Impact of COVID-19 on Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities face unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including difficulties accessing services, increased health risks, and heightened stress levels. It is crucial to provide them with necessary support, accommodations, and information to ensure their well-being and protection.
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How Persons With Disabilities may be Impacted COVID-19 Briefing Notes for Pacific DPOs Developed by the Pacific Disability Forum March 2020
How Persons with Disabilities may be Impacted? On average 15% of a given population has disability and they are among the most marginalized people in crisis-affected communities and are disproportionately affected. Persons with disabilities with mobility issues, those who have difficulty in seeing and hearing, may have difficulty accessing services due to lack accessibility to the physical environment, lack of accessible information and communication and services that will ensure that they reach, enter, circulate and use health services. Individuals with intellectual disabilities who have existing medical conditions, including breathing problems, are at increased risk for COVID- 19.
How Persons with Disabilities may be Impacted? The impact of the coronavirus may cause stress and increase accumulation of stress related issues amongst people. People with a psychosocial disability and or existing trauma and mental health issues (such as suicidal tendencies) may have increased fear and anxiety regarding COVID-19. Some people with a psychosocial disability and or existing mental health issue and have a chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension etc. may also be more vulnerable Health outbreaks can compound gender inequalities, and increase risks of gender-based violence, the protection of women and girls with disabilities should be prioritized.
How Persons with Disabilities may be Impacted? Persons with disabilities will need reasonable accommodation and necessary support and health care, and to take necessary steps in taking care of their need and protecting themselves from the outbreak. Recognise the diversity of impairments among persons with disabilities and its severity which will impacts their ability to respond and effectively participate. Persons with disabilities require the same resources and assistance that everyone does adequate information and instructions, social and medical services, and protection from infection by those who have contracted the virus. The Government need to ensure the inclusive distribution of resources on healthcare to respond to the needs of persons with disabilities.
Reference: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses GiHA Asia/Pacific (March 2020) The COVID-19 Outbreak and Gender: Key Advocacy Points from Asia and the Pacific PHPC (March 2020) The COVID-19 Outbreak Protection Brief UNICEF (March 2020) Child protection emergency preparedness and response to the COVID-19 https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/coronavirus-outbreak- what-you-need-to-know
THANK YOU! PACIFIC DISABILITY FORUM PACIFIC DISABILITY FORUM P O Box 18458, Suva, Fiji Islands Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria House, Suva, Fiji. Phone: (679) 331 2008 Fax: (679) 331 0469 Email: pdfsec@unwired.com.fj Website: www.pacificdisability.org
