The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a loan of 40 million to make improvements in the coverage and quality of health services, education of people with disabilities and their families, with the aim of supporting and strengthening the social inclusion of people with disabilities in Panama.
With this loan, the efficiency of the disability identification and certification systems will be increased, while early diagnosis and rehabilitation services can be expanded, while improving the quality of educational services available to students with disabilities, reported sources.
The advance is divided into 4 components: Measurement and assessment of disability, Increase in coverage and quality of early diagnosis and rehabilitation, Strengthening of the inclusive education model, and Promotion of the autonomy of people with disabilities.
It is estimated that almost 8% of the Panamanian population has some type of disability. The prevalence is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, it is higher in women than in men, and it especially affects the population over 65 years of age. People with disabilities have higher rates of poverty, due to lower labor participation and income and the costs associated with personal assistance, transportation, health and technical support. In Panama, households that have at least one member with a disability are more likely to be in the two lowest income quintiles compared to households without persons with disabilities.
