UDPK-CDRA INCLUSIVE RESPONSE

women making soap and sanitizer
  1. VIII. HEALTH CARE

    The Government should take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health services and provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and standard of health care as provided to other persons, including mental health services. The Government should also continue providing to persons with disabilities the health services required by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities

    VIII. BASIC NEEDS

    Poverty is a major factor affecting persons with disabilities and has deep impact on their health and living condition. The Government should ensure that economic hardship during the crisis is addressed particularly with respect to persons with disabilities who may face the loss of means of livelihood and additional barriers to meet basic essential needs. The Government may need to consider food subsidies or other means of social protection.

    1. EDUCATION AND WORKPLACE

    Children with disabilities face barriers to accessing a quality, inclusive education. As governments close schools, many schools are implementing online instruction. Children with different disabilities are largely excluded since online instruction is not made accessible to them, The Government should ensure accessible material and lesson plans are equally available to all students

    1. CONSULTATION WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS

    The governments in its endeavor to protect PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES during the coronavirus pandemic will need to consult with organization representing persons with disabilities regularly to make sure policies and practice in regard to the pandemic meet their needs. They should be effectively and meaningfully be involved in the design and implementation of awareness raising and public education campaigns.

    1. REFUGEE CAMPS SITUATION

    COVID-19 could be catastrophic in settings such as refugee camps or other temporary camps, where people live in close proximity and often lack access to basic services. People with disabilities in places like these face severe obstacles to basic services such as shelter, water, sanitation, and medical care. Special attention will need to be given to persons with disabilities in such settings.

ADVISORY ON DISABILITY INCLUSIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 .

INTRODUCTION

WE, the Disability movement in Kenya, having observed and experienced the condition we as a nation have found ourselves since the pandemic struck call upon The Government to make extra efforts to protect the rights of people with disabilities in responding to the pandemic. the breakdown of vital support systems and networks as a result of COVID-19 exacerbates the obstacles that persons with disabilities face in exercising their rights.

  1. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

It is commendable that information provided regularly especially through the Ministry of Health briefs which normally come through both electronic and print media. Governments should be providing accessible and timely information about the disease, prevention methods, and services.

III. LIVING CONDITION

Many adults and children with disabilities live in often overcrowded residential informal urban settings where they face neglect, abuse, and inadequate health care. Governments should take urgent steps to identify and attend to people with disabilities in such informal settings.

  1. VULNERABILITY

A lot of people with disabilities have other secondary conditions which make them more vulnerable to attack by diseases. People who are older, people with chronic health conditions in addition to disabilities are more prone to COVID-19 infection. These will particularly need to be identified and given the attention they need.

  1. PROTECTION STRATEGIES

Governments should also consider the specific needs of people with disabilities when developing prevention strategies Products to sterilize and sanitisation should be available to people with disability in all places In case of self-quarantine, support services and personal assistance have to be considered.

  1. SUPPORT SERVICES

People with disabilities who live at home often rely on community-based social support to meet their basic daily needs, including for meals and hygiene. support with basic needs will be required for them to remain at home. They will also need support from professionals who will understand Covid19 and how to ensure personal hygiene and protection. Protective gears and services will also be needed.

VII. PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL DISABILITIES

With policies requiring social isolating to stem the spread of coronavirus, people with psychosocial disabilities, such as anxiety or depression, may be in particular distress and may benefit from additional mental health support services. Indeed, self-isolation and quarantine could be distressing for most people in general. Government policies should ensure community-based services continue and crisis counselling programs are accessible to all.

women making soap and sanitizer