Building disability-inclusive health systems: Lessons from disability trainings for health workers
Learn about the development, deployment, and opportunities for future work on disability training for health workers.
Health worker training is a recognised component of building disability-inclusive health systems and health workers’ attitudes and awareness are frequently cited as a barrier to high-quality healthcare for people with disabilities. To address this, LSHTM and the Missing Billion Initiative have partnered to develop, test, and scale a health worker training on disability. Co-developed and led by people with disabilities, the training has already helped reach over 15,000 health workers across Africa—from community health workers in Kenya through a partnership with Lwala Community Alliance, to primary health workers in Uganda and Nigeria. Join our seminar to learn about the development, deployment, and opportunities for future work on disability training for health workers.
Speakers
Dr Andrew Sentoogo Ssemata
Andrew is a post-doctoral scientist based at the Disability Research Group at the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. He has experience using Participatory Learning and Action groups for persons with disabilities to improve access to healthcare. Additionally, he has expertise in developing health worker training on disability and adapting disability awareness checklists to audit facility readiness to accommodate persons with disabilities.
João Arnaldo Vembane
João Vembane, from Mozambique, founder and CEO of JAV Consulting, Health Associate at The Missing Billion Initiative (MBI), is an experienced consultant specializing in disability inclusion, research, and project evaluation. João’s work spans implementation research, program evaluations, and feasibility studies for disability-inclusive emergency responses. He has collaborated with UNFPA and various NGOs to improve sexual and reproductive health services for youth with disabilities.
Vallent Rachel Adhiambo
Vallent is the founder and director of Geno Epilepsy Center for Empowerment. Vallent holds a diploma in Tourism and Business Studies from Zetech University. As a young woman with Epilepsy, Vallent has shown interest in fighting for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities particularly women and young children with Epilepsy. Vallent also sensitizes the community on epilepsy and related Neurodiversity conditions like cerebral palsy and Autism and creates awareness of reproductive health services among others for women and girls with Epilepsy. Vallent is also a board member of an NGO in Kenya (Kenya Female Advisory Organization-KEFEADO) representing persons with disabilities.
Dr Satendra Singh
Dr Satendra Singh is Director Professor of Physiology at the University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, Delhi. He is Co-chair of International Council for Disability Inclusion in Medical Education & member of core group on disability at the National Human Rights Commission. He is a disability justice advocate who has brought many policy reforms including the inclusion of disability competencies in the new medical curriculum in India. He is also the co-editor of Routledge International’s Handbook on Disability & Global Health released this year.
Millicent Miruka
Millicent Miruka was among the pioneering Community Health Workers (CHWs) trained by Lwala Community Alliance and the Ministry of Health in Migori County, Kenya. Her journey into this role was driven by her own challenging experiences and a heartfelt desire to save the lives of mothers and children. Millicent provides unwavering support to pregnant women and their children, guiding them through the complexities of healthcare to ensure healthier outcomes. As a trained CHW advocate, she actively promotes the professionalisation of CHWs and the advancement of community health initiatives both in Kenya and globally. Her training on disability access and inclusion through MBI’s collaboration with Lwala has further empowered her to address diverse needs within her community.
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- Please note that the recording link will be listed on this page when available.
- For any accessibility requirements, please email disabilitycentre@lshtm.ac.uk.
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