World health organization

10 facts on the state of global health

A woman's eyes are examined by a health worker in Kazakhstan.
WHO/Christopher Black

Hearing loss, vision problems and mental disorders are the most common causes of disability

These disorders can affect people's lives and livelihoods, but many are easily treatable (e.g. hearing loss and cataracts). Statistics vary between higher- and lower-income countries but high overall rates of these disorders underline the need for wider access to interventions that help people live productively.

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