Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa

In this paper, we explore the critical barriers that persons with disabilities face in accessing HIV services in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, despite significant advancements in overall accessibility. We highlight the intersectional challenges experienced by individuals with disabil...

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Main Authors: Tafadzwa Dzinamarira, Christine Peta, Enos Moyo, Roda Madziva, Rouzeh Eghtessadi, Tatenda Makoni, Godfrey Musuka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Health Policy Open
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590229624000169
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author Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
Christine Peta
Enos Moyo
Roda Madziva
Rouzeh Eghtessadi
Tatenda Makoni
Godfrey Musuka
author_facet Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
Christine Peta
Enos Moyo
Roda Madziva
Rouzeh Eghtessadi
Tatenda Makoni
Godfrey Musuka
author_sort Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we explore the critical barriers that persons with disabilities face in accessing HIV services in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, despite significant advancements in overall accessibility. We highlight the intersectional challenges experienced by individuals with disabilities, particularly women, and outline a comprehensive approach to bridge the existing gaps in policy and programmatic efforts. Specifically, we aim to address the exclusion of persons with disabilities from essential HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, a situation that has profound implications for their health, social inclusion, and economic productivity. In this discussion, we examine the current landscape, identify specific policy and programmatic hurdles, and propose targeted reforms, in an effort to contribute to the ongoing discourse on health equity and inclusivity.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2590-2296
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Health Policy Open
spelling doaj-art-af68fcd9c31b406eb15b93692c3e21ff2025-08-20T01:59:31ZengElsevierHealth Policy Open2590-22962024-12-01710013110.1016/j.hpopen.2024.100131Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern AfricaTafadzwa Dzinamarira0Christine Peta1Enos Moyo2Roda Madziva3Rouzeh Eghtessadi4Tatenda Makoni5Godfrey Musuka6University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; ICAP in Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe; Corresponding author at: University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.Directorate of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare, Harare, ZimbabweUniversity of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South AfricaUniversity of Nottingham, Nottingham, UKSAfAIDS, Harare, ZimbabweZimbabwe Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+), ZimbabweInternational Initiative for Impact Evaluation, Harare, ZimbabweIn this paper, we explore the critical barriers that persons with disabilities face in accessing HIV services in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region, despite significant advancements in overall accessibility. We highlight the intersectional challenges experienced by individuals with disabilities, particularly women, and outline a comprehensive approach to bridge the existing gaps in policy and programmatic efforts. Specifically, we aim to address the exclusion of persons with disabilities from essential HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, a situation that has profound implications for their health, social inclusion, and economic productivity. In this discussion, we examine the current landscape, identify specific policy and programmatic hurdles, and propose targeted reforms, in an effort to contribute to the ongoing discourse on health equity and inclusivity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590229624000169
spellingShingle Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
Christine Peta
Enos Moyo
Roda Madziva
Rouzeh Eghtessadi
Tatenda Makoni
Godfrey Musuka
Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa
Health Policy Open
title Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa
title_full Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa
title_fullStr Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa
title_full_unstemmed Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa
title_short Closing the equity gap: A call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective HIV prevention, treatment and care for persons with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa
title_sort closing the equity gap a call for policy and programmatic reforms to ensure inclusive and effective hiv prevention treatment and care for persons with disabilities in eastern and southern africa
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590229624000169
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