Tumelo Setshogo
17 April 2008
Disabled persons in Botswana have said they have been left out in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
They said at a two-day workshop this week that it is unfair for anybody to talk about success stories in the fight against AIDS without mentioning young people with disability. The theme of the workshop organised by the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) was: 'Commit to Zero Transmission Lifestyles: Youth with Disabilities Leading by Keeping the Promise to Stop AIDS'. It was held at Kagisong Centre in Mogoditshane.
Speaking at the workshop, Shirely Keoagile said it is sad that while people are saying HIV/AIDS rates are now declining, people with disabilities have not been reached.
She said that in the just ended Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) campaigns, no youth with disabilities was reached "which means we are not part of the society". Keoagile said the laws seem to address the problems of non-disabled people. She added that Botswana's response to AIDS is not serving the disabled. "We cannot make significant progress on national AIDS statistics unless government and community efforts better respond to the needs of people with disabilities," she said. She called for an urgent comprehensive national strategy. She said people with disabilities have been silent for many years and it is time to speak out.
"We need to take pride in our national anthem to wake up and rise and tell our government about our rights and concerns," she said.
She said major HIV/AIDS intervention and gender violence programmes do not take into account the specific conditions, needs and experiences of the disabled.
She said it is important for people with disabilities to target and challenge their negative self-image and to raise their voices to be heard. Other disabled people at the workshop shared her sentiments.
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