UN resolution puts Africa’s assistive technology gap under spotlight

A new United Nations resolution on assistive technology has renewed calls for African governments to expand access to affordable products such as spectacles, hearing aids, wheelchairs and communication devices.

The UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 80/305 in September 2026, the first UNGA resolution specifically dedicated to access to assistive technology.

Sponsored by 41 member states, the resolution recognises access to affordable, quality assistive products as important to universal health coverage and sustainable development.

The move comes as more than 2.5 billion people globally are estimated to need at least one assistive product, while nearly one billion people who need them cannot access them, according to the WHO-UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology.

Africa faces a particularly significant challenge due to shortages of trained health workers, limited financing and the concentration of specialist services in major urban centres.

Eye care highlights the gap. WHO-UNICEF data show that 31.3 per cent of the global population needed at least one assistive product when spectacles were included, compared with 11.3 per cent when spectacles were excluded. The figures underscore the major contribution of vision correction to assistive technology needs.

For African economies, limited access can have consequences beyond healthcare, affecting education, employment, safety and productivity.

Children with uncorrected vision problems may struggle in school, while workers can face difficulties performing tasks safely and efficiently.

“The UN resolution is an important recognition that assistive technology is not a luxury or an optional service. In Africa, where access can depend heavily on location and affordability, it can determine whether people participate fully in education, work and everyday economic life,” said Bradley Heslop and Adam Boxer, Co-CEOs of Dot Glasses.

The two said governments must now focus on implementation, including strengthening supply chains and expanding community-level services.

“The real test of this resolution will be implementation. Governments need systems that connect affordable products with trained personnel, reliable supply chains and community-level services,” Heslop and Boxer said.

The WHO estimates that the number of people requiring assistive technology could rise to 3.5 billion by 2050, driven partly by ageing populations and rising non-communicable diseases.

Governments are therefore being urged to integrate assistive technology into national health systems, increase financing, train personnel and improve procurement and distribution.

As the world marks World Sight Day on October 8 under the theme “Love Your Eyes,” the UN resolution offers a policy framework, but its success will ultimately depend on whether affordable assistive products reach people in African classrooms, workplaces, markets and homes.