(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and health sector partners in Qatar participated in the celebrations of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) yesterday. The theme of this year's celebrations is ‘Building Back Better: Towards a More Disability-Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable Post-COVID World'. The day aimed at promoting an understanding of disability issues and mobilising support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing 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. IDPWD was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992 under the theme: ‘A Day for All'. It has been celebrated ever since. In connection with the occasion, the MoPH has stressed the importance of enhancing collective efforts to secure the health and social protection for the persons with disabilities, especially while facing the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ensure the smooth and continuous flow through the activation of a group of remote tele-health services and measures to ensure access to these health services for persons with disabilities.
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 lead of the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 priority area Health and Wellbeing for People with Special Needs, Dr. Khalid Abdul Hadi, said, 'Work is ongoing through the strategy to improve the early detection of disability, promote diagnostic procedures and referrals to services, and 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 have been established to realise these objectives. To mark the day, MoPH prepared a number of educational materials, and awareness videos to raise public awareness of the precautionary measures for the persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The MoPH also issued a guide-booklet, in both Arabic and English, for persons with disabilities as well as 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 launched the call centre for the health sector to receive any inquiries related to COVID-19.
HMC provided a hotline for the parents of children experiencing disabilities to receive consultations related to COVID-19 and disability. MoPH also launched the e-learning platform to help the families of the persons suffering from autism spectrum. This platform comprises guidance videos as well as educational and training materials targeting families that are prepared by behaviour specialists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and mental professionals. Qatar was one of the first states in the world to ratify the convention of the rights of persons with disabilities in 2008. Since then, Qatar has made remarkable and significant strides for promoting and protecting their rights, their integration in the society as well as involving them in the development process in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, which stipulates the achievement of equality and justice for all.
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