WHO Europe has launched a new Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on disability and health. This is the first TAG on disability and will inform WHO’s actions as it works with countries to build disability-inclusive health systems across the WHO European Region.
Officially launched at a technical meeting on 13 November 2024, the new TAG will be specifically tasked with advising on the implementation of the “WHO European Framework for Action to Achieve the Highest Standard of Health for Persons with Disabilities, 2022- 2030”, adopted unanimously at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in 2022.
“The launch of this new advisory group marks an important milestone in our work to promote the health and rights of people with disabilities across the region, and we are indeed behind when it comes to making concrete progress,” he explains Kiani programTechnical Lead for Disability, Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation and Ear/Eye Care, at WHO Europe.
“TAG’s collective knowledge and experiences will prove invaluable in developing proposals on strategies and actions that governments, organizations representing people with disabilities and other stakeholders can take together to strengthen disability-inclusive health systems,” he said. added.
Collection of skills
TAG members include nominees from 23 countries in the European region who will work as part of the group for the next 2 years. They represent a wide range of disciplines relevant to disability and health, from statistics, inclusive policy and advocacy, to lived experience with disability, habilitation/rehabilitation and social inclusion. These members serve in their personal capacities as academics and researchers, as well as bringing expertise from health entities, national public health institutes and civil society organizations.
Vugar Mammadov is one of the co-chairs of TAG and also works as vice-chairman of the board of directors for the State Disability Agency in Azerbaijan. He outlined what he sees as the role of the TAG: “Many people with disabilities in our region have unmet healthcare needs, so there is an urgency to develop policies and actions to address this issue. TAG is determined to achieve the highest standard of health for people with disabilities by advising WHO on the most effective, innovative and evidence-based approaches available.”
At the heart of the TAG’s mandate is advising WHO Europe on effective and innovative approaches to promoting the health of people with disabilities and how these could be replicated in the design, implementation and evaluation of disability strategies within health systems in the Region. As part of their work, they will help evaluate programmes, initiatives and trials, share practical experiences from across countries on best practices, and advise on the investments health authorities need to make to improve access to health and health outcomes for people with disability.
Source: dailyhealthcare
