AgrAbility for Africa

Wednesday, January 26, AgrAbility for Africa staff attended a webinar by Free Wheelchair Mission on mobility for the disabled in Uganda. Among the issues discussed were the challenges of access and the interventions in place to try and address the persistent problem of health, health care information, and assistive technology access for people across Africa. The wheelchair need alone in Uganda, to date, stands at over one million wheelchairs. The purpose of joining the webinar was to help validate traditional knowledge, help in identifying emerging solutions, understand real-time challenges, and monitor and track wheelchair numbers, types, and use. End-of-life management toward putting in place appropriate resources and systems was also in view, as this is fundamental when promoting the issues of access and intervention. It was also an opportunity to further learn best practices and expand networks to support AgrAbility for Africa's mission.

As the country slowly opens up past the worst phases of Covid-19, the AgrAbility staff are also returning to the fields to assess farmer needs and challenges and to provide the appropriate support. It is during such visits that they met Nabawanuka who has mobility challenges. She is a long-term client of AgrAbility for Africa. Currently, staff are working with Ned Stoller, an assistive technology professional with the Michigan AgrAbility program and the National AgrAbility Project, to design solutions tailored to her needs and challenges, in order to enhance her independence and quality of life.

Submitted by Mutumba Faisal