Transformative impact: how the World Health Organization enhanced the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Bahrain

Bahrain

Photo: WHO/WHO Bahrain. WHO and MoH, joined by UN agencies, youth volunteers, and persons with disabilities community to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, in December 2023.

Strengthening inclusion of persons with disabilities

Persons with disabilities often confront an array of physical and societal barriers, limiting their full societal engagement and leaving their specific healthcare needs unaddressed.[1] In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Bahrain, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), launched collaborative initiatives.[2][3] A landmark advocacy event, 'Public Spaces for All', organized in an accessible-friendly park by WHO Bahrain in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office on 3 December 2022, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, emphasized the necessity of converting public spaces into inclusive environments.[4] Its impact was substantial, highlighting the importance of mainstreaming disability inclusion across all areas of society by promoting physical activity, social inclusion, and health. Building on this success, WHO Bahrain committed to leading the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) thematic group, Disability Inclusion Task Force, in 2023, actively engaging and providing technical guidance on the Ministry of Social Development’s National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities. With sustained backing from WHO, these initiatives in 2022 and 2023, paved the way for inclusive collaboration, propelling the integration of persons with disabilities in all facets of life in Bahrain. This work reflects United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy and WHO’s Policy on Disability, which ensures the disability inclusion marker is taken into account from the planning stage of all public health programmes.[5]

Key WHO Contributions

Hosted the 2022 and 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities advocacy events.
Recruited the first Disability and Inclusion Officer.
Engaged a diverse range of stakeholders, including ministers and public figures, to foster a broad-based dialogue on disability-inclusive environments.
Coordinated the UNCT thematic group Disability Inclusion Task Force.
Supported the review of the health component and translation of the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities.
Identified and supported a WHO75 Champion and key figure Paralympian, Ruba Al-Omari.
Created and distributed inclusive advocacy materials (photographs, videos, graphics) including social media short films promoting physical activity and mental health including the Healthy Habits Campaign.

How did Bahrain, with the support of WHO, achieve this?

In preparation, WHO Bahrain meticulously engaged key stakeholders, sending high-level invitations to ministers, stakeholders, and the public, ensuring a comprehensive conversation about disability-inclusive public spaces across various societal strata. This effort garnered significant support and patronage from esteemed entities like the Supreme Council of Health, ministries (Health, Social Development, Municipalities, Works, Sustainable Development), and organizations.

^{A symbolic walk in the accessible park in Diyar Al Muharraq, "Hadiqat Diyar” to promote inclusive public spaces, held on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, in December 2022.}Photo credit: WHO/WHO Bahrain

WHO Bahrain employed a multifaceted communication strategy to convey a powerful message of inclusivity across WHO, UN agencies channels, and government platforms. The event at Hadiqat Diyar was a symbolic moment, commencing with a morning assembly and culminating in a park walk - a powerful emblem of the commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, raising awareness for the need for accessible public spaces.

In 2023, WHO Bahrain continued advancing disability inclusion by coordinating the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) thematic group, the Disability Inclusion Task Force. This Task Force aligns with the UN Disability and Inclusion Strategy, launched in 2019, aiming for transformative change via UN agencies in Bahrain strengthening and championing disability inclusion within their programming and operations. WHO Bahrain, as the coordinator of the Task Force, facilitated quarterly meetings where focal points discussed collaborative activities, and reviewed efforts to strengthen systems and operations, joint activities, and training, including, completing the annual UNCT accountability scorecard on disability inclusion.

“We hope to build a platform for people, in all their diversity, to voice their stories, and where social determinants of health can be integrated within the very fabric of well-being related health systems. Bahrain’s strides in implementing accessible spaces within the country’s infrastructure provide evidence of a realization to make healthy public environments accessible to all.”

- Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain

WHO Bahrain provided technical support on the health component and review of the translation of the National Strategy for Persons with Disabilities. WHO Bahrain’s role served as a focal point for ongoing communication between the Task Force and the Ministry of Social Development and coordinated the UNCT response to the Ministry's requests for proposals and the implementation of programmes and activities. Through this coordination structure WHO ensured that all UN agencies in Bahrain had the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to the planning of disability inclusion activities.

In 2022, WHO Bahrain, jointly with, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Subregional Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, developed a public-focused campaign aimed at behavioural change related to unhealthy diets and physical inactivity using social media channels.

The campaign featured eight short videos of young Bahraini athletes from different demographic groups, ensuring gender balance, and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Building on their social engagement, in 2023, WHO Bahrain identified Ruba Al-Omari, a well-known Paralympian and Bahraini athlete, as a WHO75 Champion, emphasizing its commitment to strengthening disability inclusion.[7] WHO Bahrain produced social media short films, featuring Ms Al-Omari, as part of a broader media campaign engaging WHO75 Champions and broadening their reach within the community.

WHO’s initiatives in Bahrain have championed equal opportunities for persons with disabilities as a part of its broader mission to achieve 'health for all', aligning with Bahrain's dedication to sustainable development and inclusivity, adhering to the international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, and aligning with the wider goals of the United Nations, including gender equality and active youth participation.

A recent event organized by WHO on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in December 2023 focused on the critical role that persons with disabilities play in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and brought together organizations for persons with disabilities, UN agencies, the Ministry of Health, and youth volunteers from the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

Looking ahead to 2024, WHO Bahrain is poised to continue advancing the agenda, furthering the integration and empowerment of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of society, contributing to sustainable change on disability inclusion.

References

World Health Organization. Disability [web portal](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health, accessed 19 March 2024).
World Health Organization. Targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3 [web portal] (https://www.who.int/europe/about-us/our-work/sustainable-development-goals/targets-of-sustainable-development-goal-3, accessed 2 February 2024).
World Health Organization. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities [web portal] (https://www.who.int/tools/your-life-your-health/a-healthy-world/planet/SDG-11-Sustainable-Cities-and-Communities, accessed 2 February 2024).
World Health Organization. Promoting disability-inclusive public spaces in Bahrain [news story] (https://www.emro.who.int/bahrain/news/promoting-disability-inclusive-public-spaces-in-bahrain.html, accessed 2 February 2024).
World Health Organization. WHO’s policy on disability [web portal (https://www.who.int/about/policies/disability#:~:text=The%20WHO%20Policy%20on%20Disability%20requires%20WHO%20to%3A,information%20about%20WHO's%20disability%20programme, accessed 19 March 2024).
World Health Organization. International day of persons with disabilities [web portal] (https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities, accessed 2 February 2024).
World Health Organization Bahrain. Biannual Newsletter. July – December 2023 [newsletter] (https://www.emro.who.int/images/stories/bahrain/WHO-Bahrain-Newsletter-amended-July-Dec_2023.pdf, accessed 5 February 2024).