Introduction:
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is annually held on December 3rd, was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992 to support the disabled. Through this day, we seek to integrate persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities and activate their participation in them by providing them with education and training opportunities.
Facts:
- Over a billion people, about 15% of the world's population, have some form of disability.
- There is a higher disability prevalence in lower income countries than in higher income countries.
- Persons with disabilities often do not have access to health care in many developing countries.
- Children with disabilities do not receive good education, especially in developing countries.
- Persons with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed and poor in many world countries.
- Children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children.
Objectives:
- Promote an understanding of disability issues to ensure their rights.
- Empower persons with disabilities to live independently.
- Help them to attain the highest standard of healthcare, without discrimination.
- Boost their self-confidence and capabilities through participation in different activities.
- Involve them fully in all aspects of life and development.
- Identify and remove barriers and obstacles to their capabilities.
- Train health professionals to ensure their access to appropriate healthcare.
- Refer children with disabilities to specialized medical and rehabilitation services to reduce mortality.
- Support persons with disabilities to have educational opportunities.
- Submit recommendations for making school environments accessible to all.
- Support women with disabilities to access maternal health services.
- Provide psychosocial and social support to persons with disabilities and their families.
- Raise awareness about educational and rehabilitation programs designed for them.
- Exchange ideas, visions and experiences.
- Review ways and means of developing partnership between families and service centers.
- Highlight achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities.
Official Date:
Globally: December 3rd, 2019.
Locally: Rabī’ al-Ākhir 6th, 1441H.
Target Groups:
- Persons with disabilities and their families.
- Workers in the health sector.
- Health associations and organizations.
- Health decision-makers.
- All segments of society.