Some 1,125 persons with disabilities (PWD) had limited access to healthcare last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana. This is according to a survey the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) said it conducted of 1,500 PWDs to assess the impact of the pandemic on their quality of life. The survey was conducted between November 1 and December 4, 2021.
According to the organization, it was found that 75% of respondents had limited access to healthcare due to the pandemic, while 47.5% were completely unable to access health services during the lockdown. In addition, the majority of respondents were of the view that their disabilities resulted in a greater chance of them contracting the Coronavirus.
Another key finding, the organisation reported, was that the pandemic greatly reduced the independence of respondents. It said that the majority of PWDs indicated that both their mobility and financial independence had diminished, which in turn, resulted in a notable sense of disempowerment.
In the area of education, the GCOPD noted that PWDs who were enrolled in an educational institution prior to the pandemic had some difficulty transitioning to virtual learning. It added that the few PWDs, who were employed prior to the pandemic and participated in the survey, did not experience job loss.
Another area that was drastically impacted was the social lives of PWDs. The organisation noted that 93% of respondents enjoyed “relatively healthy social lives prior to the pandemic, which was halted due to the imposed restrictions and lockdowns”.
“Although many believed that they had coped well with the restrictions, 63% reported psychological and emotional distress. It is well documented that all Guyanese have been impacted as a result of the pandemic, however, PWDs have been more severely affected due to their vulnerable status and social location prior to the pandemic. The data gathered reflects the need for more inclusive disaster and crisis response policies,” the GCOPD said.
The organisation noted its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that persons with disabilities are represented in all spheres of society.
The study was made possible with funding from the United States of America (USA) Embassy in Guyana. The (GCOPD) is the umbrella body that represents the majority of Disabled People Organisations (DPOs) from across Guyana working in the areas of advocacy and capacity building. Its Programme Coordinator is Ganesh Singh.
