A people with disabilities empowerment organization is developing a reproductive health digital platform to cater for the disabled in the country.

This Ability Trust is developing the in partnership with a private Information Technology firm to prepare a software which will be used to enhance and address reproductive health issues affecting people with disabilities.

“The partnership seeks to create the visibility, awareness and increase access on the rights of women and girls with disabilities in regard to reproductive health,” said This Ability Trust Managing Director Lizzie Kiama.

She said people with disabilities were facing various challenges on information and assistance in regard to reproductive health issues hence the need to develop the platform which will adequately address their needs.

The Managing Director was speaking during a three day Digital Marketing training for people with disabilities at a Nairobi hotel.

Kiama said the use of digital platform will increase opportunities for exposure as access to information has been scant for the disabled.

“The deaf, blind and intellectually challenged people have been left out because of the complicated formats used in disseminating information. Through that platform phones will be able to convert audio into text, send pictorials to mentally challenged people to comprehend,” she said.

She said the objective of the training is to equip young people with disabilities with digital marketing skills in order to utilize technology as a platform for increasing access to sexual and reproductive health rights and other economic opportunities.  

A participant Lucy Nyawira said the initiative of developing a digital platform was good as they many at times feared to ask someone directly on reproductive health matters but with that platform they will be able to anonymously and comfortably seek for answers through the internet.  

The empowerment initiative is under Huu’wezo project which is supported by the VOICE Program through HIVOS East Africa office.