By Theresa Lorenzo, Anthea Hansen, Harsha Dayal and Sumaya Gabriels — The Conversation Africa — 13 May 2020
People with disabilities face stigma because of their impairments. They are often marginalised, more so if they have psycho-social disabilities. This makes it difficult for them to access basic services such as healthcare during the COVID-19 crisis.
Community-based workers — including community health workers, home-based carers, community rehabilitation workers and community development workers — have specialised skills and experience working at a household and community level. They are able to identify, screen and support vulnerable individuals and families.
A study conducted in three rural communities in Botswana, South Africa and Malawi found that community rehabilitation workers bridged the gaps between people with disabilities, their families, and services at district level. They can help ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in screening, testing and referral to health services during the pandemic, and can provide emotional and spiritual support to people with disabilities and their families.
Community-based workers can also help people with disabilities navigate government stimulus packages and interventions for small and medium enterprises. South Africa’s disaster management plan targets the most vulnerable, but it needs to respond in a more deliberate way when it comes to people with disabilities by harnessing the critical mass of community-based workers as key links to help reduce community transmission of the virus.