There are 1.3 Million People with Disabilities in Indonesia: A Range of Health Conditions

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there were approximately 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide in 2021. This figure is roughly equivalent to 16% of the global population.

The WHO emphasizes that people with disabilities are not merely individuals experiencing health impairments, but rather people with specific conditions whose activities are limited due to an unsupportive environment.

"An example of a person with a disability is a child who cannot see and is unable to attend school because they do not receive assistive devices and educational materials suited to their needs," states the WHO in its *Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities*.

Another example is an adult male diagnosed with schizophrenia who is unemployed due to societal stigma related to mental health.

Yet another example is an elderly woman with dementia who does not receive healthcare or long-term care, resulting in social isolation.

"Disability is influenced by a person's health condition or limitations, as well as contextual factors such as the environment, societal attitudes, access to infrastructure, and discriminatory policies," says the WHO.

Globally, people with disabilities most frequently experience musculoskeletal conditions or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

There are also many people with disabilities with mental health conditions, neurological conditions, sensory impairments, and other conditions, as shown in the graph.

The WHO encourages communities and governments to continue supporting the fulfillment of rights and equality for people with disabilities, from research and policy formulation to the development of infrastructure that accommodates their needs.

"Some countries have made progress. However, overall, the world is still far from achieving the standard of realizing the health rights of people with disabilities," says the WHO.