Islamabad, 28 August 2019 – The First Lady of Pakistan H.E. Mrs Samina Alvi inaugurated a global consultation on assistive technology at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva on 22 August, reinforcing Pakistan’s continued leadership role in the area.
The consultation was held to gauge global demand and supply, bottlenecks to access and ways to improve the availability of quality-assured, affordable assistive products for everyone who needs them. Around 250 delegates from more than 100 countries participated in the consultation.
Assistive products include hearing aids, wheelchairs, communication aids, spectacles, artificial limbs, pill organizers, memory aids and other essential items that improve quality of life. WHO estimates that 1 billion people globally need at least one assistive product but that only one person in 10 has access due to high prices, lack of awareness and a shortage of trained staff.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady of Pakistan H.E. Mrs Samina Alvi said: “It is indeed a pleasure to note that Assistive Technology is drawing commitment at both global and regional level from the top leadership of WHO Member States, a sign that our world is changing for the better and that there is a hope for those in need of Assistive Products. Let us reaffirm our commitment to develop, implement and strengthen policies and programmes, to build partnerships, acquire robust data, and encourage innovation and research in the area of assistive technology”.
Pakistan has been a strong advocate at both regional and global levels for access to assistive technology. In 2016, at the request of Pakistan, the Eastern Mediterranean Region became the first WHO Region to adopt a regional resolution on the subject. Furthermore, the Islamabad declaration on assistive technology was adopted by the Member States during the Regional Committee meeting hosted by Pakistan in October 2017. Pakistan also led the preparation of a draft resolution on improving access to assistive technology, which was approved by WHO Executive Board in January 2018 and was adopted by the 71st World Health Assembly as a global resolution on Assistive Technology (WHA71.8) on 26 May 2018.
The first regional meeting to develop a strategic action framework on improving access to assistive technology took place in Islamabad in May 2018. A young Pakistani doctor Sana Hafeez has also been designated as the WHO Global Champion for Assistive Technology by WHO Director General. The country recently completed a survey on rapid Assistive Technology Assessment Survey (rATA), the first ever survey held in a country, globally. Dr Assad Hafeez, Director General Health, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, was elected as the Chair of the Expert Advisory Group for the development of the Global Report on Assistive Technology by 2021.