Persons with disabilities have the same rights to health, information and protection as everyone else, yet they continue to face barriers to HIV, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence services. In September, My Age Africa joined national stakeholders to discuss how to close that gap.
We took part in the Quarter 3 meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Public Health and Emerging Issues, SGBV, SRH, HIV and AIDS for Persons with Disabilities. The TWG brings together civil society organisations and government institutions, including the National AIDS Council (NAC) and the Ministry of Public Works.
The meeting gave stakeholders an important platform to reflect on progress, discuss implementation challenges, share recommendations and agree on priorities for the next quarter. It also strengthened coordination between government and civil society on including persons with disabilities in broader public health and SRHR responses.
A key message was that disability inclusion should not be treated as a standalone programme area. It must be built into every intervention, from HIV prevention and treatment to SRH services, SGBV response and emerging public health programmes. When inclusion is an afterthought, persons with disabilities are left behind: information is not available in accessible formats, facilities are hard to reach and providers are not equipped to offer respectful care.
Bringing different actors into one room creates opportunities to identify gaps in current approaches, share lessons from programmes and strengthen collective action against the barriers persons with disabilities face every day.
For My Age Africa, taking part in the TWG strengthens our role in national coordination and accountability spaces. It allows us to bring community and programme-level insights into national discussions, while learning from government and other civil society partners working to advance disability-inclusive health programming.
As the sector moves into Quarter 4, the TWG provides a strong foundation for collaboration and coordinated action. Sustained engagement is essential to turn commitments on disability inclusion into health and SRHR programmes that are truly accessible, responsive and inclusive.
At My Age Africa, we believe youth health for all must mean all, including young people with disabilities.
