disabilities defined
ACCORDING to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, persons with disabilities (PWDs) include those who have a long-term physical, mental, sensory or intellectual impairment.
Globally, over 1 billion people or about 15 percent of the world’s population have some form of disability. Approximately 110 to 190 million people 15 years and older have some significant difficulties in functioning.
The rapid spread of chronic diseases and population aging contribute to the increasing rates of disability. About 80 percent of the world’s PWDs live in low-income countries, wherein majority are poor and cannot access basic services.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012 reported that PWDs have less access to health and other services therefore have greater unmet needs. This holds true to many.
Davao’s PWD Affairs Section representative Bong Comiling said that 80 percent of the government owned buildings violated the accessibility law. He added that law remains a big issue on this matter.
“Hindi lang accessibility ang problema kundi pati na rin sa mga taong hindi marunong umintindi. I am telling my brothers, we do not beg for their mercy, but we are availing our rights,” said chess international master James Infiesto and president of Association of Differently-Abled Persons Inc. (Adap).
A law states that no permit or license for construction shall be given unless it complies with the requirement of the accessibility law as stipulated in Section 1 of the Batas Pambansa Bilang 344.
Dr. Sharon Lilly B. Valdez, medical officer for the Department of Health’s (DOH) noncommunicable disease (NCD) Cluster Health in Davao Region, said with PWDs health and conditions, they need greater attention and considerations without discrimination.
Based on an administrative order obtained from the Office of the Secretary of the DOH, Census of Population and Housing (CPH) result on 2010 revealed that the country, of the 92.1 million household population, has 1.443 million or 1.57 percent PWDs.
The Region 4-A was recorded to have the highest number with 193,000 PWDs among the 17 regions, while Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) had lowest number with 26,000 PWDs.
National Statistics Office’s (NSO) record in 2013 revealed that for every five PWDs, 19
percent was aged 0 to 14 years, 59 percent were in the working age group (15-64 years old), and 22.1 percent was aged 65 years and above.
With this concern, the DOH came up with a National Health Program (NHP) for PWD based on the Republic Act 7211 or The Rehabilitation and Self-Reliance of Disabled, to address barriers and improve the access to inclusive health and rehabilitation services.