UN urges involvement of persons with disabilities in recovery efforts

FILE PHOTO: Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, speaks during an interview in New York, May 10, 2018. /VCG Photo

Persons living with disabilities are among the worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday as the world marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

In his message, Guterres called for the involvement of persons living with disabilities in the world’s quest to emerge from the effects of the pandemic which had ravaged the world for the better part of 2020.

"As the world recovers from the pandemic, we must ensure that the aspirations and rights of persons with disabilities are included and accounted for in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world," he said.

"This vision will only be achieved through active consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations."

Guterres message came as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally surpassed the 64.57 million mark with a death toll exceeding 1.49 million.

The world is currently shifting focus on the approval of vaccines and their rollout globally in efforts to eliminate the threat posed by the virus.