International Day of Persons with Disabilities

It is a day to promote an understanding of disability issues and marshal support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It has been proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution.

To this day, there has been a lot of programs such as the conference that the United Nations Headquarters in New York had led every year as well. There are key messages that this day is trying to promote:

1) Many of us will experience disability in our lifetime, particularly as we grow older

2) WHO commits to supporting countries to realize a world where health systems are inclusive and persons with disabilities can attain their highest possible standard of health.

3) COVID-19 has resulted in further disadvantage and increased vulnerability for many persons with disabilities due to barriers in the health and social sectors, including discriminatory attitudes and inaccessible infrastructure.

4) Building back better requires persons with disabilities to be central to health sector decision making, to ensure barriers are addressed in an inclusive and timely way.

5) Disability inclusion in the health sector is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do, as it directly contributes to the achievement of broader global and national health priorities.

These communications represent the idea of social awareness, infrastructure, and support that would be given to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.