‘HIV/AIDS EFFECT ON PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES’

MANZINI - A study conducted on six learning institutions for PWDs states that 23 per cent of respondents said they did not know they were at a risk of contracting HIV. PWD stands for People With Disabilities.

This was revealed by Save the Children’s Independent Consultant, Chris Makufa during a meeting made possible by the Swaziland Disability Rights and Inclusion Project (SWADRIP) held at AMICAAL premises.
“The study also confirmed that 45 per cent perceived no risk while 34 per cent expressed that they felt they were at risk of contracting HIV. Out of the 338 respondents, 43 per cent said they had accessed HIV testing and counselling services at least once in their lifetime,” Makufa said.

He also mentioned that the survey results showed that some of the students were vulnerable to sexual abuse; therefore it was imperative that all students must have knowledge about the Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).

Makufa added that 171 347 people were living with disabilities in the country. “The Swaziland Disability Profile of 2009 reported that people with disabilities were marginalised, discriminated against and socially excluded from mainstream activities with limited access to services such as education, health, employment, public facilities and transport that are accessible to those with no disabilities,” he said.

Makufa mentioned that people with disabilities faced particular discrimination and neglect, related to very basic rights such as the right to food, shelter and even the right to live.
“On another note, people with disabilities have been excluded from conventional HIV programming despite having similar or increased rates of exposure to HIV risk factors. Unfortunately, the vast majority of HIV and AIDS programmes lack the training, resources and the commitment  necessary to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities,” Makufa said.
He added that people with disabilities were also denied formal education because of discriminatory practices.

. . .Disabled victims of abuse

MANZINI - Individuals with disabilities are up to three times more likely to be victims of physical and sexual abuse.
This was revealed by Chris Makufa during the persons with disabilities and HIV/AIDS meeting held at the AMICAAL premises.

Counsel

“In many countries, individuals with disabilities have little or no access to the police, legal counsel and courts for protection.
“They also have less access to medical interventions including psychosocial counselling and prophylactic care than their non-disabled peers,” he said.
Makufa mentioned that this was caused by the fact that children with disabilities were often shut out from education including sexual health, further stating that they were considered a distraction in schools or incapable of learning.

“In many parts of the world, children are barred from school because schools are physically inaccessible. Only two per cent of children with disabilities attend school and most of them are unable to access HIV information through the education system,” he added.
Makufa revealed that a total of 201 respondents said poor knowledge on the use of condoms placed people living with disabilities at a higher risk of HIV infection.

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