News

WHO helps to develop skills and access to assistive technology in Tajikistan 29-06-2021

15 healthcare workers and 30 participants from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan completed 5 days of training to develop skills and competencies in providing assistive technology services at primary health care centres in Tajikistan.

WHO/Europe launches caregiver skills training in Kazakhstan to support children with neurodevelopmental delays 05-03-2021

Physical isolation has negatively affected the mental health of many people worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. For children with neurodevelopmental delays and disorders (NDD), as well as their parents who already lived in isolated circumstances, the pandemic has exacerbated their social exclusion and impacted their mental and physical well-being. The need to address the treatment access gap for children with NDD existed long before the pandemic, which let WHO develop a fully-fledged programme, which kicked off when it was needed most.

Leaving no one behind: access to rehabilitation services is an integral part of universal health coverage 22-12-2020

Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the full range of health services they need – including rehabilitation – without experiencing financial hardship. It is vital that rehabilitation services are recognized as an integral part of universal health coverage if we are to build an equitable society.

Building back better: people with disabilities in the workforce 03-12-2020

Ayse is a social worker in Holbæk Kommune, Denmark, who works to support people with disabilities. As someone with a hearing impairment, Ayse has a disability herself and sometimes utilizes an interpreter in her role – bringing a unique perspective to her work.

Solidarity to protect those with disability during the pandemic 30-11-2020

In a meeting of solidarity to better protect those with disabilities, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, met virtually with Mr Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, on 23 November.

Rehabilitation needed by every two out of three COVID-19 patients recovering from intensive care – The story of Samantha 26-08-2020

The first thing you notice about Samantha, a Community National Health Service (NHS) Physiotherapist in Bournemouth in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is her beaming smile, energy and passion for her work. Her outstanding professionalism and capabilities mean that it takes most people she meets a while to notice her disability. Four years ago, Samantha fell 50 m off the side of a mountain in Austria while sledding, sustaining a brain injury and multiple fractures to her spine. Months of rehabilitation were needed for her physical, cognitive and speech difficulties which earned her huge gains, but limitations with her right arm movements are permanent. She says, “I have adapted and deliver the same high standard of care anyone else could.”

Russian Special Olympics athlete keeps training during lockdown 29-07-2020

Katya Sazonova, who has an intellectual and hearing impairment, is a dedicated Special Olympics Judo, volleyball and alpine skiing athlete whose training did not stop when the COVID-19 lockdown came to where she lives in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Personal story: Rehabilitation of a COVID-19 patient after 17 days of intensive care in Greece 14-07-2020

Having contracted COVID-19, John Tsichlakis was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital in Athens, Greece. With the help of his physiotherapists Alex Kokolios and Dimitris Konto and an intensive rehabilitation programme, John regained enough function to eventually return home to continue his recovery.

Personal story: Polish doctor recovers from severe COVID-19 through rehabilitation 13-07-2020

Anyone can catch COVID-19; however, health professionals are especially vulnerable as they have greater exposure to the virus when treating patients. Sadly, after contracting COVID-19, many have found themselves on the receiving end of the care they usually deliver, often in their own hospitals being cared for by their colleagues.

COVID-19 exposes the critical importance of patient rehabilitation 28-04-2020

Working with medical and nursing colleagues, the therapy services team at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust in central London is at the front line in caring for patients with COVID-19.

Providing life-changing hearing surgery in Greenland 04-03-2020

Asger, an 11-year-old boy from Nuuk, Greenland, suffered repeated episodes of chronic middle ear infection with pus draining from both ears as a baby. Asger’s family first noticed he was suffering hearing loss when he started school. Aged 10, he received a device to improve his hearing, a headband with a hearing aid that did not have to be put in the ear. At the same time, a new hearing test revealed a previously unknown hearing loss in the healed left ear. Asger was now classified as having disabling hearing loss.

Georgia assesses its rehabilitation services 02-03-2020

WHO/Europe is providing support to Georgia in assessing its rehabilitation services. Focusing on how and to what extent rehabilitation is integrated within the health system, the assessment is taking place over 3 weeks from 10–28 February 2020 and provides valuable data on which to build a national rehabilitation strategic plan to improve the services.

Dushanbe forum unites against disability inequalities in Tajikistan 11-11-2019

The Dushanbe forum in Tajikistan has marked the adoption of a new and powerful declaration on disability issues and the first step to the follow-up of Tajikistan’s National Program on the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities for 2017–2020. The Dushanbe Declaration on Disability Issues will also contribute to defining the priorities for Tajikistan’s disability sector until 2030.

