The Bridge The Gap initiative will reduce disparities in health status and access to quality healthcare through medical screenings and follow up care for 500 people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in South West Nigeria, with a focus on vision and oral health.
On average, in every ten persons with ID, 2 have never had an eye examination, 4 need prescription for glasses, 4 have untreated tooth decay And 1-2 are in need of urgent dental care. Despite severe need and higher health risks, people with intellectual disabilities are often denied health services and die on average 16 years sooner than the general population. Limitations in cognitive capacity and motor skills make it difficult for them report health challenges they suffer from.
The Bridge The Gap initiative will provide opportunities for quality health screenings and follow up care that ensures that people with ID get the oral and vision care and treatment they need to add value to the society, regain some level of independence and live healthier pain free lives. The initiative will also reveal existing medical conditions among people with ID that would otherwise have gone unnoticed and in the process provide access to quality healthcare services for such condition.
The project will improve the lives of people with ID through; Improved cognitive ability, improved oral health, healthier, longer and better quality of life for people with ID, Improved self-esteem, promote health seeking behavior among people with ID through access to quality healthcare services, serve as a platform for hands-on training and experience for medical professionals to increase knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with intellectual disabilities,
