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Equipped for equity: WHO-IPC Paris 2024 Paralympic Games campaign [1]
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Date: 2024-08-28
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are launching the "Equipped for equity" campaign during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, running from 28 August to 9 September 2024. The Paralympic Games, renowned for showcasing the extraordinary talents of athletes with disabilities, highlight the critical role of assistive technology in their achievements. This campaign aims to celebrate the transformative impact of these technologies, not only in sports but also in daily life. Through this initiative, we advocate for global action to break down barriers to access to assistive technology, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the tools that facilitate participation and independence.
Campaign overview
Assistive technology plays a crucial role in enabling Paralympic athletes to compete at the highest level, showcasing their extraordinary skills and inspiring millions. However, global inequities in access to these essential health products remain a significant challenge. The "Equipped for equity" campaign calls for global action to address these disparities and ensure that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to the assistive technology they need to live full and independent lives.
The campaign aims to:
Highlight the impact of assistive technology on the lives of those requiring them.
Urge governments to remove barriers, such as high taxes on assistive products, and integrate access into Universal Health Coverage.
Showcase national initiatives, like tax exemptions in Zimbabwe and pre-Paralympic tax reductions in France and Japan, as models for global adoption.
Calls to action
The "Equipped for equity" campaign is more than a spotlight on the Paralympics—it's a call to action for governments worldwide. We urge policymakers to: Remove barriers: reduce or eliminate taxes on assistive technology.
Invest in access: integrate assistive technology into primary health care and Universal Health Coverage.
Invest in access: integrate assistive technology into primary health care and Universal Health Coverage. Champion equity: ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to the assistive technology they need.
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[1] Url:
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2024/08/28/default-calendar/equipped-for-equity-who-ipc-paris-2024-paralympic-games-campaign
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