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WHO Rehabilitation 2030: A Call for Action

Friday 06, Jul 2018

Assistive Technology is an important element within the WHO workplan around Rehabilitation. The background documents, definitions and a call to arms for practitioners and governments globally are summarised within WHO  (2017). Rehabilitation 2030: A Call for Action. Geneva

Key definitions for ARATA from the Rehabilitation 2030 document:

  • Rehabilitation is characterized by interventions that address impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions, as well as personal and environmental factors (including assistive technology) that have an impact on functioning (p2)
  • Assistive products can have a profound impact on safety, level of functioning and independence. To realize the full benefits of recent growth in the development and availability of such products access to providers who are proficient in assessing, prescribing and training in the use of the products is necessary (p4)

Key resource documents include:

1- Rehabilitation key for health in the 21st century

2- Rehabilitation in health systems implementing WHO recommendations in countries

3- Rehabilitation in health systems learning from current initiatives

4- Raising awareness of the need for rehabilitation

5- Call for Action