Posts tagged International Committee of the Red Cross

Asia’s rising demand for disability devices wanting

0 Comments read Disability, Health & Science
A prosthetist making a cast for a lower limb prosthesis during a Cooperative Orthotic Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) outreach camp in Kham District of Xieng Khouang Province in Lao PDR. Photo Credit ©COPE

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 31.08.2022 (SciDev.Net): Limited access to assistive technologies such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, mobility and communication devices, affordability and a lack of trained workforce remain significant challenges in meeting the needs of people with disabilities and the elderly in the Asia Pacific region.

According to a 2022 UN report, access to assistive technologies in some low-and middle-income countries is as low as three per cent. Assistive technology is an umbrella term for devices and related services that help users live with greater independence by improving their functioning in daily activities.

Globally, the market for assistive technologies for the disabled and elderly is expected to reach US$60.84 billion by 2028, says a recent study. It is expected to rise fastest in the Asia Pacific region because of the large population base and rising awareness about better healthcare. Continue reading →

Women Bear the Brunt of Violence in Papua New Guinea

0 Comments read Environment & Development, Features, Gender, Health & Science
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) chief official in PNG, Mark Kessler speaking to Foreign Correspondents in Sydney. Photo Credit: © Neena Bhandari

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 29.07.2017 (IDN): Violence is one of the most pressing issues, especially in the highlands, of Papua New Guinea (PNG) – one of the world’s most ethnically and linguistically diverse nations.

“Increased access to high-powered guns such as military style M16s and home-made shotguns, and the breakdown of traditional rules of warfare, has amplified the effects of violence, resulting in dozens – if not hundreds – of violent deaths and thousands of displacements each year, especially in the Highlands,” says International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) chief official in PNG, Mark Kessler. ”We are seeing wounds that one would see in war zones.”

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