The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
People with disabilities face a risk of dying up to 20 years earlier than compared to others in the society. This is the result of a new report launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO) ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 Dec.).
“Many persons with disabilities die earlier, some up to 20 years earlier, and more are at risk- double the risk - of developing a range of health conditions compared to the general population,” said Darryl Barrett, WHO’s Technical Lead for Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation when talking at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.
The « Global report on health equity for person with disabilities” demonstrates while some progress has been made in recent years, systemic and persistent health inequities still persists and many persons with disabilities face an increased risk of developing chronic conditions and higher risks of premature death.
“It's a significant reason for these early deaths because of poor quality health services”, noted Mr. Barrett. “There's also a higher incidence of diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes, stroke, sexually transmitted infections, and cardiovascular problems among persons with disabilities.”
Many of the differences in health outcomes cannot be explained by the underlying health condition or impairment, so WHO, but by avoidable, unfair and unjust factors such as inaccessible public health interventions or little consideration given to persons with disabilities during health emergencies planning.
“This report also has new global prevalence estimates for significant disability, and that it is at about 16% of the population, or at today's rate, 1.3 billion persons with significant disability", noted Mr. Barrett. "So that equates to about one in six of us.”
The report recommends 40 actions for governments to take at their health sector from addressing physical infrastructure to training of health workers.
“The attitude and competency of health workers, for example, can be quite negative and have an impact on the health outcomes of persons with disabilities”, said Mr. Barrett.
The report stresses the need for urgent action to address the inequities within the health systems.
“When governments are looking at training their health workforce, it's important that they include disability as part of that training and education so that the workforce is confident and competent to be able to deal with what it needs to deal with”, emphasized WHO’s Darryl Barrett.“Now, we recognize that many countries with low resources have particular challenges, and this is important because the report also shows that 80% of persons with disability globally live in low- and middle-income settings.”
The report shows that investing in a disability-inclusive health sector is cost-effective. WHO calculates that governments could expect a return of about USD 10 for every USD 1 invested on disability-inclusive noncommunicable disease prevention and care.
-ends-
STORY: Health Equity for Disabled Persons - WHO
TRT: 1 min 58s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 02 December 2022 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
- Wide shot, press room with spokesperson and panel of speakers on screens.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Darryl Barrett, Technical Lead for Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation (WHO): “Many persons with disabilities die earlier, some up to 20 years earlier, and more are at risk- double the risk - of developing a range of health conditions compared to the general population.”
- Close-up shot, computer screen showing attendants.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Darryl Barrett, Technical Lead for Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation (WHO): “It's a significant reason for these early deaths are because of poor quality health services. There's also a higher incidence of diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes, stroke, sexually transmitted infections, and cardiovascular problems among persons with disabilities.”
- Medium shot, journalists taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Darryl Barrett, Technical Lead for Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation (WHO): “This report also has new global prevalence estimates for significant disability, and that it is at about 16% of the population, or at today's rate, 1.3 billion persons with significant disability. So that equates to about one in six of us.”
- Medium shot, cameraman adjusting camera.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Darryl Barrett, Technical Lead for Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation (WHO): “The attitude and competency of health workers, for example, can be quite negative and have an impact on the health outcomes of persons with disabilities.”
- Close-up shot, hands of journalist taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Darryl Barrett, Technical Lead for Sensory Functions, Disability and Rehabilitation (WHO): “When governments are looking at training their health workforce, it's important that they include disability as part of that training and education so that the workforce is confident and competent to be able to deal with what it needs to deal with. Now, we recognize that many countries with low resources have particular challenges, and this is important because the report also shows that 80% of persons with disability globally live in low- and middle-income settings.”
- Medium shot, pressroom with journalists.
- Close-up, journalist listening.
- Close-up, journalist listening.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured,” Jeremy Laurence UN Human Rights spokesperson said at the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians
Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA
As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis - UN humanitarians
Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO
UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount
Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday, But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.
1
1
1
Edited News
A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OCHA
Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege
Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO
In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.