UNFPA, SSPHCDA equip 32 health workers with skills for inclusive healthcare in Sokoto

By Animasahun Salman

In a move to promote inclusive healthcare and protect the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA), has trained 32 healthcare workers on delivering respectful and disability-friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services.

The two-day capacity-building workshop, held at the Special Infectious Disease Control Hospital, Amanawa, brought together healthcare professionals for intensive training on disability inclusion, rights-based healthcare, and effective communication with persons living with disabilities.

Opening the workshop on Tuesday, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Aliyu Garba Mohammed, applauded UNFPA and SSPHCDA for choosing the facility to host the programme.

Represented by Dr. Hassan Sahabi, he described the training as a critical step towards building a more compassionate and accessible healthcare system.

“This training is timely and necessary. We will ensure that the knowledge gained is reflected in how we serve our patients, especially persons with disabilities,” he said.

He also pledged the hospital’s continued collaboration with both organisations to advance quality healthcare delivery in the state.

UNFPA Sokoto Field Office Team Lead, Dr. Rabi, challenged participants to become champions of dignity, inclusion, and non-discrimination in healthcare settings.

“Every staff member has a role to play in creating a healthcare environment where persons with disabilities feel respected, valued and safe,” she said.

According to her, the training was deliberately brought to the hospital to encourage practical learning and direct engagement with healthcare workers.

“Over the next two days, we will explore practical ways to eliminate discrimination and ensure that persons with disabilities receive the respect and quality care they deserve,” she added.

Speaking on behalf of SSPHCDA, the agency’s Gender-Based Violence Officer, Hajiya Hadiza Damina, urged participants to make the most of the opportunity.

“The knowledge and skills you acquire here should translate into better care and improved experiences for patients, particularly persons with disabilities,” she said.

The training focused on improving healthcare workers’ understanding of disability inclusion, strengthening communication skills, promoting disability rights, and enhancing the delivery of SRH and GBV services to PWDs.

Sessions covered disability rights and legal frameworks, respectful communication and disability etiquette, SRH and GBV issues affecting persons with disabilities, and practical strategies for making health facilities more accessible and responsive to their needs.

Organisers say the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to break barriers to healthcare access and ensure that no one is left behind in the delivery of essential health services.