Disability Inclusive Parenting (DIP) project launch in Wakiso District
On 2 April 2024, Wakiso District in Uganda hosted the official launch of the Disability Inclusive Parenting (DIP) project. The event aimed to kick off the project by discussing its design, implementation plan, and contribution to the adaptation of disability-inclusive programs by Partners for Resilience (PfR).
The Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC), a multi-disciplinary research and teaching unit within Makerere University College of Health Sciences, leads the initiative. CHDC focuses on promoting the well-being of children and women in Uganda through collaborative research, training, and partnerships with various stakeholders.
CHDC's community service and research work are organised around six core programs: Families, parenting, and child health; health systems strengthening; non-communicable diseases; technologies and health; capacity building and training; and early childhood development and health. Under its families, parenting, and children’s health programme led by Dr. Godfrey Siu, CHDC collaborates with various partners, including Oak Foundation, UNICEF, University of Oxford, LEGO Foundation, and the government of Uganda, to strengthen families, improve parenting, and enhance child wellbeing.
The DIP programme, an adaptation of GPI's evidence-based Parenting for Respectability (PfR) programme, aims to include parents with disabilities and those parenting children with disabilities. The programme will be delivered through both in-person and WhatsApp group-based facilitator-assisted methods. Key features include involving both fathers and mothers, disability stakeholders, and community members, as well as recruiting couples and various stakeholders caring for children with disabilities. This approach ensures comprehensive support and inclusion in parenting interventions.
The partner organisations involved in this initiative aim to co-create relevant and acceptable health responses and preventive solutions, making significant strides toward inclusive and effective parenting interventions in Uganda.
