Integrated Disabled Women Activities (IDIWA) recently hosted a monitoring visit from the Gender Equity Fund under the Global Fund, marking a significant milestone in strengthening inclusive and gender-responsive healthcare services in Kaliro and Iganga Districts, under the Promoting Gender Responsive HIV/TB & Malaria services among WGDs project
This visit provided a timely opportunity to reflect on progress made in improving access to TB, HIV, and malaria services for Women and Girls with Disabilities (WGDs), while also identifying lessons to inform future programming.
Field visits to selected health facilities highlighted tangible improvements in accessibility and service delivery. Interventions such as the construction of accessibility ramps and the integration of sign language support are helping to remove long-standing barriers that have historically excluded persons with disabilities from essential healthcare.
Health workers demonstrated increased awareness and responsiveness to disability inclusion, reflecting the impact of continuous capacity-building and engagement.
The monitoring visit also included engagements with district leaders and health practitioners, underscoring the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration. Partnerships between civil society, local governments, and healthcare providers have played a critical role in strengthening systems and ensuring that inclusive practices are embedded within service delivery.
This coordinated approach has not only improved service accessibility but also enhanced accountability and ownership at the district level.
A key highlight of the visit was the opportunity to hear directly from women with disabilities. Their testimonies illustrated the real impact of the project-improved access to healthcare, greater dignity in service delivery, and increased confidence to seek and demand quality care.
These voices reaffirm that inclusive health systems must be grounded in lived experiences to be truly effective and sustainable.
As this phase of the project comes to a close, the outcomes reinforce a critical message: inclusive health systems are achievable when intentional efforts are made to leave no one behind.
IDIWA remains committed to advancing equitable healthcare and ensuring that Women and Girls with Disabilities continue to access services that are responsive, inclusive, and dignified.