Times Like this Mental Health can WORSEN

Inspirational Breakfast with Esther Higham

Christian, international disability charity CBM (www.cbmuk.org.uk) are working with disabled people who are coping with the Covid 19 crisis in the developing world. Its no surprise that people with disability in developing world at much greater risk of contracting Covid-19. Hear updates about how disabled people are coping, & what CBM is doing to help, updates from Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Cameroon, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zimbabwe etc .

It’s becoming very clear that people with a disability are at much greater risk of contracting Covid 19, & some interesting information coming in that disabled girls & women are at even further risk due to having to complete jobs on behalf of the family, outside of the household, such as collecting water, queuing for food etc.

We have various case studies that might be of interest, & information about the fantastic work also that CBM is undertaking to try to help in many of the countries. Some of the case studies include:

– Blind people wondering how they can have guiding from personal assistants as they have now been asked to apply social distancing

– Blind people at risk from touching braille information boards in the outdoors, accessed by many

– Online training being delivered in Kenya for those with increased mental health challenges during this time

– A nurse in Cameroon who says that she fears that many nurses may die of Covid-19: “We nurses are at the war front, but have no weapons to defend ourselves… we have no Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), no space allocated for COVID 19 cases, no ambulance, no ventilators and limited oxygen tanks… I fear disaster in the days ahead”

– In Nigeria CBM is working with disabled people’s organisations and media organisations to provide sign-language interpretation for vital health messages and updates, so people with hearing impairment can keep themselves safe

– We have a lovely image of a disabled man helping to put supplies together in the Philippines, CBM is providing emergency aid to vulnerable communities, including people living with disabilities and their families – supplying food parcels, cleaning supplies, clean water and medicines.

– An inclusive awareness campaign in Tanzania. Their partner Tanzania’s Federation of Disabled People’s organisations (SHIVYAWATA) has been speaking out on national radio about how to include people living with disabilities in the response to Covid- 19.

read more at their website https://www.cbmuk.org.uk/