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Health and the Sustainable Development Goals: Leaving no one with Disability Behind

New York, 24 September 2015:  The Permanent Missions of Ecuador, Spain, and The Philippines co-hosted the World Health Organization (WHO) event, in collaboration with the Global Partnerships Forum and the International Disability Alliance.  The VIP Reception: Health and the Sustainable Development Goals: Leaving no one with disability behind, took place in the Delegates Dining Room of the United Nations. The objective of the discussion was to raise awareness of Member States’ obligations to leave no one behind – including people with disabilities – in the post-2015 development agenda. WHO made the case that in Goal 3: Health and Well-being for All and All Ages people with disabilities are genuinely included. 

International speakers also highlighted efforts at national level. Spain is striving to ensure that people with disabilities are covered by social protection, and the country’s National Disability Council evaluates the implication different policies have on people with disabilities. Ecuador has also made the inclusion of people with disabilities a priority, initiating a number of innovative ways to further inclusion by integrating people with disabilities into communities. The Philippines is taking positive steps to improve the quality of disability data and facilitate access to health and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities.

WHO speakers at the side event included Dr. Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the WHO Office at the UN, Dr. Etienne Krug, Director, Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention; and Dr. Oleg Chestnov, Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. In addition Mr. Javier Hernández Peña, Deputy Director General for Development Policies in the General Secretariat for International Development Cooperation in Spain; Mr. Santiago Santos Repetto, Principal Advisor of the Technical Secretariat for the Inclusive Management on Disabilities in Ecuador; and Mr. Vladimir Cuk, Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance all made presentations. Speakers recognized WHO's leading role in the field of disability and particularly highlighted the need to improve data relating to disabilities.

Mr. Amir Dossal, Chairman of the GPF, moderated the programme.   

To view the programme, please click here.  

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