Implementation of the World Report on Disability: Developing human resource capacity to meet the needs of people with communication disability in Uganda

Abstract

The World Report on Disability makes nine recommendations to ensure the inclusion, participation, and emancipation of people with disabilities. As described by Wylie, McAllister, Marshall, and Davidson (2013), the recommendations present a challenge for the development of services for people with communication disability (PWCD) in the Majority World, particularly recommendation 5: “increasing human resource capacity”, since professionals with training in communication disability are often in extremely short supply. In partial answer to this situation in East Africa, a degree-level education programme for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) commenced in Uganda in 2008. This paper describes the establishment of that degree course, the current context of professional education, service development, and delivery, and describes how the World Report on Disability recommendation of increasing human resource capacity could be further addressed using culturally-appropriate, accessible, and innovative models of education. It highlights the need for a multi-strand and long-term approach to addressing communication disability at impairment, activity, and participation levels and offers a vision for the future of services in Uganda.

Keywords::

• World Report on Disability
• developing countries
• speech-language pathologists

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank students and graduates of the speech-language pathology degree program; Staff of the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University; The ENT Department, Mulago Hospital; All volunteer SLPs, particularly Sarah Raheja, Isla Jones, and Marise Fernandes; Staff of VSO International, particularly former programme manager Dr Sarah Kyobe; The Ugandan Ministries of Health, Education, Public Service and Gender, Labour and Social Development; and all who have contributed to the establishment of the speech- language pathology profession in Uganda.

Notes

1. Defined as people living on an income of $1.25 per day or less (World Bank, 2005).

2. 6.3% in 2010/2011.

3. Although the term “speech-language pathology” is used throughout the text, the term used in Uganda is “speech and language therapy”.

4. Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, UK.

5. This issue is now being pursued further by the Ugandan Ministry of Health.

6. 23.8% on budget funding and 40% off budget funding (World Health Organization, 2008).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.