Photography by Will Schermerhorn
Photography by Will Schermerhorn
On October 12thyThe 4th Special Olympics Latin America Games concluded in Asuncion, Paraguay, concluding an inspiring week of sporting achievements and health checks. More than 1,000 regional athletes participated in the Games, with more than 5,000 health screenings conducted across seven disciplines for healthy Special Olympics athletes.
In addition to providing on-site screening and assistive devices, the Games also provided an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the ongoing impact that host nation Paraguay is making to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have access to high-quality health care. All year round. This was demonstrated in the renewal of the partnership agreement signed between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Paraguay and Special Olympics Paraguay during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for healthy athletes. During the ceremony, Roberto de la Cueva, Health Coordinator for Special Olympics Paraguay, received the prestigious Golisano Health Leadership Award for his tireless efforts to advance health equity across the country.
“I am a firm believer that the moral fabric of any society is best judged by how it cares for the most vulnerable among them, and there is no group more vulnerable than people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I am very happy with what I saw in Paraguay… Thank you for being a leader for Latin America and the world in improving health and equality for people with IDD.
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Special Olympics Chief Health Officer
The Games extend beyond Latin America alone, as they also reinforced the role that sport can play in achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being. As part of the Latin American Games, Paraguay hosted International Forum on Sport for Developmentan event that called for recognition of the transformative power of sport in promoting social inclusion, health, education and well-being for individuals with IDD.
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Special Olympics Chief Health OfficerSpeaking at the forum, she was joined by key regional leaders, including Her Excellency Lucrecia Eugenia Peñado Villanueva, First Lady of the Republic of Guatemala; Her Excellency Maria Teresa Baharan, Minister of Health of the Republic of Paraguay; and Fabricio Oliveira, President of the Lions Club International from Brazil. Throughout the session, Dr. Christakis highlighted: Rosemary Cooperative She stressed its contribution to building and strengthening comprehensive health systems.
Photography by Will Schermerhorn
“Health care policies and health care delivery systems are a major driver of the health disparities faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I would like to commend all eight participating countries, including Paraguay, which did the important work of investigating how well their health system treats people Those who suffer from international communication disorder and identify where there is clear room for improvement and change.
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, Special Olympics Chief Health Officer
Results of assessments from 11 Rosemary Collaborative sites in eight countries will be presented in the World Report on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities that Special Olympics will release in 2025.
