[mkdf_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”#f55549″ background_color=””]T[/mkdf_dropcaps]
he International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have announced a new global agreement with the goal of “promoting health and sport for everybody, everywhere”.

As part of the agreement, the two organisations will work to improve global access to rehabilitation and assistive technology as part of a universe health coverage plan to foster diversity and equity through global initiatives.

WHO director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “Sport and health are natural allies, with mutually reinforcing benefits.”

“More than that, the Paralympic Games are an inspiring statement of what persons with disabilities can achieve.

“We hope this partnership between WHO and IPC will provide a platform for more persons with disabilities to participate in sport, but also for demonstrating why universal health coverage is so important, by ensuring all persons have the care and technologies they need to fulfil their potential,” Dr Ghebreyesus said.

IPC president, Andrew Parsons, said the partnership, which comes ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games on 24 August, will work to support the 15% of the world’s population that live with a disability.

“This new partnership is one that will greatly benefit society, as sport is a tremendous tool for ensuring persons lead active and healthy lifestyles,” Parsons said.

“The IPC’s partnership with the WHO goes beyond promoting physical and healthy lifestyles and will also focus on highlighting the role assistive technology plays in the creation of an inclusive world, especially for the over one billion persons with disabilities,” he said.