Thanks to a carefully targeted research initiative, Caritas' partner CADECOM has made a positive difference to the lives of people with disability in Malawi.

CADECOM's survey, conducted in Malawi's Phalombe district, revealed that approximately 400 people with disability live in the traditional authorities of Chiwalo and Nazombe, and that barriers such as poor mobility, stigma and discrimination had prevented most of them from participating in its program.

In response to these findings, CADECOM began to actively promote disability inclusiveness in its community development programs, and provided wheelchairs for four people with limited mobility. Aware that 15 more people were in urgent need of assistance, CADECOM approached the Orthopaedic Centre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, a Blantyre-based referral hospital, for support.

Staff from the orthopaedic centre assessed what kinds of mobility aids were needed and prescribed prosthetic limbs for a man and a woman and wheelchairs for another eight men and three women. The Ministry of Health committed to monitor their ongoing wellbeing and to continue working with CADECOM, which will identify more people in urgent need of help. The centre has pledged to provide the necessary mobility aids.

Not only has this been a beneficial outcome for the individuals concerned, it has presented CADECOM with an opportunity to further promote and advocate for the rights of people with disability in Malawi.