WHO official: Disability a human right

DISABILITY is a human right and improving their data, making health systems inclusive, strengthening rehabilitation services and expanding community-based rehabilitation is vital to persons living with disability, World Health Organisation representative Dr Paulinus Sikosana said yesterday.
As part of International Disability Day celebrations on Monday, WHO launched its disability tool kit to signify the organisation’s commitment to ensuring disability was mainstreamed across all sectors in Papua New Guinea.
The WHO disability tool kit was presented to new PNG Association of Disabled Persons patron, Linda O’Neill at the Boroko Salvation Army school.
The theme for this year’s International Disability Day is ‘Removing barriers for an inclusive society for all’.
“WHO will continue to work to ensure that disabi­lity is integrated into the work of relevant technical programmes,” Sikosana said.
He said the tool kit provided a simple introduction to disability mainstreaming and to inclusive development for WHO offices in countries, areas and territories.
“The goal of this tool kit is to help remove barriers in-house and to highlight entry points for mainstreaming disability in technical programmes,” Sikosana said.