Perhaps unsurprisingly, non-communicable diseases (NCD) — namely long-term health conditions that are not caused by acute infection — tend to affect PWDs at a disproportionately higher rate compared to abled individuals.
This is a significant concern, given that such vulnerabilities in health can worsen the unique challenges that PWDs tend to face.
In a bid to foster greater understanding and empathy, here’s a general breakdown of why NCDs are particularly difficult for PWDs to copy with:
Lack of Healthcare Accessibility
It’s fortunate that Malaysians across the board have access to free healthcare services and highly competent public hospitals.
That said, many local PWDs can still encounter barriers of entry to healthcare. This can include a physical inaccessibility of healthcare facilities due to distance and other factors, or a lack of disability-friendly medical equipment.
Perhaps the most glaring issue in this context would be the potentially insufficient training of medical personnel in handling the unique and varied needs of people with different disabilities.
Socio-Economic Disadvantages
A huge concern when coping with a NCD is the expenses involved. NCDs such as various types of cancer involve a costly series of long-term treatments.
This is particularly concerning for many PWDs, considering that they statistically have lower income levels and higher unemployment rates compared to their abled counterparts.
The financial disadvantage often limits their access to healthier food options or participation in healthy activities, which in turn can greatly increase their likelihood of developing a NCD.
A Greater Impact On Mental Health
Living with a disability can be extremely draining mentally. This is evidenced by the fact that adults with disabilities tend to experience some form of mental distress almost 5 times more frequently than people without disabilities.
But with the intersection of disability and NCDs, such mental distresses worsen very significantly. Chronic conditions can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly if individuals face social isolation or lack adequate support systems.
Insufficient Advocacy
While Malaysia has made progress in addressing the needs of PWDs, there is still a need for more inclusive health policies and programs that specifically consider the unique challenges faced by this group in relation to NCDs.
Policies must ensure that disability considerations are integrated into all health promotion, prevention, and treatment programs, thus lowering the barriers of entry for any and all PWDs.
References
Nicola C Richards (2016) Disability, noncommunicable disease and health information [Accessed 9 July 2024] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773929/
Pan American Health Organization (2024) Noncommunicable Diseases [Accessed 9 July 2024] Available at: https://www.paho.org/en/topics/noncommunicable-diseases