Disability prevention and rehabilitation FLM Hyera

Sources of information Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly – WHA58.23 Agenda item 13.13, 25 May 2005 Disability, including prevention, management and rehabilitation

UN URGES to Member States Strengthen national programmes, policies and strategies on the UN’s Standard Rules on the Equalization of Persons with Disabilities Increase awareness and importance of disability and coordinate disability preventive activities in all sectors and public Promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and ensure their full inclusion in the society especially in training and employment Reduce risk factors contributing to disabilities during pregnancy and childhood Promote early intervention and identification of disabilities during pregnancy and childhood

UN URGES to Member States Implement family counselling programmes including premarital confidential testing for diseases such as anaemia and thalassemia with prevention counselling for intra-family marriages Promote and strengthen community-based rehabilitation programmes linked to PHC and integrated in the health systems. Include a disability component in health policies and programmes especially in child and adolescent health, SRH, mental health, ageing, HIV/AIDS and chronic conditions e.g DM, CVDs and cancer

UN URGES to Member States Ensure gender equity in all measures with special attention to women and girls with disabilities due to their social, cultural and economic disadvantages; Investigate and put into practice, under their specific conditions, the most effective actions to prevent disabilities with participation of other sectors of the community. Ensure adequate provision and effective medical care to people with special needs and facilitate their access to such care as prostheses, wheelchairs, driving aids and other devices

UN REQUESTS the DG Intensify collaboration with Organization towards enhancing quality of life and promoting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities including gender-disaggregated statistical analysis and information on disability in all areas of work. Provide support to Member States in strengthening national rehabilitation programmes and implementing the UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Support Member States on data collection including cost effectiveness of interventions for disability prevention, rehabilitation and care

UN REQUESTS the DG Organize a meeting of experts to review the health and rehabilitation requirements of persons with disabilities Promote studies of incidence and prevalence of disabilities as a basis for the formulation of strategies for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation Produce a world report on disability and rehabilitation based on the most available evidence Promote a clear understanding of the contributions that people with disabilities can make to society Support Member States in taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk factors that lead to disabilities.