for all women. Mr Joseph Asamoahmuno,  Public Relations Officer of the NHIS at KEEA, also urged nurses to pay attention to adolescent PWDs health because they have equal Sexual Reproductive Health Rights just like any other person, yet they had been excluded in many social issues including easier access to  healthcare.

Mr Joseph De -Graft Eppirim, an executive member of KEEA Municipal PWDs, also appealed to government to employ PWDs in the public sector because they constitute part of the overall talent pool in the country.

They should also be treated fairly in accessing social, economic and development opportunities and called on government to provide more examination tables and chairs in public health sectors and engage sign interpreters in CHIPS areas to facilitate health care services for PWDs.