Expression of Interest (EOI) for Scaling up Access to Assistive Technology (AT) and Rehabilitation Services for School-aged Children (2024–2027) in Pacific Island Countries (PICs)

Background: 

Today, over 2.5 billion people need at least one form of Assistive Technology (AT), such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses, or hearing aids. In some countries, as few as 3% have access to the AT they require. The number of people needing AT is expected to grow to more than 3.4 billion by 2050. 

Access to appropriate AT enables people with functional limitations, impairments, disabilities, noncommunicable diseases, and the ageing population to participate in education, work, and family and community life. Lack of access to AT has significant consequences for individuals, their families, and wider society. Without AT, individuals may experience isolation and exclusion from education, the labour market, and civic life. Lack of access to appropriate AT causes poorer health outcomes, including premature death, deteriorating mental health, and increased risk of chronic health conditions and secondary complications, all leading to a higher burden on health systems. Increasing accessibility and affordability of AT can unlock unrealized economic potential and provide socio-economic benefits for individuals, families, and countries by increasing productivity and participation in the workforce. 

The 2022 UNICEF-World Health Organization Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT), supported by ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, outlines the current global landscape and provides key recommendations for countries. This includes integrating AT into national health plans and health service delivery. ATshould be integrated into fundamental health and social systems, and into other inter-sectoral related system planning, and included across all appropriate service delivery platforms. The report estimates that over 2.5 billion people could benefit from one or more assistive products. The unmet needs for AT are particularly large in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Enhancing access to AT is essential for achieving numerous international commitments, such as universal health coverage, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Objective of the EOI:

The EoI from eligible countries in Pacific Island Countries (PICs), is intended to support a government-led programme to scale up access to assistive technology (AT) and rehabilitation services for school-aged children, with a focus on scaling up joint screening for eye, ear, and mobility, including the provision of eyeglasses, hearing and mobility aids to school-aged children.