Health information is a core health-system resource. Yet for many persons with disabilities, information about prevention, diagnosis, treatment and available services remains inaccessible. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, experience significant disability. Persons with disabilities may die up to 20 years earlier than others and face substantially greater barriers to health services. WHO identifies inaccessible information and communication, alongside physical, financial and attitudinal barriers, as important contributors to these inequities.
In Africa and other low-resource settings, these barriers are often compounded by poverty, limited connectivity, shortages of trained personnel and weak health-information systems. A Deaf person may hear a radio announcement about an immunisation campaign but receive no equivalent information in sign language. A person who is blind may receive an important SMS but encounter an inaccessible website. A wheelchair user may obtain information about a health facility but be unable to enter it. These are not isolated communication failures; they represent weaknesses in the accessibility and responsiveness of the health system.
HEALTH INFORMATION AS A SYSTEMS ISSUE
Disability-inclusive information should therefore be incorporated into routine health-system planning rather than treated as a separate project. WHO recommends accessible communication formats, disability-inclusive health surveillance, appropriate health-worker training and meaningful involvement of persons with disabilities in health decision-making. For African health systems, practical measures can include Braille and large-print materials, audio and easy-read information, captioned audiovisual content, sign-language interpretation, accessible websites and mobile applications, and community health workers trained in disability-inclusive communication. Importantly, accessibility should be built into existing programmes and budgets - including primary health care, immunisation, HIV, malaria, maternal health, noncommunicable diseases, emergency preparedness and digital health, rather than depending entirely on short-term externally funded projects.
DATA, DIGITAL HEALTH AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Health information systems also need to identify who is being reached. Disability-disaggregated data can help ministries and programme managers determine whether persons with disabilities are benefiting equitably from health interventions. WHO recommends that universal health coverage monitoring systems collect and analyse disability-disaggregated data and involve representative organisations in health-sector decision-making. Digital health and artificial intelligence offer useful possibilities, but technology can reproduce exclusion if accessibility, affordability, language and connectivity are ignored. A sophisticated application is of limited value to someone who cannot navigate its interface using assistive technology or cannot afford the required connectivity. The practical test is therefore simple: Can the intended user receive, understand and act on the information?
CONCLUSION
Bridging the disability health information gap is an issue of health equity, health-system quality and sustainable development. The most sustainable approach is to embed accessibility within routine health policies, financing, procurement, workforce development, data systems and programme monitoring. Persons with disabilities should participate not merely as beneficiaries, but as partners in designing, testing and evaluating health-information systems. For Africa and the Global South, this combination of accessibility, participation, reliable data and institutional accountability is essential to making universal health coverage genuinely universal.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
World Health Organization. (2022). Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/364834
World Health Organization. (2023, March 7). Disability. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health
World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. (2026, July 16). Disabilities. https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/disabilities
World Health Organization. (2023, March 8). Addressing health inequities faced by persons with disabilities to advance universal health coverage. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/addressing-health-inequities-fac...
“Technological tools, including computers, search engines, statistical software, AI, and other digital applications routinely employed in contemporary scholarship, assisted in the preparation of this work. However, the conceptualization, analysis, interpretation, verification of information, conclusions, and responsibility for the content remain solely those of the author.” - Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje; CEO/Programmes Director, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), and President, African Refugees Council (ARC).
HIFA profile: Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a leading voice in health education, community health, and advocacy, with decades of experience advancing people-centered development across Africa and beyond. His approach to health education emphasizes participatory learning, knowledge transfer, and behavior change communication, ensuring that individuals and communities gain the skills and awareness to make informed decisions about their health. He develops and delivers innovative health promotion strategies tailored to local realities, particularly in resource-limited settings. In community health, Dr. Adirieje has championed integrated primary health care, preventive medicine, and grassroots health initiatives. Through Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), which he leads, he connects civil society, community groups, and health institutions to strengthen healthcare delivery, tackle health inequities, and improve access to essential services for vulnerable populations. His work addresses infectious diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, climate and health, environmental health, and emerging public health challenges. As a passionate advocate, Dr. Adirieje works with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to influence health policy, mobilize resources, and promote sustainable development goals (SDGs). He amplifies community voices, ensuring that health systems are inclusive, accountable, and responsive. His advocacy extends beyond health to governance, environment, and social justice, positioning him as a multidisciplinary leader shaping healthier and more equitable societies. afrepton AT gmail.com