ISLAMABAD: First Lady Samina Alvi emphasized the importance of extending rehabilitation services to differently-abled individuals during the closing ceremony of the preparation of the Strategic Action Plans for the promotion of rehabilitation services in Pakistan.
The five-year comprehensive and inclusive action plan is being developed by various stakeholders, including the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Provincial Health Departments, World Health Organization, and ReLaB-HS at the federal and provincial government levels, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
First Lady Alvi highlighted the crucial role of rehabilitation services in the health sector, assisting people in returning to normal lives after experiencing illness, accidents, or disabilities. She emphasized that while the scope of rehabilitation services is not limited to persons with disabilities, it can be extended to accommodate them. These services encompass speech and occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and the provision of assistive technology.
Differently-abled individuals make up 10 to 12 percent of Pakistan’s population, and providing them with assistive technology, rehabilitation services, and access to mobility can help them play a positive role in society. First Lady Alvi called for raising awareness to mainstream differently-abled persons and end their deprivation by providing them equal rights and services.
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She described disability as a global public health issue that requires a positive approach from society to accommodate such individuals through skilled education and job opportunities. She urged the implementation of a national campaign to make differently-abled persons and their parents aware of the special job quota at the federal and provincial levels. Furthermore, she called on the private sector to provide jobs to differently-abled individuals to make them productive members of society.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Head of Mission at WHO, praised the First Lady for her national awareness campaigns on breast cancer and the rights of persons with disabilities. He stressed the need to improve people’s access to rehabilitation services and integrate them into the healthcare system for the welfare of the population. Dr. Mahipala highlighted that rehabilitation optimizes function and helps people perform daily activities while improving their quality of life. He mentioned that WHO is providing necessary advice and assistance to improve the availability of rehabilitation services, especially in countries like Pakistan.
DG Health Dr. Baseer Achakzai, Global Coordinator of ReLab-HS, and Dr. Zia Dawar also addressed the occasion. Representatives of WHO and public health professionals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and AJK attended the consultative session.
This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that differently-abled individuals have access to necessary rehabilitation services and support, allowing them to lead fulfilling lives and contribute to society.
