Poverty and development

Every sixth person in poor countries is living with a disability. To eradicate poverty in the world we must also include and improve the living conditions for people with disabilities.

Health and poverty are closely connected. The number of casualties caused by tuberculosis has never been higher and more than two billion people are infected with the tubercle bacillus. Almost all causalities occur in poor countries.

Norwegian organisations for people with disabilities, patients and their families use their competence and experience to influence Norwegian authorities to include people with disabilities and fight tuberculosis in their cooperation with the South.

POVERTY

Disability

People with disabilities are often the poorest and most marginalised in countries in the South
Stigmatising and discrimination hinders inclusion and full participants in the society
People with disabilities are often excluded from social services
Lack of health and rehabilitation services hinders development.

Health

Poverty and health are closely connected. Poverty leads to poor health and populations with poor health will have difficulties fighting poverty
Many disabilities could have been prevented or treated
Cramped housing, poor living conditions and malnutrition weaken the immune system and make people develop tuberculosis. Ninety-five percent of all causalities caused by tuberculosis occur in poor countries.

POVERTY AND TUBERCULOSIS. Salome and her husband Shedrick with two of their children. The Malawian family struggles with tuberculosis, HIV and malaria. Poverty and poor health is closely connected. Photo: Karen Beate Nøsterud.

DEVELOPMENT

- the large political processes has impact on each human being

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities

The very first UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities was constituted in 2006
A break-through for people with disabilities all over the world
Obligations of non-discrimination and inclusion in all fields
Special obligations for inclusion in international cooperation.

The UN Millennium Development Goals

A plan to eradicate the poverty of the world
Eight common goals to be reached by the year 2015
All UN member countries has signed the UN Millennium Campaign
Norwegian development policies are based on the Millennium Development Goals.

All Goals have significance for the living conditions of the people with disabilities and for prevention and treatment of illnesses.

The UN Millennium Development Goals will before 2015:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7: Ensure environmental sustainability
8: Develop a global partnership for development

www.millenniumcampaign.org

A FUTURE. Masitipe Mafatle is optimistic for her daughter Mamorais’ (5) future. The daughter has a developmental disability, but in Lesotho Mamorai is secured school when she is turning six years old. Photo: Gøril Trondsen Booth.

DEVELOPMENT

The Millennium Development Goals related to disability and health

Goal no 1: Poverty
People with disabilities make up a considerable part of the population in poor countries. The lack of inclusion of people with disabilities creates poverty. And poverty, through malnutrition and lack of treatment and medicines, create disabilities. Tuberculosis is a disease closely related to poverty.

Goal no 2: Education
More than ninety percent of children with disabilities in poor countries do not attend school. Education is one of the most effective instruments against poverty. Inclusive education is about giving all children the same possibilities.

LACK OF INCLUSION. Albright Jana (5) from Malawi has Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. At the age of five he can already read in three languages, but he is not permitted to the ordinary school because he is not able to walk. Photo: Knut Egil Wang.

Goal no 3: Women
Disability and illness is an extra burden for women in the South. Women with disabilities often experience double discrimination, being disabled and a woman. Research from Malawi shows that women with disabilities are more exposed to violence and abuse than other women.

Goal no 4: Child mortality
Children born with disabilities in poor countries are at great risk of dying during their early childhood. A child born with spinal injuries will, for example, have small chances to survive without treatment.

Goal no 5: Maternal health
Each year more than 500 000 women die during pregnancy or birth. Ninety-nine percent of the causalities happen in poor countries. In addition, many women become disabled because of complications during birth. Many disabled women will also become mothers and will need special attention and support.

Goal no 6: HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Tuberculosis has never been as widespread as it is today, much to do with the co-infection of HIV and AIDS. Almost every third HIV-patient will also develop tuberculosis as their immune system is weakened. It is estimated that 5000 people dies of tuberculosis every day. Tuberculosis is an illness that can be treated.
People with disabilities are often excluded from HIV/AIDS information and health services.

Goal no 7: Environmental sustainability
Disabled people will, like other people, have the same use of, and need for, clean water, cultivable soil and other nature resources. Sustainable development must not exclude disabled people.

Goal no 8: Global partnership
To enable the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals, we need to make new partnerships between rich and poor countries that enable fair distributions and conditions. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, global plans and international funds for fighting and preventing illnesses or disabilities, are examples of such partnerships.

THE ATLAS ALLIANCE

Solidarity beyond boarders

The Atlas Alliance is the umbrella organisation for the development work of disabled people’s organisations in Norway. Since 1981 the member organisations have used own experiences and competence in international development work to strengthen the rights of disabled people and those ill from tuberculosis.

The Atlas Alliance aims to develop an inclusive society where no one is discriminated because of disabilities or (chronic) disease.

The organisations behind the Atlas Alliance:
The Norwegian Association of the Disabled
The Norwegian Association of Heart and Lung Patients
The Norwegian Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
The Norwegian Federation of Organisations of Disabled People
The Norwegian Association of Blind and Partially Sighted
The Autism Association of Norway
The Norwegian Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
The Norwegian Association of the Deaf
The Norwegian National Psoriasis Foundation
The Norwegian Association of Traffic Victims
The Norwegian Association of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis
The Norwegian Diabetes Association
The Norwegian Association of the Deafblind
The Norwegian Association of People with Mental Illnesses

Affiliated organisations:
Sintef Health (research)
The Signo Foundation (blind-deaf)

Published 06.06.07