Particular Olympics, as a part of a disability-inclusive well being consortium that included ATScale, the International Partnership for Assistive Expertise, CBM Christian Blind Mission, Clinton Well being Entry Initiative, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Lacking Billion Initiative, made a robust impression on the latest World Well being Summit (WHS) held in Berlin earlier this week. One of many world’s premiere world well being occasions, the WHS enjoys high-level attendance—from world well being gamers, just like the World Well being Group, to nationwide governments, to civil society.
Photograph by Photograph credit score: World Well being Summit
Particular Olympics Well being Messengers Barbara Njovo (Particular Olympics Zimbabwe) and David Duncan (Particular Olympics Jamaica) had been two members of a delegation of seven self-advocates with disabilities, principally from nations within the southern a part of the globe, hosted on the WHS by the disability-inclusive well being consortium. Collectively, the delegation raised the concerns and calls for of individuals with disabilities in quite a few classes throughout the WHS, asking essential questions on healthcare employee competencies to work with this inhabitants, highlighting the significance of a major healthcare method to make well being service attain individuals with disabilities, and stating the necessity to contemplate entry to and accessibility of digital well being to not depart individuals behind. The delegation’s presence highlighted the decision for “nothing about us with out us.”
Photograph by Ann Marie Anderson, Particular Olympics Jamaica
The consortium additionally co-hosted a World Well being Summit session that spotlighted how disability-inclusive well being and entry to assistive expertise are important for attaining common well being protection. Throughout the session, Particular Olympics Zimbabwe Well being Messenger Barbara Njovo delivered compelling remarks, showcasing optimistic practices in healthcare accessibility for people with disabilities. She shared her imaginative and prescient for improved accessibility, which included advocating for reusable Assisted Medical Therapy Order (AMTO) playing cards that permit for individuals with disabilities and the aged to entry care rapidly, simply, and at low price, and coaching healthcare employees to know the distinctive wants of people with disabilities. Barbara’s inspiring phrases underscored the significance of empowering people to self-advocate and take part in making their human proper to well being a actuality.
Trying forward, we’re excited to proceed our efforts in elevating consciousness and advocating for disability-inclusive well being at subsequent yr’s WHS. Collectively, we will amplify our voices and produce about optimistic change for all people, no matter their talents.
