Under the theme: “Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD 2012), is celebrated with a view to promoting the health quality of people with disabilities, by means of the colossal efforts made at both the national, regional and international levels. An important action to be taken, also, is to raise people's awareness of this issue and its consequences. In most cases, the rights of persons with disabilities are denied or disregarded by the society, both policy makers and the public. And consequently, considering the tremendous number of people living with disabilities throughout the world, they will still have their problems unsolved, and their challenges persistent.
The IDPD is essentially indented to promote people's awareness of disability-associated matters, and mobilize the necessary support for preserving the disabled persons' dignity, rights and health. It also aims to enhance the awareness of the benefits that could be gained when involving persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.
With an objective to promote people's awareness of disability issues, the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities and involving them in all aspects of life (social, political, economic … etc.), the IDPD provides an opportunity for participation by all stakeholders to focus on issues related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development, both as beneficiaries and agents.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is keen to support this group through providing health care services to them, just like the other members of the community, in addition to the constant emphasis on the importance of involving them in the efforts meant to remove any difficulty in providing therapeutic and rehabilitative health services to them, as prescribed by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, approved by United Nations General Assembly in 1982.
Key Facts:
Estimates show that in each ten persons around the world, there is almost one person with disability, and that up to 20 per cent of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability. In most cases, persons with disabilities encounter stigma and discrimination, and are usually deprived of their essential rights, such as food, education and work, as well as access to health services. Many persons with disabilities are enforced to live in social care institutions, which is considered a violation their freedom to live and move in their communities.
Internationally Approved Date: 3/12/2012
Locally Approved Date: 19/1/1434H
Theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2012:
“Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all”
Targeted Groups:
- Persons with disabilities and their families.
- Health workers.
- Health institutions and organizations.
- Health decision makers.
- The public.
Objectives and General Messages of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2012:
- Raising the disabled persons', as well as the public, awareness of the meaning of "disabilities".
- Determining the important criteria and guidelines for developing health care provided for persons with disabilities.
- Providing access to medical information for the person with disability and his family.
- Providing full support for the person with disability and protecting his dignity and rights.
- Supporting research and collecting disabilities-associated data, locally and internationally.
- Involving persons with disabilities in the implementation of the policies and programs provided for them.
- Supporting people with disabilities in all fields, especially education, training and employment.
- Facilitating e-accessibility: the use of such ICT methods as the internet by persons with disabilities.
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