The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the health sector partners are to join the celebrations of International Day for Persons with Disabilities, (IDPD) which falls today (December 3), according to a statement.
The theme of this year’s celebrations is “ Building Back Better: Towards a More Disability-Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable Post-Covid World.”
The day aims a t promoting an understanding of disability issues and mobilising support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of benefits to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
The IDPD was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992 under the theme ‘A Day for All.’ The MoPH stressed the importance of enhancing the collective efforts to secure health and social protection for the persons with disabilities especially while facing the Covid-19 pandemic by assuring access to a a group of remote tele-health services. The health services, the rehabilitation services, as well as the allied health services for persons with disabilities are delivered through the clinics and the virtual clinics using visual and telephone communication.
The MoPH has prepared a number of educational materials, and videos to raise public awareness on the precautionary measures for the persons with disabilities during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ministry has also issued a guide-booklet, in both Arabic and English, for persons with disabilities as well as a an awareness video, translated in sign language, addressing all types of disabilities in addition to issuing special medical standards and measures for the isolation of persons with disabilities infected with Covid-19.
The MoPH has launched a call centre for the health sector to receive any inquiries related to Covid-19. Hamad Medical Corporation has provided a hotline for the parents of children with disabilities to receive consultations related to Covid-19 and disability.
The MoPH also launched the e-learning platform to help families of persons suffering from autism spectrum disorders. This platform comprises guidance videos as well as educational and training materials prepared by behaviour specialists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and mental health professionals.
Dr Khalid Abdul-Hadi, the lead of the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 priority area Health and Wellbeing for People with Special Needs, said work is ongoing through the strategy to improve the early detection of disability, promote diagnosis procedures and referrals to services, and to develop early intervention programmes and services.
In addition, registers for persons with disabilities have been established and easy access to general and specialised services have been provided without impediments. This priority shall focus on integrating persons with special needs to enable them to achieve a better future for themselves and others. A range of targets and schemes has been established to realise these objectives.
Qatar is one of the first countries to ratify the convention of the rights of the persons with disabilities in 2008. Since then, Qatar has made remarkable and significant strides in promoting and protecting their rights, their total integration in the society as well as to involve them in the development process in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 which stipulates the achievement of equality and justice for all the categories of the society.
PHCC, MoPH, HMC
