Asian Disability and Health News Weekly Roundup 1 Oct 2008

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2008/10/01 - Updated: 2009/01/12
Topic: Asia-Pacific - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Weekly review of disability and health news from Asia and surrounding countries for the week ending 1 October 2008.

Introduction

Main Item

Weekly review of disability and health news from Asia and surrounding countries for the week ending 1 October 2008.

Originating in Japan, Shiatsu is a safe and effective therapeutic form of treatment based on 5000 years of experience. It has been called Acupuncture without needles and Japanese Physiotherapy. Shiatsu is beneficial for all individuals including those who do not have a specific condition and can be adapted for specific clients such as children, people with disabilities, pregnant women and the elderly. Clients remain dressed throughout the treatment.

The United Nations kicked off an initiative to improve access to information and communication technology (ICT) for persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, including using a computer keyboard or being able to see information on the Internet. The gathering will discuss, and hopefully adopt, the ICT accessibility guidelines for persons with disabilities, especially women and children, drafted by ESCAP and KADO. It will also share good practices in the provision of ICT accessibility to persons with disabilities, of which there are some 400 million in the Asia-Pacific region.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - A new law awaiting approval by the government will protect individuals with disabilities against workplace discrimination. The law is being pushed through Parliament to crack down on what advocacy groups call widespread workplace and social discrimination against the disabled.

The President of the Ghana Society for Hypertension and Cardiology, Dr. Francis Kwamin, has expressed worry that cardiovascular diseases are still the number one cause of disability and death in Ghana. He was emphatic that Ghanaians should put up healthy lifestyles to prevent such diseases. Dr. Kwamin in an interview with Radio Ghana said there are not obvious symptoms of cardiovascular diseases and the only way to know is through regular check ups.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has instructed its staff to force governments in several African countries to discontinue the provision of US-funded contraceptive supplies from a leading non-government agency - a decision which, the NGO warns, is likely lead to more abortions and deaths in several East African countries.

Training Center for the disabled opens in Bawan - A non-profit day training center for people with physical disabilities has been set up in Bawan. Its founder Prof Ken Nakazawa said the Bawan Harmony Center, located at the Rh Micheal Jalak longhouse, was initiated by the Rajang Central Zone Community Association and a Japanese non-governmental organization after a two-year survey.

The National Union of Disabled People in Uganda (NUDIPU) has applauded the government of Uganda for ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (PWDs). The UN convention and the Optional Protocol was ratified on 25th September 2008 by 39 countries.

Events:

Antigua & Barbuda - The first ever Antigua and Barbuda Disability Awareness Fair will be held this Saturday. More than ten schools, non-profit organizations and government programs that serve individuals with disabilities will come together for the occasion to be held at Heroes

Park at the Public Market from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. The event was organized in an effort to educate the public about disabilities, increase awareness of and access to local resources for and about individuals with disabilities and to reduce negative stereotypes of people with disabilities.

Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.