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There are an estimated 2 million children in low income countries with severe or moderate physical disability. Many of these children have preventable or treatable conditions but due to a lack of facilities and trained staff and various barriers in society, they are unable to access the services they require.
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WHO launches QualityRights Tool Kit

: © WHO
Robinah Alambuya, the President of the Pan African Network of People with Psychosocial Disabilities, speaking at the WHO QualityRights Tool Kit launch event in New York

On 28 June2012 the WHO QualityRights Tool Kit was launched in New York. CBM's Dr Julian Eaton was one of the speakers present, promoting this project which supports countries to assess and improve quality of care and human rights conditions in mental health and social care facilities. The launch event was organised by WHO with the financial support of CBM and Virgin Unite.

The QualityRights Tool Kit

©CBM: Cutting chains off at CBM's partner programme Amaudo in Nigeria

The WHO QualityRights Tool Kit supports countries to assess and improve quality of care and human rights conditions in mental health and social care facilities.

Its strength lies in its ability to facilitate improvements in the way people with psychosocial disabilities experience formal care, both on the ground as well as at policy level. It addresses care quality and human rights in inpatient, outpatient and community facilities by using a participatory approach involving people with mental health conditions, families and healthcare staff. It follows many of the articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), making it an ideal tool to strengthen the work already under way in many countries using CRPD as a reference point.

Read more about the QualityRights Tool Kit here

CBM and Community Mental Health

People with psychosocial disabilities may have limited access to services and may be excluded from full participation in community life, particularly in developing countries. CBM and partners take a community-based approach in tackling these issues.

On 28 June 2012, CBM's Dr Julian Eaton was speaking in New York, as celebrities and high level government representatives, UN officials and civil society actors gathered together to lend their support to the WHO QualityRights Project, and discuss how to promote the use of the Tool Kit.