Call For Papers

Towards Disability Inclusion in African Healthcare Contexts

People with disabilities in Africa often face significant barriers when accessing healthcare. These barriers can include a lack of empathy from healthcare professionals, negative attitudes, inadequate healthcare services and training, derogatory treatment, and a general lack of understanding of disabilities. Recently, DPOs, NGOs, political leaders, academics and other stakeholders have called for these barriers to be addressed through inclusive practices to ensure that people with disabilities receive adequate healthcare. Raising awareness about healthcare access issues is thus crucial. Healthcare providers ought to consider the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities while adhering to existing policies that protect their rights. In some cases, policies intended to support people with disabilities in African healthcare settings could inadvertently hinder their access to care. Therefore, more needs to be done in understanding, challenging and mitigating these obstacles to ensure the effective inclusion of people with disabilities in healthcare settings. 

We therefore invite presentations and creative contributions (poetry, writing, etc.) which address, but are not limited to the following themes:

• Understanding inclusion and access to healthcare in African contexts

• Barriers to inclusion in healthcare settings

• Indigenous approaches to inclusion in healthcare settings

• Medical approaches to inclusion in healthcare settings

• Government intervention through economic and legislative roles

• Healthcare inclusion through the Arts

• Access to healthcare through education, enlightenment, and reorientation

• The role of the Arts in promoting wellbeing and care

• Social media, new technologies and healthcare inclusion

We invite proposals of 200 words for a 10-minute presentation and a brief bio of 100 words. Please indicate any access requirements for this online conference.

Proposals should be submitted to Professor Charlotte Baker c.baker@lancaster.ac.uk by Friday 25th April 2025 with the email subject heading: DIA Conference Proposal

Acceptance will be confirmed by Friday 15th May 2025 and the conference will take place on Tuesday 17th June 2025.

There is no fee to participate in the conference. You can find out more about Disability and Inclusion Africa Network on our website: http://dianetwork.com/ 

We are also on Facebook: ‘Disability and Inclusion Africa Network’, on Twitter: @TheDIANetwork and on LinkedIn: Disability and Inclusion Africa

*Registration details to follow shortly.

Organising Committee

Kenneth Uyi Abudu (Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria), Charlotte Baker (Lancaster University, UK), Joanne Bloch (University of Western Cape, South Africa), Kirsten Deane (University of the Western Cape, South Africa), Elvis Imafidon (SOAS, University of London, UK), Félix Mbog Len-Mapout (University de Yaoundé, Cameroon), Kobus Moolman (University of the Western Cape, South Africa), Emelda Ngufor Samba (Université de Yaoundé 1, Cameroon).