Washington, DC, February 27, 2025 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched the English version of the Introduction Course to Assistive Technology in the Americas. Approximately 170 people from 42 countries participated in the launch event, including 34 in the Region of the Americas.
The objective of the Introduction Course to Assistive Technology in the Americas (in Spanish and English) is to increase knowledge on assistive technology to promote its inclusion in national agendas and improve the availability and access to effective, appropriate, high-quality, and affordable assistive products and services for those who need them most: people with noncommunicable diseases, chronic or degenerative diseases, people with loss of function, or with some type of injury, either temporary or permanent, people with some type of disability, and older adults. Assistive technology is a subset of health technology that refers to assistive products (and related systems and services) such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics, and spectacles; that enable people with functional limitations to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives.
According to the WHO Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT), launched in 2022, nearly 2.5 billion people in the world (1 in 3) need at least one assistive product, a figure that will increase to 3.5 billion people by 2050. Despite the great need, in some places only 3% have access to them, which increases their risk of health problems, exclusion, isolation and poverty. The inclusion of assistive technology has significant benefits on the health, economy and participation of people who need it and their families.
The Introduction Course to Assistive Technology in the Americas results as a form of technical cooperation from the Innovation, Access to Medicines and Health Technologies (IMT) and Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health (NMH) departments of PAHO/WHO for Member States to improve access to assistive technology as urged by resolutions WHA 71.8 and WHA 76.6.
This assistive technology course, now available in the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health in English and Spanish, is divided into seven training modules with a total duration of approximately seven hours, including readings, videos, and assessment activities. It is taught as a self-learning course and is intended for:
• Policy and decision-makers, responsible officers for the design, plan and implementation of health services in primary and specialized healthcare, including outpatient and hospital services;
• Health professionals at all levels of health;
• Focal points and key stakeholders in the assistive technology sector in specialized agencies and national and subnational governments of the Member States of the Region; and
• Members of PAHO/WHO departments and country offices.
To watch the recording of the course launch webinar in English, click here.
To watch the recording of the course launch webinar in Spanish (2022 recording), click here.
