Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA)
2013: Strengthening Health Services for Persons with Disabilities
I worked on health services for persons with disabilities as Project Coordinator for a PEPFAR-funded project. I managed activities with volunteers and partners across five villages: Khombwe, Kachakwala, Mdala, Lemu and Kam’mata. This was the second project I coordinated at FEDOMA, besides the Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities project
The problem
Malawi passed its Disability Act in May 2012. This law promised an Essential Disability Package of health services for persons with disabilities. Most people in the five villages did not know the law existed. They could not ask for services they didn’t know they were owed. In Khombwe, the community built an Under Five Clinic with no features for people with disabilities. People with disabilities also faced higher HIV risk. Low education, unwelcoming clinics and stigma all played a part. No local group focused on HIV and disability in these villages.
The solution: health services for persons with disabilities
FEDOMA built a plan to close these gaps in health services for persons with disabilities, across three parts. Information: translate HIV and health materials into Braille and sign language, then share them with persons with disabilities. Capacity building: train nurses and health surveillance assistants on the Essential Disability Package, and train disability groups to run their own health and HIV awareness work. Awareness: hold village sensitisation meetings, lobby local leaders and health officials to include disability in their plans, and broadcast programmes on Zodiak Radio Station.
What my team and I did
Community sensitisation
Held two meetings, at Kam’mata and Mdala villages, using drama, songs and talks to explain the Disability Act to 99 residents.
Information materials
Produced 500 posters and 1,000 leaflets, including 200 posters and 200 leaflets in Braille, for persons with disabilities.
Community impact
Patients with disabilities began receiving medical help without discrimination, with more positive attitudes towards them across the community.
Result verification
Visited villages after each meeting and interviewed chiefs and community members to check that attitudes and access to care had improved.
PEPFAR sensitization meetings: Kam'mata and Mdala villages
A cross-section of participants during the sensitization meeting held at Kam’mata Village.
A cross-section of participants during the sensitization meeting held at Mdala Village in Group Village Headman Chapotera
This district-level work connects to my other FEDOMA project, Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities, and to my wider project management services in nonprofit expertise.
