Mission of the WHO Regional Office for Europe related to the strengthening Assistive Technologies and Rehabilitation sector in Azerbaijan has ended

The objective of the mission was to observe the activities of the AT and Rehabilitation sector in Azerbaijan, to exchange views with stakeholders in AT on results of "r-ATA" survey (“rapid-Assistive Technology Assessment WHO survey tool”) undertaken by the WHO in 67 countries and implemented in Azerbaijan in 2021 with the purpose of studying needs of the people of the country and to discuss possible ways of strengthening this sector. 

During the mission, experts met with the representatives of the WHO Country Office in Azerbaijan and leaderships of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population, Ministry of Health, State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance, TABIB and other relevant agencies, discussed in detail the current state of the AT and Rehabilitation sector in Azerbaijan, results of surveys and observations, as well as possible ways of development. 

In addition, during visits to the Prosthetic-Orthopedic Production and Rehabilitation Center, DOST Agency of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population, the  Scientific Research Medical Rehabilitation Institute of the Ministry of Health, the manufacture of assistive products, provision of the population with these tools, quality of rehabilitation services and material-technical base were carefully inspected. The mission has ended with a meeting of key stakeholders while partners were provided with results of the survey.

AT enables people to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives, and to participate in education, the labour market and civic life. Today, 1 billion people around the world need AT to live a productive, inclusive and dignified life, but globally only 1 in 10 people have access to assistive products. The use of AT is necessary for many people to preserve and improve their functionality, health and well-being, and to participate in education, work and social activities. The majority of people in need of AT are usually the elderly, people with disabilities, people injured in conflicts, and those suffering from chronic diseases. For the first time in Azerbaijan, the investigation of needs in 6 functional domains (mobility, vision, hearing, communication, cognition and self-care) survey was conducted through the “r-ATA” with the initiative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population and support of the WHO in 2021.