One in 10 people disabled, WHO reports
Date: Dec. 14, 1999
Time: 2:30 pm
The World Health Organization is advocating closer cooperation among UN agencies and other partners to create a common approach to disability. About 500 million people have special needs related to disabilities and 80% of them live in developing countries.
"A more comprehensive effort is needed at both the national and international levels, linking prevention with rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities," said Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO's director general.
An estimated 7% to 10% of people have a disability of some sort. WHO defines this as having difficulties participating in common daily activities. Several relatively recent factors have contributed to this new estimate. Increased life expectancy means there are more older people who are susceptible to disability, while better perinatal care has increased survival chances for children with disabilities. As well, injuries are on the rise due to increases in violence, conflict and the number of traffic accidents.
Since poverty and disability are intertwined, WHO says these 2 issues must be tackled together. Persons with disabilities are poorer as a group than the general population and people living in poverty are more likely than others to be disabled.
"Due to the linkage with poverty, our approach to the future challenges that disability poses must involve several UN agencies and other partners, particularly organization of persons with disabilities," said Brundtland. "Disability must be addressed on several levels: medical, rehabilitative, social and political, and the best way to do that is to work together on a shared agenda. WHO will be open to work with all interested parties to that effect." — Barbara Sibbald, eCMAJ
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