Sunday, December 04, 2022

Disabilities Iniquities

 A person with disabilities compared to others in the society have a higher risk of premature death and illness.

A new report by the World Health Organization,  Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities, shows that because of the systemic and persistent health inequities, many persons with disabilities face the risk of dying much earlier---even up to 20 years earlier---than persons without disabilities. Many of the differences in health outcomes cannot be explained by the underlying health condition or impairment, but by avoidable, unfair and unjust factors.

They have an increased risk of developing chronic conditions, with up to double the risk of asthma, depression, diabetes, obesity, oral diseases, and stroke. 

"Health systems should be alleviating the challenges that people with disabilities face, not adding to them," said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The number of people with significant disabilities worldwide has risen to 1.3 billion (or 1 in 6 people). 80% of persons with disabilities live in low- and middle-income countries where health services are limited.

Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities - World | ReliefWeb

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