Context
The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has recently launched the first Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT).
About Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT)
- This report is the culmination of the 71st World Health Assembly resolution in 2018 to prepare a global report on effective access to assistive technology.
- GReAT presents evidence for the first time on the global need for and access to assistive products.
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What is Assistive technology?
- Assistive technology is an umbrella term covering the systems and services related to the delivery of assistive products and services.
- Assistive technology is products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities.
- Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.
- These include a very wide range of technologies and devices such as prosthetics, braces, walkers, special switches, special-purpose computers, screen readers and specialised curricular software.
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- It provides a series of recommendations to expand availability and access, raise awareness of the need, and implement inclusion policies to improve the lives of millions of people.
- The current report supports the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and making universal health coverage (UHC) inclusive and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Key-Highlights of the report (Magnitude of the problem)
- The number of people in need of one or more assistive products is likely to rise to 3.5 billion by 2050, due to population aging and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases rising across the world.
- There is the vast gap in access between low- and high-income countries.
- An analysis of 35 countries reveals that access varies from 3% in poorer nations to 90% in wealthy countries.
- Affordability is a major barrier to access
- A survey of 70 countries featured in the report found large gaps in service provision and trained workforce for assistive technology, especially in the domains of cognition, communication, and self-care.
GReAT recommendations
- prove access to assistive technology within all key development sectors
- Ensure that assistive products are safe, effective and affordable
- Enlarge, diversify and improve human resource capacity
- Actively involve users of assistive technology and their families
- Increase public awareness, garner political support and combat stigma surrounding assistive technology use
- Invest in data and evidence-based policy
- Invest in research, innovation and an enabling ecosystem
- Develop and invest in enabling environments
- Include assistive technology in humanitarian responses
- Provide technical and economic assistance through international cooperation to support national efforts.
Other initiatives
- The WHO launched the Priority Assistive Products List in 2018.
- These include hearing aids, wheelchairs, communication aids, spectacles, artificial limbs, pill organisers, memory aids and other essential items for the elderly and person with disabilities.
