THE CHALLENGED CHRONICLES

The world is facing a new day in the area of disabled people that populate the planet.
In the first ever “World Report on Disability” a collaborative effort between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank, copyrighted to the WHO in 2011 – it is confirmed that, “more than one billion people in world live with some form of disability, of whom nearly 200 million experience considerable difficulties in functioning.”

The report also states that, “in the years ahead, disability will be an even greater concern because its prevalence is on the rise. This is due to ageing populations and the higher risk in older people as well as the global increase in chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental health disorders”.

The data sanctioned by WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan and President of the World Bank Group Robert Zoelleck, it should be noted by all who read this; that in the section of the report titled: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT DISABILITY? … the billion people now living with disabilities as at 2010, based on global population estimates, is higher than previous WHO estimates, “which date from the 1970s, which suggested around ten percent of the world’s population” – a figure found to be woefully low and climbing.

This World Report on Disability is being cited as assembling the best available scientific information on disability to improve the lives of people with disabilities and to facilitate implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD).

The aim is to:
• To provide governments and civil society with the comprehensive analysis of the importance of disability and the responses provided based on the best available evidence.
• Recommend national and international action

Jamaica by the way is the first country to sign as well as ratify this UN CPRD and as such, we have the distinction of having international recourse, for persons who are suffering discrimination, as well as inadequate provisions for their needs and human rights in this country. Think on these things.

Among the solutions to addressing the growing world population of disabled individuals – the findings show that not just Jamaica, is behind and in need to move with alacrity to address certain deficits that affect the disabled.

‘With the global lack of rehabilitation professionals, more training capacity is needed. Mixed or graded levels of training may be required. The complexity of working in resource –poor contexts demand university or string technical diploma education.

Mid-level training programmes can be a first step to address gaps in rehabilitation personnel in developing countries or to compensate for difficulties in recruiting higher level professionals in developed countries.

“Training community based workers can address geographical access and respond to work force shortages and geographical dispersion. Using mechanisms and incentives to retain personnel can provide continuity of service”.

Information for “The Challenged Chronicles” was taken from the first ever World Report on Disability a collaboration of the World Health Organisation and the World Bank.

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