Following the World Report on Disability 2011, the disability has been gaining a lot of thrust globally. The WHO is working actively to improve the lives of people with disabilities (PWD) across the world. Recently, WHO Geneva has initiated rATA (Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment), a global survey on assistive technology access to understanding met and unmet needs. The primary aim of the survey is to plan and design assistive technology services for PWD.
India is one of the signatory countries to the WHO. Therefore, to align with the WHO requirement, rATA is also being planned in 8 districts of India in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and other partners. KIIT School of Public Health has been chosen as one of the partners for rATA India.
The Director, KSPH has nominated Dr. Pratap Kumar Jena, Associate Professor, KSPH to act as lead Area Supervisor of rATA for Odisha State. As a first step, in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi and with WHO support, rATA survey will be conducted soon in two districts, namely Khorda and Jagatsinghpur. Additionally, Dr. Premsagar Panda, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Community Medicine, KIMS, has been nominated as Area Supervisor for this survey.
A team of two supervisors and six field interviewers have been constituted to conduct the survey with the help of local ASHAs or volunteers. Two area supervisors and two field interviewers have been trained in rATA in the training programme organized by AIIMS, New Delhi on 20th and 21st October, 2021. In return, they will train other members of the survey team.