Launched in Burkina Faso a project to promote the health of women and girls with disabilities

On 18 June, the National Union of Association of Women with Disability of Burkina Faso (UNAFEB) launched the project “Social Protection (Rights and Health Services) to girls and women with disabilities in the city of Ouagadougou and surroundings”, supported by Bridging the Gap.

The project was launched by the UNAFEHB president Ms. Hien Wienkoun, and several members of the association at the presence of Mr. H. Kafando, Secretary Permanent of the National Multisectoral council for the Rights of Persons with Disability (COMUD) and Ms Adiara Dao on behalf of Bridging the Gap and of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) executing agency for Burkina Faso. Representatives of Light for the World and CBM were also present.

This project is supported by Bridging the Gap through a grant aiming to help UNAFEHB to take action to promote the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It has a duration of nine months in which concrete actions will be carried out to promote the care of girls and women with disabilities in development projects, giving priority to health, social protection and the fight against violence. The project also foresees the organization of two workshops to train young law students on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

“The Convention can work wonders when translated into local legislation, and Burkina Faso has legal standards that reflect upon the CRPD, so UNAFEHB’s commitment to disseminate this knowledge is welcomed,” stressed Adiara Dao during her speech.

The actions scheduled in the framework of this project include the promotion of the CRPD and local legislation for the inclusion of girls and women with disabilities in the public health programmes implemented in 12 districts and 6 rural municipalities of Ouagadougou, facilitating girls’ access to health services and HIV and uterine cancer testing.

In Burkina Faso, Bridging the Gap supports the harmonization of the National Strategy for the Protection and Promotion of Persons with Disability with the National Development Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals and the dissemination of the CRDP focusing on the promotion of Art 25 “Access to Health”, one of the most felt needs by persons with disability in the country.