The Training of Trainers for Disability-inclusive Health Services Toolkit has started. The training, organized on September 7-9, 2022 at the School of Nursing of the MNUMS was opened by Dr. M. Nomingerel, Officer of the Department of Medical Service of the Ministry of Health, Dr. S. Bolormaa, Technical Officer in charge of Non-Communicable Diseases of WHO Mongolia, and Ms. D. Tulgamaa, Resident Representative of AIFO INGO in Mongolia.
The Disability-inclusive Health Services Toolkit was designed in series of consultations with WHO personnel from all levels of WHO and was produced by a team of researchers and development practitioners from the Nossal Institute for Global Health and the Centre for Health Equity at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Health systems frequently fail to respond adequately to both the general and specific healthcare needs of people with disability. Health-care services can be made inclusive of people with disability if barriers are addressed and they and their representative organizations are explicitly included in health service planning, coordination, delivery, and monitoring.
The purpose of this Toolkit is to support the achievement of universal health coverage by healthcare providers. This involves ensuring access to health information and services, best-quality outcomes, and improved quality of life for all people with disability.
The training of trainers is jointly organized by the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS), the Center for Health Development (CHD), the Mongolian Physical Therapy Association and AIFO in Mongolia under the initiative of the Ministry of Health and support by the World Health Organization. The training is conducted in 2 stages by national consultants in charge of rehabilitation and disability, and teachers of the Department of Physical Therapy of MNUMS. Total of 35 participants including doctors and health professionals from 8 provinces (Bayan-Ulgii, Uvs, Khovd, Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, and Khentii), 4 districts (Sukhbaatar, Chingeltei, Bayangol, and Bayanzurkh), the State Second Central Hospital, and “Urguu” Maternity hospital, people with disabilities and activists of “Tegsh Niigem Kholboo” (Association for equal society) and “Tugeemel Khugjil” (Universal Progress) independent living centers are participating in the first stage of the training.
For the second stage of the training, the trainers who were prepared will organize the training at the local level. The expected results of the training are aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of health professionals about the inclusion of people with disabilities in health care, and support in making health care services and programs of the health system accessible to all.
Previously, Ministry of Health and AIFO in Mongolia has co-implemented the program “Community-based rehabilitation of disabled citizens - Tegsh Duuren” at the national level since 1991. The same training of trainers was conducted in the previous stage for other 6 aimags (including Bulgan, Orkhon, Zavkhan, Khuvsgul, Dundgobi and Sukhbaatar), 2 districts (Khan-Uul and Baganuur), the State Third Central Hospital, Center for Vocational Training, Rehabilitation and Production. The results of the training will be monitored and evaluated at the end of this year, and best practices will be presented.