IHC Backs Call to Action for 200 Million ‘Invisible People’

IHC Backs Call to Action for 200 Million ‘Invisible People’

26 September, 2013

IHC New Zealand is backing comments made by the Clinton Global Initiative that there are 200 million people with intellectual disabilities who are ‘invisible’ to health systems around the world.

IHC Advocacy Director, Trish Grant, says the healthcare offered to people with intellectual disabilities in this country shows the same inequity, and that people with intellectual disabilities are being poorly treated at all levels of the health care system.

“Many people with intellectual disabilities are simply below the radar in terms of the health services they get in this country, and many people with intellectual disabilities are also dealing with health issues related to diseases of poverty. They are, in effect, dealing with a double hit of lack of income, and lack of healthcare,” she said.

Trish Grant said to address the problems, there needed to be investment in properly analysing the issue.

“There is little done to measure health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities, but looking at the mortality rate for people with intellectual disabilities compared to the rest of the population, the evidence is there.

“There is very little being done to help these people, who are some of the most vulnerable in our society,” she said.

IHC’s comments came after a report in the United States of America that was developed for the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), the institution set up by former United States President, Bill Clinton, along with his wife Hillary, and daughter.

The CGI convenes a global leaders forum every year to create and implement innovative solutions to the ‘world's most pressing challenges’. The theme for this year’s meeting is Mobilizing for Impact, which is focusing this year on the issues facing people with intellectual disabilities.

About IHC:

IHC works for all people with an intellectual disability. It provides services, advocacy, support and information. IHC advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with an intellectual disability and supports them to live satisfying lives in the community.

IHC is committed to including everyone with intellectual disability in their local communities. It is New Zealand’s largest provider of services to people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Our history reaches back over 60 years to families who set up an association to lobby for a better deal for their children.

IHC supports people with an intellectual disability by:

• providing housing and work options
• supporting families
• providing services
• membership of IHC

For more information about IHC’s story, see: http://www.ihc.org.nz/about-us/our-story/ or: http://www.ihc.org.nz/

ENDS

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