Celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December 2023, was marked by the Association of Indonesian Women with Disability (Himpunan Wanita Disabilitas Indonesia: HWDI) of Bali Province and the Indonesian Family Planning Association (Perhimpunan Keluarga Berencana Indonesia: PKBI) through the organisation of free health checks for persons with disabilities and the elderly in Pempatan Village, Karangasem District, Bali Province, on Friday, 1 December 2023. This event was made possible through the collaboration of HWDI, PKBI, Australia Indonesia Health Security Partnership (AIHSP), and the Pempatan Village Government.

The event was attended by 54 participants, consisting of 32 elderly and 22 persons with disabilities, who underwent health checks‒including blood pressure and uric acid assessments. Information on rabies was also provided by the Rabies Alert Team (Tim Siaga Rabies: TISIRA) of Pempatan Village, with assistance from the Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Agency of Karangasem District.

In conjunction with International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I Wayan Suanta, a person with disability and a member of TISIRA, delivered a presentation on rabies. Despite feeling nervous due to this being his first public speaking experience, I Wayan expressed his readiness to provide services and assistance to the community in rabies prevention efforts. Ni Ketut Leni Astiti, the Chairwoman of HWDI in Bali Province, emphasised that I Wayan's presentation on rabies is concrete evidence of the active involvement of persons with disabilities in community activities‒particularly in addressing rabies.

I Komang Daging, S.Sos., M.Si, the Head of the Social Affairs, Empowerment of Women and Child Protection, Population Control, and Family Planning Agency of Karangasem District, commended the positive impact of the free health check activity initiated by HWDI. He also appreciated the simultaneous efforts to raise awareness about rabies in conjunction with International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Acting Village Chief of Pempatan, I Pande Ketut Arimbawan, SH, expressed appreciation for the initiatives of HWDI and TISIRA, considering them highly beneficial for persons with disabilities and the elderly in Pempatan Village. He highlighted that the village has been actively supporting initiatives for persons with disabilities‒including the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and providing health services for the elderly through the Elderly Integrated Service Post (Posyandu Lansia). Regarding rabies, Pempatan Village issued a decree establishing the local TISIRA which includes a member with a disability. I Ketut affirmed the village government's commitment to continuing collaboration with persons with disabilities in conducting health promotion activities and preventing infectious diseases such as rabies in the future.