Access to healthcare for persons with disabilities (PWD)is not a niche issue. It is the fundamental right for people with disabilities, embedded in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in the laws of most countries including India. The issue is also a critical one in this Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) era. There are many barriers for PWDs to have adequate access to health care. One of the key barriers is the lack of awareness about what it means to be disabled in a country like India. This is especially among those who provide primary care services and those who are interested in supporting them. PHFI and the Indian Institute of Public Health Hyderabad (IIPHH) envisions a knowledge-empowered society with equitable access to health and rehabilitation services for PWDs, provided with an approach that is dignified, compassionate and evidence-based. Hence this program is specifically designed to sensitize public health professionals and students involved and/or interested in contributing to empowerment of PWDs.
