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SEI brief

Experiences of the deaf, blind, and deafblind in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic

This SEI discussion brief provides insights about the impacts of the pandemic on those who are deaf, blind and deaf-blind living in four sub-Saharan African countries: Cameroon, Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Filippa Ek, Rasmus Kløcker Larsen / Published on 29 June 2021
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Citation

Ek, F. and Kløcker Larsen, R. (2021). "We’re an afterthought" - Experiences of the deaf, blind, and deafblind in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. SEI Discussion Brief. Stockholm Environment Institute. http://doi.org/10.51414/sei2021.017

A blind child in a primary school in Tanzania receives instruction in using the Braille alphabet

A blind child in a primary school in Tanzania receives instruction in using the Braille alphabet. Photo: Hugh Sitton / Getty Images.

This discussion brief examines the ways in which the pandemic has exacerbated existing problems for the deaf, blind and deaf-blind in sub-Saharan Africa. For people with these disabilities, the pandemic has elevated health risks, threatened livelihoods and limited access to key Information about Covid-19.

The brief suggests that the failure of governments to adequately respond to the needs of people with these disabilities has underscored the important role played by organizations representing the deaf, blind and deaf-blind in championing their rights.

The authors advocate further research to better understand the needs, perspectives, and priorities of the deaf, blind and deaf-blind and gain better insights into ways to dismantle the political and cultural sources of discrimination in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere.

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Read the brief / PDF / 471 KB

SEI authors

Rasmus Kløcker Larsen
Rasmus Kløcker Larsen

Team Leader: Rights and Equity

SEI Headquarters

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