Consultation in Africa on the Inclusion of CBR in the WHA Resolution in May 2021
Opening Remarks B Venkatesh Preseident CBR Global, and Musonda Siame, Chairman CBR African Network: Exclusion of CBR in the in the WHA resolution will adversely affect persons with different disabilities and other vulnerable population groups needing habilitation and rehabilitation services living in poverty.Community based interventions like CBR values community and its members and their contributions thus enabling them to become responsible citizens and this is an age old practice. Innumerable examples of this practice include the concept of “small is beautiful.
Policy Brief by CGN IFRA by Cristy Abraham
“the Ask” in the policy brief CGN and IFRA membersendorse these activities with focus more on home-based and community-based rehabilitation services and hence, call for CBR to be universally applied across countries, not limited to pilot projects and limited geographic treatments. Systems to deliver CBR need to be established and aligned with the primary healthcare delivery structures in all countries; and to make best use of Organization of persons with disabilities, community volunteers and home based carers to expand the workforce, delivering the appropriate skills to these cadres.
Recommendations
WHA resolution on “Habilitation and Rehabilitation for All” should be adopted in 2022.
The proposed resolution mentioned above should have a central emphasis on the role of CBR as a strategy for habilitation and rehabilitation service delivery, especially in low and middle – income countries.
Concluding Comments
It is important to recognise the value of non-healthcare workers and supporting family
members for caring and including persons with disabilities in all walks of life. This needs to be fore grounded in policy, planning and programming. Self help groups and Organization of persons with disabilities associations of persons with disabilities, are the primary stakeholders for CBR, contribute to sustainability of the approach.