ABSTRACT
In Zambia, the need for eco-justice in the education, religious, health and social sectors is slowly gaining recognition, particularly in relation to women and girls with disabilities. Dedicated to the blessed memory of the late Dr Sinenhlanhla Sithulisiwe Chisale and her impassioned advocacy for the rights of persons with disability, this chapter focuses on how persons with disabilities face severe limitations in some rural areas of Lusaka, Zambia. The chapter also brings to the fore the challenges encountered when attempting to access medical facilities, particularly for women with disabilities trying to utilise services for sexual and reproductive health. Our theoretical framework is informed by Ernst Conradie's (2007) notion of the ‘whole household of God’ (oikos). Leaning on the oikos theory, the chapter restates the importance of inclusivity in providing infrastructure and services that are user-friendly for persons with disabilities. Cognisant of the disproportionate impact of the ecological crisis on women and girls with disability, the chapter concludes by invoking an African women’s theology of disability within the purview of eco-justice as proffered by Dr Chisale. This also necessitates paying particular attention to how persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by natural ecological disasters, particularly women and girls.
