The ManicaPost
Greta Mauwa Mental Health Clinic
The coronavirus pandemic threatens all members of society, including persons with disabilities.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises that persons with disabilities may be impacted more significantly by Covid-19 due to attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers that are reproduced in the Covid-19 response.
Zimbabwe has made a stab at ensuring a disability inclusive Covid-19 response through provision of information updates in accessible formats for the benefit of deaf people and those with visual impairments.
As a country, we still have a long way to go in ensuring a disability inclusive Covid-19 response.
While having a disability doesn’t put someone at higher risk of contracting coronavirus, many persons with disabilities have specific underlying conditions which increases their risk.
Persons with disabilities also face greater challenges in accessing healthcare due to inaccessible health information and selective medical guidelines and protocols that may magnify their discrimination.
In addition, public information on Covid-19 is not being systematically communicated in accessible formats for the benefit of all persons with disabilities (for example in sign language, Braille, captioning and easy to read formats).
Due to Covid-19 response measures, persons with disabilities face various barriers in carrying out their daily life activities. In particular, staying at home restrictions that do not consider their needs create disruptions and new risks to their autonomy, health and lives.
Persons with psycho-social disabilities might not be able to cope with strict confinement at home. Short and careful outings throughout the day are key for them to cope with the situation.
Moreover, the majority of persons with disabilities rely on others for constant support from service providers or relatives or friends.
This places them in a difficult position as Covid-19 prevention thrives on physical distancing.
This has left some of them without access to food, essential goods and medicine. Some have been unable to carry out basic daily activities like bathing and cooking.
In addition, Covid-19 has indirectly affected persons with disabilities by preventing their family members from working, thereby negatively impacting the overall income of the household.
Very few persons with disabilities are formally employed. The majority of them are employed in the informal sector. As a consequence, they have less access to social insurance, hence their decreased economic resilience in the Covid-19 context.
Furthermore, persons with disabilities are at a higher risk of being victims of violence, particularly when they are isolated. Women and girls with disabilities face disproportionately higher rates of gender based violence, neglect maltreatment, exploitation, discrimination, stigmatisation and domestic violence.
Accessing domestic violence services and assistance is particularly challenging for persons with disabilities as hotlines are often not equipped with interpretation services for persons with hearing and visual impairments.
To achieve the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities, several actions should therefore be considered. There is need to strengthen national legislation and policies on health care in line with the persons with disabilities.
A disability inclusive response is critical for addressing disability challenges and social issues.
All preparedness and response plans must be inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities. People with disabilities must receive information about infection mitigating tips, public restriction plans, and the services offered in a diversity of accessible formats.
There is need to establish testing and counselling programmes to support persons with disabilities. Through these programmes, persons with disabilities will be empowered to take control of their own healthcare decisions on the basis of informed consent. Awareness campaigns as well as training on rights and needs of people with disabilities is also essential.
A holistic approach is required, with all stakeholders coming together to protect the dignity of people with disabilities.
Greta Mauwa is an Intern Community Psychologist under the Allied Health Professional Council. She writes in her personal capacity.
