Ethiopia Advances Disability-Inclusive Health Services with Key Workshop in Adama
A two-day Ethiopian workshop on promoting inclusive health services for people with disabilities concluded successfully in Adama City, marking an important step in promoting health equity for people with disabilities.
Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MOH) and Humanitarian and Inclusive (HI), the event brought together stakeholders from the health and social affairs sectors.
The workshop, which took place on 25 and 26 November, was a direct response to the Department of Health’s consultation calling for disability inclusion to be integrated into the national health system. It is the first phase of implementing WHO’s Health Equity for People with Disabilities: A Guide for Action, a framework that provides a phased approach to improving health outcomes for people with disabilities.
The workshop was attended by 37 participants from different organizations, including key ministries of the Ministry of Health, District Health Bureaus, Federation of Ethiopian Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEAPD), and local and international non-governmental organizations such as Humanitarian and Inclusion (HI) Organization), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Christian Blind Mission (CBM), Cheshire Ethiopia, Clinton Healthcare Initiative (CHAI) and the Ethiopian Disability Development Center.
The discussion focused on promoting a shared understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing health services and developing actionable strategies to address these gaps.
The initiative builds on 40 key recommendations outlined in WHO’s Global Report on Health Equity in Disability. These recommendations highlight the need for inclusive policies, resource allocation and sustainable planning to eliminate the health inequalities experienced by persons with disabilities.
The workshop achieved several important milestones. Participants conducted an initial mapping of organizations and partners active in health and disability issues, ensuring a clearer understanding of the collaborative landscape.
They also received detailed guidance on the Disability Inclusion Action Guide, a structured approach to integrating disability considerations into the health sector, and agreed on next steps.
Building on the workshop, next steps include establishing a national technical working group, led by the Ministry of Health, to drive the process.
A detailed situation assessment will then assess the current status of disability-inclusive health services within the Ethiopian health system. Based on these findings and WHO recommendations, a comprehensive action plan will be developed. Once finalized, the plan will be implemented alongside a monitoring and evaluation framework to effectively measure its impact.
This initiative reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in access to equitable health services. By integrating disability inclusion into the health system, the country is taking a key step towards fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.
This workshop laid the foundation for transformational change, raising hope for a more inclusive health system that meets the needs of all Ethiopians regardless of ability.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO) – Ethiopia.
