People with disabilities in poor urban areas of Kenya and Nigeria experienced greater hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anna Nzioka, who was injured in a 2017 road accident, now walks with a crutch and runs a small tailoring shop in Viwandani, an informal settlement in Nairobi. The hospital she uses is about 16.8 kilometres away and a visit cost almost 350 shillings. Kenya’s 2019 census recorded 918,270 people aged five or more living with disability, of whom 385,417 had mobility impairment.
In 2020 governments imposed measures such as curfews and limits on movement. Many specialised clinics and lower-level health facilities closed or were converted into COVID-19 treatment centres. This reduced access to care, increased queues at remaining facilities and raised the cost of drugs. Lockdowns that began in late March 2020 forced many small businesses to close, and many people with disabilities who rely on trading lost income.
Personal stories underline the effect: Tom Okwiri lost his teaching job in April 2020 and had COVID-19 twice; Mercy Wanjiru could not afford daily anti-seizure medication for her son and paused his physiotherapy after she lost work; Rafiat Adebajo, a Lagos food vendor, lost night-market income and returned to her home village. Researchers from the African Population and Health Research Center did phone interviews in two Nairobi slums as part of a larger multi-country project and found severe disruption to healthcare access and higher costs. Advocates call for bringing services closer, boosting community health workers and ensuring accessible relief and information.
Difficult words
- informal settlement — area where housing is built without formal planning
- mobility impairment — difficulty moving or walking without help
- curfew — official rule to limit people leaving homecurfews
- convert — change something into a different useconverted
- lockdown — periods when people must stay at homeLockdowns
- physiotherapy — treatment that helps patients move better
- advocate — person or group speaking for other peopleAdvocates
- relief — help or support for people in need
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might bringing services closer to informal settlements help people with disabilities?
- What challenges do small business owners with disabilities face during lockdowns in your area?
- What can community health workers do to improve access to care for disabled people in poor urban areas?
Related articles
Ancestral healing in the Caribbean
Ancestral healing asks societies to face historical wounds so people can live healthier lives. In the Caribbean, educators combine shamanic practices, nervous-system work and cultural rituals with scientific findings about trauma and community care.
Toxic cosmetics sold in Latin American street markets
Informal markets in Latin America sell cosmetics often without labels or health checks. Studies found toxic metals in many cheap products; authorities seized counterfeit goods and experts warn of health risks, especially for children.
