Mobilising for an adequate response to Covid-19 for persons with disabilities

The emergency caused by Covid-19 in Albania has caused economic and health difficulties for the population in general and particularly so for persons with disabilities and their families. 

 

In order to support the community of persons with disabilities during this emergency, UNDP Albaniain the framework of the Programme “Leave No One Behind”-a common Programme of the United Nations, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Collaboration (SDC), enabled our initiative: “Mobilising for an adequate response to Covid-19 for persons with disabilities”for a five month duration, June-October 2020. 

 

The aim of our initiative is to improve the response of the organisations of persons with disabilities in relation to the Covid 19 emergency. This will be achieved by strengthening collaboration between organisations, in order to identify the issues that have been encountered during the emergency situation so as to provide an adequate response. In addition, we want to enable information sharing as to the added risk that persons with disabilities face to Covid 19 and the measures that should be taken to avoid contagion. Another factor is raising awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities during emergencies in general and with a particular focus to the Covid 19 emergency.

 

The meetings with the organisations of persons with disabilities, experts and representatives of public institutions were held online so as to avoid risks during this pandemic.  

 

The analysis of the actual situation of persons with disabilities will be covered in a report, that will also include the recommendations made from representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities with the aim of improving the response to the pandemic. 

 

The publication of the report, using media appearances and social media, will bring into the attention of the decision-makers and the public at large, the issues that persons with disabilities face during the pandemic, and enabling an adequate response to improving the situation of persons with disabilities and their families