Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA)
The problem
Malawi passed a Disability Act in May 2012, promising an Essential Disability Package of health services for persons with disabilities. But most people in the five target villages did not know the law existed, so could not demand these services.
In Khombwe village, for example, local people built an Under Five Clinic that was not disability friendly. Persons with disabilities also faced ongoing HIV risk, worsened by low literacy, unfriendly health services and negative attitudes. No other organisation supported them on HIV and AIDS in these villages.
That cuts it from about 150 words to 87, while keeping the law, the awareness gap, the Khombwe example and the HIV risk factors. Want me to update this in the document too?
The solution
FEDOMA designed a project to close these gaps across the five villages, built around three parts.
- Information: translate HIV and health materials into Braille and sign language, then share them with persons with disabilities.
- Capacity building: train health workers, such as nurses and health surveillance assistants, on the Essential Disability Package. Train disability organisations to run their own health and HIV awareness work.
- Awareness: hold sensitization meetings in each village. Lobby local leaders and health officials to include disability in their plans. Air radio 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
