University:
University College London
Course:
LAWS0029 | Health Care Law
Academic year:

2024
Views:

335

Pages:

3
Author:

Nam B.

Disability And The Public Health Response To Covid-19 Presented by: Mrs. Lee Date: 26 May 2020 WHO Response To COVID-19 And Disability - Immediate calls from countries and civil society for targeted guidance - Produced document with specific actions for: • Disabled people and their households • Governments • Healthcare workers • Disability service providers • Institutions • General public Why Are Specific Actions Needed For Disabled People? - Three dimensions of increased risk 1. Risk of contracting the disease 2. Risk of developing a severe case of the disease once contracted 3. Risk of disproportionate impact from the COVID-19 response Risk 1: Contracting The Disease - Due to: • Barriers to implement basic hygiene measures (e.g., handwashing, physical distancing) • Barriers to access public health information Risk 2: Developing A Severe Case - Due to: • Underlying conditions, especially related to respiratory function or immune response • - Existing barriers to access suitable healthcare Most "inherent" of the three risks Risk 3: Disproportionate Impact During Response - Due to: • Disruptions in services that people depend on (e.g., care services, work programs, education programs) • Disruptions in supply chains for essential goods and medicines • Lack of inclusion in COVID-19 response programs and relief packages How Did We End Up Here? - Inaccessible health care (facilities, attitudes, costs) - Inaccessible information - Inaccessible public hygiene facilities - Lack of community-based care Scale Of Impact For Disabled People - We don't really know the scale yet... - But we can make some guesses based on: - • Knowledge how people with underlying health conditions are at greater risk • High death tolls seen among older people • High death tolls seen in residential and institutional settings ...but in many ways it does not matter what the scale actually is, because we know what needs to be done. Ensure All Aspects Of Response Are Inclusive - Ensure accessible public health information - Implement protective measures against COVID-19 • Accessible water and sanitation facilities • Adaptions in residential or institutional settings • Provision of personal protective equipment - Ensure accessibility to services - Ensure non-discrimination in allocation of scarce medical resources Moving Forward - - Integrate consideration of disability in all systems before crises strike • Response protocols • Terms of reference for positions • Budget lines for access Improve health outcomes for disabled people • - Accessible health systems Invest in community-based solutions