Photography by Hamza Al-Zahran, Sons of Iraq
to The second year in a rowSpecial Olympics joined the Global Health Leaders Consortium at the World Health Summit (WHS) to highlight the topic of disability inclusion in health and advocate for the needs of people with disabilities. During the World Humanitarian Summit, held in Berlin, Germany, Special Olympics, the Clinton Access to Health Initiative, the International Federation on Disability and Development, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Missing Billion Initiative, Sightsavers, and Global Health Organization The World Health Organization came together to organize and co-host a session entitled “Health equity for people with disabilities to achieve health for all”.
Throughout the session, Rachel Feldkamp, Health Messenger for Special Olympics Suriname, described her experience navigating the healthcare system in Suriname. Rachel I shared the stage with The Australian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany; WHO Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage and Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases; Representatives of governments and civil society; and peers who have lived experience of disability. In her speech, Rachel stressed the importance of empowering people with disabilities and the necessity of including people with disabilities in discussions related to their health.
In his closing remarks, Jarrod Klein, Deputy Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance, highlighted that Berlin will host another important event next year – the World Disability Summit – and echoed Rachel’s powerful words: “We can do more together than we can do alone.“
Rachel was just one of the advocates and individuals with lived experience of disability who the Federation supported to attend the World Humanitarian Summit and voice their questions, demands and stories. Others include Moira Scott, health correspondent for Special Olympics Ireland; Haben Girma, an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and the first deaf-blind graduate of Harvard Law School, who moderated the panel; And Smitha Sadasivan, a member of World Humanitarian Summit Council 2024. Special Olympics looks forward to continuing our track record of inclusion and collaboration to build momentum and energy on the issue of health equity for people with disabilities in 2025.
