Pacific Disability Forum

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and the virus is now a global pandemic, spreading to many countries and territories. While a lot is still unknown about the virus that causes COVID-19, we do know that it is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated through coughing and sneezing). Individuals can also be infected from touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching their face (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth). While COVID-19 continues to spread, it is important that communities take action to prevent further transmission, reduce the impacts of the outbreak and support control measures.[1] (UNICEF 2020)

Ensuring that persons with disabilities are protected and respond effectively to a COVID-19 outbreak, it is critical that their exposure and vulnerability to the spread of the disease are recognised and necessary measures are in place to ensure their inclusion, effective participation, protection and safety is addressed in the health response.

Persons with disabilities and their families will be exposed to the COVID-19 outbreak. In the likely event of this, they face barriers in accessing information due to the lack of availability and accessibility of critical information to guide them take necessary precautions, identify where to go to seek help and who to contact in cases of emergencies. Lack of access to education for most persons with disabilities further contributes to their vulnerability to the outbreak as they would lack the understanding of technical medical terms used in public advisories, further contributing to their inability to respond to the outbreak and take necessary actions. Most persons with disabilities are unemployed, poor and live in overpopulated areas with poor living conditions. This exacerbates their exposure to the outbreak and limits their ability to put in place measures to respond to the outbreak, hence raises the risk of their vulnerability.

AWARENESS RESOURCES

Disability and COVID-19 Situation Analysis - Ensuring that persons with disabilities are protected and respond effectively to a COVID-19 outbreak, it is critical that their exposure and vulnerability to the spread of the disease are recognised and necessary measures are in place to ensure their inclusion, effective participation, protection and safety is addressed in the health response. We urge all levels of government, agencies and the private sector to work with disabled peoples’ organisations to make sure that persons with disabilities in particular women, children and young persons with disabilities aren’t left behind in the COVID-19 response.  Click here for more information

TOOLS AND GUIDELINES

Human Rights Based Approach guideline to Disability Inclusion in COVID-19 Response -  Ensuring effectiveness of health services and guaranteeing that no one is left behind, discriminated against and excluded from the COVID-19 response, a human rights based approach must be adopted. COVID-19 response must ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by all persons with disabilities when accessing health services, taking into considerations their diversities of needs, priorities, capacities and vulnerabilities to the outbreak. Click here for more information

Disability Inclusive Communication Guidelines - This document shows various ways you can communicate with persons with disabilities recognising the different impairments. (This document currely under review)

Disability Inclusive Messaging Guidlelines - This document show some ways that Ministry of Health, WHO, Media and other COVID-19 messaging and advisories stakeholders can ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind. Click here more information