LUCOHECO Partners With Several Other Individuals and Organizations To Address TB-related Issues Among Persons With Disabilities in Uganda

LUCOHECO is strategically positioned to empower mobilizers or Champions to promote TB Prevention Services. These Champions are potential trainees who can become TB Prevention Paramedics.

TB Prevention targeting Persons with Disabilities stems from the Universal and Constitutional requirements for treatment of all persons with respect and dignity.

What is the objective of persons with disability Act?

The preamble of this act clearly states that it aims to uphold the dignity of every Person with Disability (PwD) in the society and prevent any form of discrimination. The act also facilitates full acceptance of people with disability and ensures full participation and inclusion of such persons in the society.

What is the total population of Persons with Disabilities in Uganda?  

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), there are approximately 4.5 million Ugandans with a disability. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics Census Report (UBOS 2016) indicated that 12.4% of the Ugandan population lives with some form of disability implying that approximately 4.5 million Ugandans are persons with disability hence a development concern. This Report showed that disability was more prevalent amongst women (15 per cent) than men (10 per cent); higher in rural areas (15 per cent) than in urban areas (12 per cent). This nearly correlated with the World Health Organization Report of 2010 which put the global disability prevalence rate at 15%.

 How are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) exposed to vulnerabilities to TB infections? 

People with Disabilities are more likely to have TB because of the social factors that expose them to vulnerabilities and adversities. These in turn make it easier for them to acquire TB. Persons who have immigrated from areas of the world with high rates of TB, children less than 5 years of age who have a positive TB test and groups with high rates of TB transmission, such as homeless persons, people with irregular income means, injection drug users, and persons with HIV infection.

At LUCOHECO, we shall endeavour to engage all PWDs in accessing knowledge and skills empowering them to reduce and eventually overcome adversities and vulnerabilities exposing them to TB. 

It is our statement of belief that "when empowered Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are facilitated to enjoy agency, navigate life autonomously, contribute to the development of self and the society through intuitive productivity and take hold of the means of self-determination."