We Care is a project funded by AICS and implemented in Tanzania by different partners: the leader is the NGO L’Africa Chiama; the Italian partners are COPE and IBO Italia; the Tanzanian partners are Shivyawata Tanzania Federation of Disabled People's Organisations and Nyololo Hospital.
The project, lasting three years, has the general objective of contributing to the improvement of the living conditions of children and young people with disabilities living in the Iringa region (Tanzania) with particular attention to basic services, with specific reference to health and education.
Specifically, it intends to promote access to prevention, diagnosis, health, community-based rehabilitation and socio-educational inclusion services for children and young people with disabilities (0-15 years) and their families in the provinces of Iringa Rural, Mufindi and Kilolo.
In order to reduce the incidence of neonatal disability through prevention, screening and awareness-raising aimed at women of childbearing age and pregnant women in the identified Provinces, various activities will be carried out such as:
- Awareness-raising for women of childbearing age 15-45 on the topic of reproductive and maternal-infant health
- Health telemedicine service for antenatal and postnatal visits for pregnant women
- Screening activities for pregnant women in 6 selected districts
- Training activities for healthcare personnel and creation of protocols on the prevention of congenital disabilities
To improve the capabilities of health centers in the area of early diagnosis of disability in children (0-4), the referral and accessibility system of children with disabilities (0-4) to quality rehabilitation treatments in the Provinces mentioned, it is intended to start various activities such as the creation of a regional protocol for the certification and referral of children with disabilities, training for health personnel and community volunteers on early diagnosis of disability and referral system; families will also be involved in the project activities such as, for example, training courses on the topic of Community-Based Rehabilitation aimed at young mothers of children with disabilities at the health centers involved in the project and the establishment of local groups of families with children with disabilities for sharing the aforementioned methodology and experiences of integration of disabled people.
Another important step to achieve greater inclusion of disabled people in Tanzanian society concerns the support activity given to students with disabilities in pre-primary and primary schools in the rural provinces of Iringa, Mufindi and Kilolo through activities with school staff (training of school staff, creation of a network of stakeholders with a “One Health” perspective), the adaptation of schools to the needs of students, the implementation of inclusive sports activities in schools and the awareness of the local community and parents on the importance of early school enrolment of children with disabilities.
