On Wednesday, September 1st, the head of Iran's Welfare Organization announced that due to the non-mandatory nature of genetic testing in the country, 25,000 to 30,000 'disabled infants' are born annually. According to the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, Anoushiravan Mohseni Bandpay stated in Babolsar that 'to prevent this situation, genetic testing and related counseling will be mandatory in the sixth development plan.' He pointed out the high costs of genetic testing and counseling in Iran, adding, 'The Welfare Organization will cover these costs for families.' The World Health Organization states that a disabled child is born every eight seconds worldwide. This international body recently reported that at least one in ten children globally lives with some form of disability, with 80% of them residing in developing countries. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has declared that there are at least 93 million disabled children worldwide and has identified the elimination of inequality and discrimination against children as part of its agenda. The report mentions that disabled children are marginalized in most countries, which is why UNICEF has programs aimed at empowering and educating them. According to UNICEF, factors such as health and medical conditions, environmental factors, malnutrition, poverty, and genetic disorders contribute to the birth of disabled infants. Last year, UNICEF reported that 15% of the world's population consists of disabled individuals, most of whom live in poor countries and lack access to adequate health and educational facilities. In the 2011 census in Iran, the number of 'disabled individuals' was reported to be about 1.2 million; however, officials from the Welfare Organization state that there is no accurate data on the number of disabled individuals in the country.
Iran's Welfare Chief Reports Annual Birth of Thousands of Disabled Children
The head of Iran's Welfare Organization announced that 25,000 to 30,000 disabled infants are born annually due to the lack of mandatory genetic testing. To address this issue, genetic testing and counseling will become mandatory, with costs covered by the Welfare Organization. This situation highlights the challenges faced by disabled individuals in Iran and the need for better health policies.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The head of Iran's Welfare Organization reported that 25,000 to 30,000 disabled infants are born annually due to the lack of mandatory genetic testing. To combat this issue, the government plans to make genetic testing and counseling mandatory, with costs covered by the Welfare Organization.
- Genetic testing is currently non-mandatory in Iran.
- The Welfare Organization will cover the costs of genetic testing and counseling for families.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran faces challenges in providing adequate health care and support for disabled individuals, with many lacking access to necessary services. The global context shows that disability rates are particularly high in developing countries.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%