A COMMUNITY-BASED programme initiated by the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry to review disability rehabilitation initiatives is underway in Mwenezi.
The programme is designed to assess progress made and identify gaps within existing rehabilitation structures serving persons with disabilities at community level.
It is also a key mechanism to improve access to essential services for persons with disabilities, particularly in rural and marginalised communities.
“Day 2 of the Community-Based Rehabilitation field visit in Mwenezi continued with a focus on reviewing current implementation strategies and assessing operational challenges facing rehabilitation centres serving persons with disabilities,” the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the initiative is aimed at strengthening disability inclusion systems through evidence-based planning and real-time field assessments.
Findings from the Mwenezi field visit will directly inform national strategies aimed at improving service delivery across all provinces and districts.
“The objective is to use these real-time findings to strengthen and improve community-based rehabilitation implementation across all provinces and districts,” the ministry said.
A key focus of the programme is improving access to assistive devices, with the government prioritising equitable distribution of wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics and mobility aids to rural communities.
The ministry said the initiative would also strengthen supply chains and ensure sustainability in the delivery of assistive devices, while enhancing community-level support systems.
“Particular attention is being placed on the government’s ongoing initiative to improve inclusion and access to assistive devices for persons with disabilities,” the statement said.
The programme is being implemented in alignment with national policy frameworks, including the Persons with Disabilities Act and the National Development Strategy 2.
The Act emphasises inclusivity and the principle of leaving no one behind.