WESTERN BUREAU - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is undertaking surveys to map the enhanced sexual and reproductive health of the disabled, boys and men in Jamaica, under a US$1.76-million project.

The surveys, ongoing since last May, target three groups - parents, disabled persons, and those who provide services to disabled persons.

"We should have those results by March. We need to take from those surveys conclusions, which will now help us even further to develop the material (on sexual and reproductive health)," said UNFPA programme management advisor Derven Patrick.

The project, which is being funded by the European Union, wants to ensure access to material on sexual and reproductive health by the target groups.

"In the disability sector what we have to do, because there was a not a lot of material developed for them, is review the existing material and to make sure that those material are in the communication methodologies that can reach the disabled sector," Patrick said.

"For example there is no material developed on sexual reproductive health to reach the blind. The mentally retarded persons, the material that have been developed so far has not been targeted for them. So we are putting material in Braille... That is the sort of work that we are doing."

Simultaneously, the UNFPA has set up a project development unit and forged partnerships with agencies like the National Family Planning Board, which is implementing the programme on the government's behalf, and the Jamaica Association on Mental Retardation.

- williamsp@jamaicaobserver.com

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