In collaboration with local Nepali researchers, Reach Alliance researchers interviewed women with disabilities, healthcare providers, and policymakers in Kathmandu to learn about the current state of maternal healthcare for women with disabilities and relevant policy implementation. The findings and associated actionable recommendations were published in 2023 in Maternal Healthcare for Women with Disabilities in Nepal: Access and Quality. Following the publication, we co-created two workshops with local experts in Nagarjun and Dakshinkali, the municipalities in Kathmandu where the research was conducted, for stakeholders from the three participant groups. The workshops engaged over 85 people and provided a platform to disseminate the research findings, foster dialogue among key stakeholders, and enable discussions about future policy action to ensure improved disability-inclusive maternal healthcare. The workshops began with a remote presentation by the Reach Alliance University College London (UCL) team to disseminate the actionable research insights, followed by a powerful personal story from a woman with a disability on her maternal healthcare experience. This set the stage for a panel discussion and question-and-answer session led by the Nepal-based team, where key stakeholders addressed policy implementation challenges, gaps in healthcare infrastructure, and the role of government in improving access. The discussions fostered a shared understanding of barriers to disability-inclusive maternal healthcare, reinforcing the original case study’s findings.
A key outcome was that both municipal and national-level policymakers committed to prioritizing disability-inclusive initiatives in their short- and long-term planning with a focus on creating and implementing targeted policy and improved training.
