PHNOM PENH, June 4, 2024 – Cambodia marked its first World Day for Assistive Technology on June 4, an event organized by ATscale in collaboration with governments, development partners, local and international NGOs, and the business sector. The event aimed to raise awareness about assistive technology for persons with disabilities, including physical rehabilitation, wheelchairs, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and prosthetic and orthotic devices.
The World Day for Assistive Technology calls on all stakeholders—governments, donors, development partners, civil society, local and international NGOs, policymakers, and private and business sectors—to recognize the importance of assistive technology and the needs of persons with disabilities. The goal is to garner resources and support actions that enhance the rights, dignity, and services for persons with disabilities.
The event saw the participation of the Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, the provincial governor, the director of the provincial health department, persons with disabilities, physical rehabilitation and health staff, and various relevant departments.
“We organized this event to highlight the importance and necessity of improving both the quality and access to assistive technology devices for persons with disabilities,” read a press statement issued on June 4.
The celebration included outreach for rehabilitation services, with more than 200 persons with disabilities participating. Among them, 150 received rehabilitation services, including repairs to prosthetics, orthotics, and other mobility aids, physical therapy services, and provision of assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walking aids, and eyeglasses.
Assistive technology includes physical rehabilitation services, wheelchairs, walking sticks, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and prosthetic and orthotic devices that enable persons with disabilities to live independently, study, work, and enjoy daily activities.
Minister Chea Somethy, along with partners from ATscale consortium, Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Cambodian Disabled People’s Organisation (CDPO), presided over the community rehabilitation services and charitable kit donations for people with disabilities under the theme "World Day for Assistive Technology" held on May 29 in Peam Chor District, Prey Veng Province.
ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, is a cross-sector global partnership with a mission to transform lives through assistive technology. It aims to ensure that by 2030, an additional 500 million people in low- and middle-income countries receive the life-changing assistive technology they need.
Assistive technology enables people to live healthier, more productive, and independent lives, allowing them to participate in education, the labor market, and their communities.
