International Day of Person with Disabilities is celebrated every 3rd day of December. This celebration aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities and to increases awareness of the situations of PWDs as a member of the society as well as in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life. The theme for 2021 is “Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era”. This year, challenges, barriers, and opportunities for PWDs in the context of pandemic is being celebrated.
According to Institute for Labor Studies, fifteen percent (15%) of the world population and about 1.4 million Filipinos had disability. Most of them are in the working age. PWDs are among the vulnerable group that are needed to be prioritize in terms of health and nutrition. PWDs especially children and elderly are often in disadvantage on the level of health and nutrition services they receive due to inaccessibility, lack of professional that can address their concerns and other various reasons.
Nutrition is greatly linked with disability. Malnutrition in children and elderly can increase the risk of illnesses such as bone fracture, physical immobility, eye impairment, growth and development of children and many more. Whereas, disabilities may also lead to poorer health outcomes, delay in reaching developmental milestones, stunting and wasting, and worst death. Thus, it is important that PWDs should be prioritized to be given with nutrition and health services.
Nutrition plays an important role in the well-being and quality of life of a person. Person with Disabilities should be given with:
- Adequate quality and amount of Food
- Variety of fruits and vegetables for stronger body and immune system
- Food that are safely stored and prepared
- Meets individual needs that can manage their medical conditions and meets special needs.
An appropriate nutrition intervention can help them improve their nutritional status, increase immunity, decrease frequency of hospital visits, and most importantly have a better quality of life. – FRANCES VEA VALDEZ
https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities
