According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15% of the world's population live with some form of disability. This corresponds to over a billion people. As regards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the studies showed that there are as close as million and half people with disabilities.
These facts have been released by the MOH Media and Health Awareness Information Center, as part of its report on the occasion of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), celebrated this year under the theme: “Break barriers, open doors, for an inclusive society for all”. It is celebrated by the United Nations (UN) on December 3 every year; in support of persons with disabilities. It aims to increase awareness of disability issues, highlight the achievements of the persons with disabilities and their contributions, and integrate them into the political, social, economic, and cultural aspects of life for their society; and to make them play role in shaping such aspects, through providing education and training opportunities for them.
Further, the report defines the disability as "a total or partial, temporary or permanent physical, sensory, mental, communicative, educational or psychological impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the disabled person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities and making him dependent on others, or in need of special tool, special training and special rehabilitation to use of it."
As far as the leading causes of disability are concerned, the report attribute them to "the genetic disorder; either due to genes inherited by either parent or because of external factors; some diseases or accidents afflicting the mother during pregnancy or delivery. Disability could also be triggered by the complications of some diseases as a result of neglecting treatment or not controlling the disease, such as diseases related to muscles and arthritis, cardiac diseases and strokes, cancer, diabetes, nerve system diseases, in addition to disabilities caused by work injury or accidents, and aging, and so forth."
Also the report stated that "getting injured with some types of disabilities as a result of the chronic diseases can be avoided by controlling these diseases and preventing their complications. This is to be accomplished though following a healthy lifestyle, adhering to a healthy diet, exercising, maintaining an ideal body weight, periodically seeing the concerned doctor for keeping the disease under control. Also, close attention must be paid to regularly taking the medicines prescribed for the disease."
As regards the treatment, it mentioned that "the health care (drug treatment, physical therapy, etc.) varies according to the type of the injury, but it is advised to periodically visit the doctor with the aim of following up the treatment and taking the necessary vaccinations; in order to avoid getting injured with the infectious diseases."
Meanwhile, the Director of the Media and Health Awareness Information Center, the pharmacist Aa'mal bint Ma'awayah Abul-Jadayel asserted that the Center is to host tomorrow (Tuesday) Dr. Khaled bin Nahs Al-Raqqas, associate professor of psychology at King Saud University, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Center will also host Dr. Fahad bin Ahmed Al-Zahrani, the Supervisor of the Medical Rehabilitation at the Medical Rehabilitation General Department, from 1 to 3 p.m. via the Center's toll-free line: 8002494444.
Within the same vein, it pointed out that the Ministry of Health (MOH) prepared a number of the leaflets, posters, and roll-up on the persons with disabilities. They were handed out to all the health affairs directorates of the at the Saudi regions; to benefit from them in terms of observing this day. Further, the MOH prepared a host of audible advertisements and TV spots, to educate on disability, affirming that the work team of the Media and Health Awareness Information Center is fully ready to receive any inquiries or questions on the persons with disabilities and other diseases, via its above-mentioned toll-free telephone line and the MOH Twitter account @SaudiMOH.