Nationality, physical condition, disability, sexual orientation, etc. - regardless of all this, access to quality gynecological services is an issue that concerns EVERY woman! This slogan became the main one for advocacy campaign “Affordable gynecological services for everyone”, program, which is jointly implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as the NAPWD) with the support of the Ukrainian Women's Fund. Even if it seems to some that there are more significant and urgent needs than gynecological services and their accessibility for women with disabilities, this is not the case. Because we are thinking about the restoration of our country and peaceful life. So we continue!

The City Clinical Perinatal Center of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council equipped an office with a universal gynecological chair to provide medical care to women with disabilities. This initiative was implemented with the support of the NAIU and the NGO «SLID» (Ivano-Frankivsk). Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration Lyudmyla Sirko, representatives of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine, and the SLID NGO headed by Mykola Makar visited the facility to familiarize themselves with the conditions of medical care for people with disabilities. During the meeting with doctors and medical workers, they discussed important issues of professional and quality care for women with disabilities.

 "It is extremely important to hear the problems from the hospital's patients. All women, including those with disabilities, deserve accessible gynecological services.  commented Lyudmyla Sirko. ̶  By the way, 5790 women with disabilities live in Ivano-Frankivsk alone, 419 of them are of the first group. To date, about 50,000 women, including 98 women with disabilities, have received medical services at the perinatal center.".

The official emphasized that medicine around the world is working to create equal opportunities for examination and treatment for all people, regardless of age or physical condition. The gynecological chair, which meets international standards, will enable all women, including those with disabilities, to receive comfortable and necessary gynecological services.

"All women, including women with disabilities, have the right and deserve accessible gynecological services, respect and dignity in this regard» said Mykola Makar, head of the SLID NGO.

«We will continue to continue  advocacy campaign, despite the hostilities, because we believe in our victory and that services for all women, including those with disabilities, should be accessible, safe and of high quality,» said Victoria Nazarenko, Secretary General of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine.

We congratulate the residents of Ivano-Frankivsk region on the great news, because any disease, especially cancer, is treated better the earlier it is detected. Therefore, universal gynecological chairs should be available in every hospital, in every corner of Ukraine.

This initiative was made possible with the support of the Government of Canada as part of the Women's Voice and Leadership - Ukraine project implemented by the Ukrainian Women's Fund (UWF). The National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine is responsible for the content of this publication. The information presented on this page does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Canada and the UWF.