The gentle sea breeze carried the fragrance of plumeria flowers through the open windows of the Somosomo Village Hall. Inside, the air buzzed with a different kind of energy. Over 150 people, a mix of persons with disabilities and their caregivers, were keenly listening to the speaker. Amongst them, 20-year-old Mariana Vani sat with her sign language interpreter, her face alight with a mix of concentration and wonder.
The Community-Based Sexual and Reproductive Health Outreach Programme for persons with disabilities, organized by Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services in collaboration with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs),supported by UNFPA Pacific was the first of its kind for Mariana. For the first time, Mariana was learning about her rights – her right to education, to healthcare, to a life free from discrimination and violence. The information about sexual and reproductive health, delivered with sensitivity and respect, was a uniquely empowering experience she had never had access to.
“This is my first time attending an outreach programme where I find my needs addressed in a caring and inclusive environment,” said Mariana.
Born deaf and mute, Mariana has often felt isolated, her world limited by the constraints of communication made worse in an environment that did not offer much help to interpret her thoughts and emotions. Growing up, the special school in Suva, far from her home in beautiful Taveuni, had been a lonely experience. The boarding school, meant to be a safe haven, had felt more like a prison. The insensitive treatment from some teachers finally forced her to drop out in high school.
Back in the familiar embrace of her family, Mariana found love and acceptance, but the struggle to communicate remained. Her family, though supportive, couldn't understand her silent world of signs. The only sign language interpreter on the entire island was a rare and precious resource, highlighting the stark reality of her isolation.
“My family doesn’t understand sign language and communication is often challenging. Outside home, it becomes even harder to explain my needs and aspirations,” said Mariana.
In 2022, a needs assessment conducted in Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu by UNFPA, the Pacific Disability Forum, national organizations of Persons with Disabilities and Women Enabled International, revealed disparity in the levels of knowledge about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) between persons with disabilities and those without. This lack of knowledge resulted in persons with disabilities experiencing limited access to SRH services, compounded by the lack of awareness among healthcare providers, and physical inaccessibility of facilities.
To address the findings from the needs assessment, Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and UNFPA designed the “Community-Based Sexual and Reproductive Health Officers Programme for Persons with Disabilities.” This programme, led by persons with disabilities, is aimed at sensitizing and empowering young men and women with disabilities about sexual and reproductive health and rights. It also raises awareness among communities and service providers about the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to information and services related to their SRH and protection from gender-based violence (GBV).
From 2022 to date, the outreach programme has reached 339 persons with disabilities like Mariana and their caregivers with information and services on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and GBV. This initiative is part of UNFPA’s flagship programme, Transformative Agenda for Women, Adolescents, and Youth in the Pacific (TA), funded by the Australian Government. UNFPA supports disability inclusion as a pathway towards more inclusive and equitable healthcare systems in Fiji and other countries in the Pacific.
As the outreach programme drew to a close, Mariana felt knowledgeable and empowered about her rights as a person with disability. She is determined to break down the barriers that silence has imposed.