Tajikistan: strengthening rehabilitation to leave no one behind 23-09-2019

Robia was only 6 months old when she fell ill in 2009 and was unable to move her legs. After a month, doctors diagnosed her with polio and she was sent to a rehabilitation centre, but for several years she made no progress. In 2013, however, things changed. Robia started to have physiotherapy and received training in everyday life-skills that could make her independent. She received a support brace from the National Orthopaedic Centre, which is adjusted as she grows.

Preventable trauma in childhood costs north America and Europe US$ 1.3 trillion a year 04-09-2019

The findings of a new study on the life-course health consequences and associated annual costs of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) show that preventable trauma in childhood costs north America and the European Region US$ 1.3 trillion a year.

Scaling up access to rehabilitation services in Georgia 29-05-2019

With technical support from WHO, the Georgian Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs has initiated work to increase access to rehabilitation services and assistive devices in the country.

Marking World Down Syndrome Day in Azerbaijan with an inspiring story 21-03-2019

To mark World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) 2019, the WHO Country Office in Azerbaijan organized a story time for a group of children from the Centre for Rehabilitation of People with Down Syndrome. During the event, WHO staff joined writer Orkhan Adigozal in reading his book “Desires without barriers” to the children.

Strengthening capacity for the prevention of deafness and hearing loss 20-11-2018

A workshop involving key stakeholders and health professionals from 14 countries of the WHO European Region contributed to strengthening capacity for implementing World Health Assembly resolution WHA70.13 on the prevention of deafness and hearing loss, adopted in 2017.

Strengthening human resources for rehabilitation in Tajikistan 23-08-2018

WHO is collaborating with the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) to strengthen rehabilitation in Tajikistan.

Towards universal health coverage: strengthening the evidence base for policy development in Tajikistan 07-08-2018

Recognizing that collection of accurate and up-to-date data is crucial for evidence-informed policy-making to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), WHO provided support to the Agency for Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to gather reliable data on key areas such as health services utilization, unmet need and financial burden. The focus of the work was on updating a health module of the Household Budget Survey (HBS) and providing in-depth training for those who will be conducting the survey.

Tajikistan develops its first list of essential assistive products for older people and people with disabilities 03-05-2018

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan, with technical support from WHO, recently developed a national Assistive Products List (APL). The list includes 30 priority assistive products that are essential for the well-being of people with disabilities, older people and people with noncommunicable diseases, among others.

WHO staff receives Tajik award for contribution to disability and rehabilitation sector 10-04-2018

Satish Mishra, Technical Officer for Disability and Rehabilitation, at the WHO Country Office in Tajikistan was awarded the “Exemplary Worker Award” by the Government of Tajikistan for his work in the disability and rehabilitation sector, and contribution to the development of Tajikistan.

Rehabilitation programme in Tajikistan builds towards universal health coverage 27-03-2018

9-year-old Robia is one of more than 170 000 men, women and children who have benefitted from Tajikistan’s National Programme on Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. In the spirit of universal health coverage (UHC), all services are free of charge to people with disabilities. World Health Day on 7 April will focus on UHC for everyone, everywhere.

Tajikistan receives 4.5 tonnes of Braille paper to support education of children and young adults with blindness 25-09-2017

Four and a half tonnes of Braille paper, worth US$ 180 000, safely arrived in Tajikistan thanks to the financial support of the Italian Society for the Blind.

Breaking the link between disability and exclusion in Tajikistan 07-08-2017

Several hundred Tajik people need long-term rehabilitation care following a large poliomyelitis (polio) outbreak in 2010. To support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan, WHO set up a disability rehabilitation programme in 2013. The programme improves the provision of and access to rehabilitation services for people with disabilities, with a focus on those affected by polio.

Preparing leaders in the disability rehabilitation sector in Tajikistan 16-05-2017

The Government of Tajikistan adopted the National Programme on Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (2017–2020) in October 2016. Effective leadership and management will help build the foundation for the National Programme’s aim of creating an enabling environment with equal opportunities for all through improvement of health and social protection of people with disabilities, including their social and medical rehabilitation.

Danish parliamentarians go to work with a hearing impairment on World Hearing Day 2017 07-03-2017

On World Hearing Day, 3 March 2017, Dr Jill Farrington, Coordinator, Noncommunicable Conditions at WHO/Europe, addressed members of the Danish Parliament regarding the need for public health action to make listening safe and reduce hearing impairment.

Training on rehabilitation management for children with communication difficulties in Tajikistan 03-01-2017

The WHO disability rehabilitation team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan, conducted a three-day training course on rehabilitation management of children with communication difficulties in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 20–22 December 2016.