The COVID-19 outbreak has presented a unique set of challenges for different segments of the population, especially for medical personnel and social welfare staff working at the frontlines of this global crisis.

Organisations working directly with members of vulnerable communities or with individuals who require special care face a set of challenges around social distancing and regular safety measures that are harder to combat. Contact between caregivers and people with disabilities is inevitable and many of these individuals are in need of constant care. People with certain kinds of disabilities are also at a higher risk of contracting the virus owing to compromised bodily functions. These are exacerbated by the fact that many of these institutions and facilities have low access to resources and may be located in areas that are poorly served by infrastructure and essential services.