COVID-19 health care facility in Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Disability
Disability is experienced when a person’s health condition and barriers in their environment prevent them from performing activities, like self-care, and restrict their participation in areas like education, work and community life. Health conditions, such as cerebral palsy, stroke, amputation and depression, may reduce a person’s mobility, vision, hearing, cognition or any combination of these. Physical barriers, stigma, and lack of access to assistive products and social support can make it harder for people with health conditions to access health services and lead healthy lives.
Disability is a major public health issue in the Western Pacific Region, with more than 15% of the population experiencing long-term, significant disability. The prevalence of disability has increased significantly over the past 10 years as more people age with chronic health conditions. Communicable diseases and injuries, such as from road traffic accidents, also contribute to the prevalence of disability.
Disability is a cross-cutting area in health, and it needs to be incorporated into the design and delivery of all health services at all levels of care. When health services are not inclusive of persons with disabilities, they can experience barriers that result in them having worse health outcomes than others.
Persons with disabilities have worse health outcomes and die earlier than the rest of the general population in the Western Pacific Region. This situation arises because persons with disabilities disproportionately encounter poverty, discrimination, stigma and exclusion, and physical barriers. These can limit their ability to participate in education and employment and access health care.
Health is a human right, and it is a state obligation to ensure that persons with disabilities can attain the highest standard of health. This can only be achieved when different sectors work together to create an inclusive and enabling environment for all and when health systems are responsive to the diverse needs of persons with disabilities.
WHO in the Western Pacific supports Member States to achieve the best possible health outcomes for persons with disabilities in the Region. This is prioritized by:
- Making health services more inclusive of persons with disabilities.
- Including persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness and response.
- Cross-sectoral efforts to create environments that promote the health of persons with disabilities.
WHO in the Western Pacific supports Member States by providing technical support, facilitating capacity-building, training health workers on disability inclusion, and generating data and guidance. WHO continues to strengthen its collaboration with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the Region, respecting the right of persons with disabilities to actively participate in efforts to enhance health outcomes and advance global health goals.
