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
Edited News | WHO
‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials
Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.
1
12
1
1
Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS
UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science
No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire
In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP , OCHA
UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned food aid cannot reach everyone in Gaza unless all border crossings are opened, particularly in the north where famine was declared in August. The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNDP , UNICEF , OCHA , ICRC
Around $70 billion will be needed to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe after two years of war, UN development experts said on Tuesday, while aid agencies reported that far too little aid continues to reach desperate Palestinians.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , UNICEF , WHO
As Gazans jammed the main route leading north on Friday after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced, UN aid teams repeated their call to open all crossings into the devastated enclave to prevent famine spreading.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO
Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians
Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.
1
1
1
Edited News
Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC
Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital
UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.
2
1
2
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.
The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.