WFOT Update

Since 1950, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recognise and support the human rights of all people to live meaningful lives. At the 76th World Health Assembly, 194 member states adopted a resolution on the topic of ‘Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems’. A copy of the WFOT submission to the statement can be accessed at www.wfot.org/about/wfot-statements. The resolution is founded upon principles that promote accessibility of rehabilitation for all the population and through all stages of the life course; efforts to strengthen rehabilitation should include systems approaches; and that rehabilitation is an essential service. The resolution calls for a number of measures to strengthen global access to rehabilitation services, including:

• Raising awareness and building national commitment for rehabilitation and assistive technology, and strengthening planning for integration of rehabilitation into national health plans and policies at all stages of planning and delivery;

• Improving financing mechanisms for rehabilitation services and including rehabilitation in packages of essential care;

• Expanding rehabilitation to all levels of health, from primary to tertiary, and ensuring the availability and affordability of quality and timely rehabilitation services;

• Ensuring integrated and coordinated provision of high-quality, affordable, accessible, gender-sensitive, appropriate and evidence-based interventions for rehabilitation along the continuum of care and the promotion inclusive, barrier-free environments;

• Developing strong multidisciplinary rehabilitation skills related to physical, mental, social and vocational functioning;

• Enhancing health information systems to collect information relevant to rehabilitation;

• Promoting high-quality rehabilitation research, including health policy and systems research;

• Ensuring timely integration of rehabilitation into emergency preparedness and response;

• Developing available, affordable and usable assistive technology and support for implementation research to maximise impact and cost-effectiveness.

The WFOT is taking action on a number of measures of the rehabilitation resolution. These activities include:

• Participation on the primary care, workforce and emergency preparedness workstreams of the World Rehabilitation Alliance to advocate for the aims of the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative

• Participation on a number of WHOled projects outlined in our WHO Collaboration Plan, including the

National Workforce Accounts Project, Packages of Rehabilitation Interventions Initiative, Training in Assistive Products, the Wheelchair Service Standards, Emergency Preparedness Toolkit, and Family of International Classifications

• Development of partnerships with other nongovernmental organisations to advocate for rehabilitation as part of universal health coverage. This will include the publication of advocacy tools and information to support engagement at local and regional levels.

On 27 October, World Occupational Therapy Day will celebrate the theme ‘Unity through Community’. The theme promotes our role in working together with others to facilitate participation and community interaction. As a profession, we collaborate with many groups and communities for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole. WFOT is partnering with Boston University to support Occupational Therapy Global Day of Service (OTGDS), coinciding with World Occupational Therapy Day. Occupational therapists and students can participate by volunteering community service. Service is not always about direct action; it can also include mentoring, education, environmental action, health promotion, fundraising, companionship, advocating for human rights, and more. Details about participation can be found online: www.bu.edu/promotingot/

The WFOT is excited to announce the 19th WFOT Congress 2026 will be in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information, visit www. wfot.org/congress and join the official WFOT Congress Facebook group at www. facebook.com/groups/wfotcongress