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Kenya: Disabled People Left Out of Aids War, Say NGOs

Dave Opiyo

14 May 2008

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Nairobi — Disabled people have been left out in campaigns to reduce Aids infections, NGO officials said on Tuesday.

Mrs Esther Gatua of Health Policy Initiative said most of the 3.5 million disabled people were affected by the disease.

And although they were vulnerable to sexual violence and rape due to their condition, they lacked access to treatment, care and information about Aids.

She spoke during the launch of the national campaign on disability and HIV. The drive is aimed at reducing the rates of Aids infections among the disabled. It will involve creating awareness on their vulnerability to HIV and lobby for them to be given the treatment, care and support extended to other patients.

The campaign

Mrs Farida Asindua from Handicap International said the campaign could only succeed if the disabled were fully involved in making decisions and planning national strategies to fight Aids.

There is no information on the number of disabled people living with Aids in Kenya. Mrs Asindua said much of what was known about HIV and disability was based on assumptions.

If facts and figures were available, she said, they could be used to influence policies and change some practices.

She urged political leaders to lobby the Government to ensure that the disabled were not left out in the campaign to reduce Aids infections.

During a meeting held in Kampala earlier this year, the disabled asked the Government to include issues affecting them in the campaign to reduce poverty.

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