This year has been a particularly challenging one for people with disabilities, who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. PAHO recognized the day by launching a new topic page on disability: https://www.paho.org/en/topics/disability.
PAHO’s work on disability includes:
- promoting health equity for people with disabilities in the Americas, through accessible and inclusive health systems;
- improving inclusive emergency preparedness and response mechanisms (led by PAHO’s emergency department);
- strengthening the collection of data and evidence on disability;
- promoting community based inclusive development/community based rehabilitation as a means to implementing the CRPD and empowering people with disabilities and their communities.
Over the coming months, we intend to add more articles and materials to the webpage to support Member States and partners in their endeavors to make sure that people with disabilities are engaged, considered and included in health programming. For more information please contact Antony Duttine: duttineant@paho.org