Bridging access to healthcare and empowerment: Analyzing a Community-Based Rehabilitation Program for people with disabilities in Zimbabwe
Authors: Cathrine Tadyanemhandu, Beatrice Shava, Samson Chengetanai, Khumbula Mkandla
Conference: World Congress on Rehabilitation 2024
Keywords: Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), People with Disabilities (PWDs), Healthcare Access, Rural Communities, Economic Empowerment
Abstract
Background: People with disabilities (PWDs) often face barriers to healthcare access in rural areas due to underrepresentation, discrimination, and stigma — challenges that are even greater in developing countries where healthcare centers are scarce and far apart. Many PWDs require regular visits to health facilities, yet traveling long distances on disability-unfriendly roads with inappropriate transport is a major obstacle. To improve healthcare access in rural communities, countries like Zimbabwe have implemented community-based rehabilitation (CBR) programs to address health needs, promote community involvement, and enable sustainable reintegration.
Aim: To describe CBR programs established for PWDs in rural Zimbabwe, highlighting efforts to improve healthcare access, encourage community participation, and empower individuals.
Methods: Rehabilitation students from the University of Zimbabwe complete a 7-week rural placement annually, during which they assess CBR programs by evaluating the five key elements of the CBR matrix: health, education, livelihood, social, and empowerment.
Results: All surveyed districts had active CBR programs supported by funding partners, rehabilitation professionals, and village health workers. Home modifications for PWDs, such as adapted toilets and bathrooms using local resources, were common. The structured CBR approach helps identify health needs early, distribute assistive devices efficiently, and fund vocational rehabilitation programs, mainly in agricultural cooperatives, tailoring, and artisanal skills training.
Conclusion: The success of Zimbabwe’s CBR programs stems from prioritizing early health needs assessment, inclusive decision-making, and empowering PWDs in their own communities. Rather than a top-down strategy, these initiatives emphasize active community engagement and economic empowerment for sustainable, inclusive healthcare delivery.