HISTORY OF CBR

Prepared by:
Gerardo M. Buhay, PTRP, MAEHSE
CBR Professor
College of PT, UPH-DJGTMU
History of CBR (International)
The declaration of Alma-Ata
in 1978 was the first
international declaration
advocating primary health
care as the main strategy for
achieving the World Health
Organizations (WHO) goal of
health for all .
Ministries of health in many
countries (e.g. Islamic Republic of
Iran, Mongolia, South Africa,Viet
Nam) started CBR programmes
using their primary health care
personnel. Early programmes were
mainly focused on physiotherapy,
assistive devices, and medical or
surgical interventions. Some also
introduced education activities and
livelihood opportunities through
In 1989, WHO published the manual
Training in the community for people
with disabilities to provide guidance
and support for CBR programmes
and stakeholders. The manual has
been translated into more than 50
languages and still remains an
important CBR document used in
many low-income countries.
In addition, Disabled village
children: a guide for
community health workers,
rehabilitation workers and
families made a significant
contribution in developing CBR
programmes, especially in low-
income countries.
In May 2003, WHO in
partnership with other UN
organizations, governments
and international
nongovernmental organizations
including professional
organizations and disabled
peoples organizations, held an
international consultation in
The report that followed
highlighted the need for CBR
programmes to focus on:
1. reducing poverty, given that
poverty is a key determinant
and outcome of disability;
2. promoting community
involvement and ownership;
3. developing and strengthening
of multisectoral collaboration;
4. involving disabled peoples
organizations in their
programmes;
5. scaling up their programmes;
6. promoting evidenced-based
practice.
History of CBR (Locally)
SUCCESS STORY OF CBR IN
THE PHILIPPINES
of the three pilot sites
identified by the Department of
Health for the re-launching of
its CBRS program in the major
islands of the Philippines:
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,
the project in Alimodian is said
. By 2000, the Alimodian
experience is being replicated in
26 other sites in the country. The
learning and insights of all those
involved in the project was shared
with other local government units
who have expressed an interest in
embarking in similar programs for
the disabled.
 Community-Based
Rehabilitation Program
DEFINITION
It is a creative application of
the Primary Health Care
approach in rehabilitation
services for persons with
disabilities, which involves
measures taken at the
community level to use and
build on the resources of the
COMMUNITY means (a) a
group of people with common
interests who interact with
each other on a regular basis;
and/or (b) a geographical,
social or government
administrative unit
RATIONALE OR JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PHIL CBR:

Health situation of the disabled

Percentage of physically disabled in
developing or underdeveloped
Accessibility of rehabilitation services
Distribution and concentration of
rehabilitation centers in the country
Location of disabled persons
Global and national legal bases
CBR developed by UN agencies
RA 7277 Magna Carta for disabled
person
Executive Order # 437
GOAL: Improvement of quality of
life productivity of disabled
handicapped persons

OBJECTIVE: To reduce the

prevalence of disability through
prevention, early detection and
provision of rehabilitation services
at the community level
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
1. Social preparations
2. Services preparation

CAUSES OF DISABILITY IN
THE PHILIPPINES
- Malnutrition
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Lack of or no prenatal check
up of mothers during their
pregnancy
- Inaccessibility of hospitals and