Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi requested a WHO mission to support his country's goal of realizing the rights of people with locomotor disability to enjoy health and well-being.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that there are 12 million people living with disabilities in Egypt, and while there is a lack of country-specific data on the availability of assistive technology, it is estimated that globally only 1 in 10 people in need have access to assistive products.
One of Sisi's key initiatives is to establish an industrial complex for prosthetics and orthotics assistive technology that will enable Egypt to become an internationally-recognized physical rehabilitation centre to both meet national needs and be a regional hub for manufacturing and service provision.
The first phase will focus on people with locomotor disability.
The WHO mission conducted field visits to several healthcare facilities across different governorates to assess the opportunities for integrating assistive technology services within the current essential services packages.
Subsequently, the mission held a series of plenary discussions and presentations with the different government stakeholders.
Headed by the WHO Representative in Egypt, Naeema Al Gasseer, the WHO Team Lead for Assistive Technologies and Medical Devices, Chapal Khasnbis and the President of ISPO, Claude Tardif, the WHO team met with the Egyptian president, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, and other relevant ministers and heads of national entities.
The mission together with a national committee has identified the steps to be taken immediately, a plan for the way forward, and the means to mobilize the necessary technical and financial support.
Assistive technology refers to the delivery of assistive products and services that maintain or improve an individual’s functioning and independence, thereby promoting their well-being, including, for example, hearing aids, wheelchairs, or prostheses.
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