Budgetary allocation for women with disabilities demanded

The state should take responsibility for women or girls with disabilities to ensure menstrual care, sexual and reproductive health rights.
Health experts and women with disabilities demanded inter- ministerial coordination and special allocation in national health budget to make girls and women with disabilities aware of sexual health rights and menstrual hygiene.
They pressed for national level hygiene baseline survey which can help ensure sexual and reproductive health service for women with disabilities.  
Sabrina, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, a disease which weakens muscle and affects the ability to move, told The Daily Observer that the nation should take responsibility of the women with disabilities who cannot move freely, wear dress and cannot use toilet alone. Special allocation should be made in the health budget for their awareness and medical care.
"The nation should ensure sexual and reproductive health right, menstrual care and hygiene  specially for the women or girls who face more discrimination, such as autistic women, intellectually disabled women, women with Psycho-social disabilities and down syndrome," Sabrina Sultana, founder president of Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN) which works for people with disabilities from 2009.
"If we could come this far defying all barriers, I am sure our dream of creating an inclusive society will one day be a reality," she hoped.
Welcoming government's universal health coverage plan, public health expert Dr Nazneen Akhter said, problems of women of different marginalized groups with disabilities should be addressed considering their needs.  
"As the government's process needs time to execute its plan to reach health care to everyone including, marginalized people, it should pay attention to re-specify the health care package specially catering to the needs of the women and girl with disabilities. Service like menstrual hygiene, sexual and reproductive health care must be sensitive and responsible in approach, information and access to reach them," said Dr Nazneen Akhter who has more than 21 years of work experience in NGOs at leading positions focusing specially on women and gender issues, sexual reproductive health rights and global public health arena.
Women and Children Affairs Secretary Nasima Begum, NDC, told The Daily Observer that the Ministry will include disabled girls in 490 Upazila Kishory Club across the country and will take initiative to make them entrepreneur imparting them the know-how of making low cost sanitary napkins.