Developing a national community-based rehabilitation (CBR) program in Malawi
WHO in partnership with the Norwegian Association of the Disabled (NAD) the Government of Malawi and disability and development organizations are working together to develop a national CBR program.
On 6 – 7 March, Ms Reen Kachere, Minister of Gender, Children and Community Development (MoGCCD) inaugurated a national workshop in Malawi to promote CBR. The workshop was attended by 44 participants from a range of government departments and non-government organizations including the Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA), Norwegian Association of the Disabled (NAD) and CBM. Workshop participants outlined a number of actions needed to develop a national CBR programme, which include the need to build capacity of the Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA), MoGCCD, FEDOMA and its affiliates on how to mainstream disability into development initiatives.
As a first step a Training Needs Analysis will be carried out, followed by the development of relevant training materials and implementation of a training plan. Actors trained will work to include the rights of persons with disabilities in the national development agenda, specifically the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, as well as revision of existing disability policy and programmes. Financial support in the amount of 1.8 million Norwegian kroner will be provided by the Norwegian Association for the Disabled to the Malawian government and local non-government organizations for the implementation of these and other actions. WHO will provide technical assistance in line with the CBR Guidelines.