Wbu Faq Sheets on Un and Human Rights Instruments

WBU FAQ SHEETS ON UN AND HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (UNCRPD)

ARTICLE 25: Health

GOVT should recognize that Persons With visual Disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of visual disability.
Ensure equal access to health care and specific health related rehabilitation services which are gender sensitive in order to cope with their visual disabilities;
Health care professionals should provide persons with visual disabilities with the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programmes as provided to other persons;
Ensure equal access to general, sexual and reproductive health and population-based public health programmes;
Promote early detection and intervention measures to prevent secondary complications and minimise the impact of their visual disability conditions especially among children and elderly persons;
Health services should be available at the community level including rural areas;
Health care services should be provided on the basis of free and informed consent of persons with visual disabilities;
Raising awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and needs of Persons With Disabilities through training and the promulgation of ethical standards for public and private health care providers and personnel;

Providing health promotion and disease prevention information in accessible formats so that persons with visual disabilities can better understand prevention and treatment of disease.
Prohibit discrimination against Persons with disabilities in the provision of health insurance, and life insurance where such insurance is permitted by national law which should be provided in a fair and reasonable manner;

Prevent discriminatory practices of denial of health care services, food and fluids on the basis of their visual disabilities;

Eye care and eye health services to recover or retain sight through regular screening and treatment;
Cataract and other eye related surgeries;
Early detection and intervention of eye health conditions to prevent avoidable blindness;
Spectacles, low vision devices, eye drops and other medication related to eye health;
General, sexual and reproductive health, family planning and population based information in accessible formats such as Braille, large print, audio, DAISY, electronic and other accessible formats;
Free and informed consent of persons with visual disabilities while providing health care services;
Prescription and information on medication in accessible formats;
Accessible transport system and availability of health services at the closest possible communities where persons with visual disabilities live;
Information about health promotion and disease prevention in accessible formats

What should GOVT do to ensure the right to health for persons with visual disabilities?

Awareness on eye care and health for the general public;
National programme on prevention of avoidable blindness and other eye and general health conditions;
Promote early detection and intervention of eye health conditions;
Provision of spectacles and low vision aids;
Information in accessible formats on general, sexual, reproductive health, family planning, population, eye care and eye health conditions;
Prescription and information on the medication in accessible formats;
Affordable medical, surgical and other interventions;
Sensitisation, awareness generation and training of health providers and personnel about the specific needs of persons with visual disabilities;

For more details, Contact:

Dr. Penny Hartin

CEO-World Blind Union