Inclusive access to healthcare for people with disabilities in Beira

About the project

The Government of Mozambique has demonstrated a commitment to protecting the rights of people with disabilities (PWD), having ratified key international conventions including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and adopted national policies including the National Plan of Action on Disability (2022-2029). Despite these policy frameworks, many PWD continue to face challenges to accessing healthcare. The issue is particularly prevalent in rural areas: in Beira, located in Sofala Province, access to healthcare has been further constrained by recent climate-related events, which have compounded existing vulnerabilities. 

Project partner, Mozambican Association of Disabled People (ADEMO), will work with Hope for the Future Solidarity Association (ASSEF), to improve access to inclusive health services for PWD in Beira, by raising community awareness of the rights of PWD and facilitating engagement in health-related policy processes. 

This will be achieved by:

• establishing and facilitating a formal dialogue forum comprising representatives of persons with disabilities (PWD), local and provincial health authorities, civil society organisations, and public health experts
• producing bi-annual reports on healthcare challenges faced by PWD, with recommendations on how to address them
• developing and disseminating a manual and guide on inclusive practices for healthcare professionals
• conducting community awareness raising activities on the rights of PWD and the importance of inclusion and non-discrimination, including through TV and radio campaigns
• delivering sensitisation training for healthcare professionals in Beira, focusing on inclusive care for PWD and challenging discriminatory attitudes and stigma
• hosting meetings with nursing and medical schools to advocate for the adoption of a module on inclusive care for PWD in the formal curriculum. 

The project will also involve close collaboration with the Provincial Health Secretariat, managers of health units in Beira, and civil society organisations supporting PWD. In addition, ADEMO will engage private sector actors to mobilise resources for adaptation works in health centres, aimed at improving the physical accessibility of healthcare services for PWD.

As a result of this project, it is hoped that people with disabilities in Beira are able to access healthcare without challenges and feel better supported by their community.