Deaf Association implements Vulnerable Population Initiative
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday November 19, 2025 06:25
The project is scheduled for a 10-month implementation period, with BoAD serving the Persons with Disabilities cohort. Speaking to The Monitor, BoAD executive director, Shirley Keoagile, said the objectives of the project are to increase access to and uptake of HIV, Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Non-Communicable Diseases prevention, testing, and treatment services amongst key and vulnerable populations.
'The aim of the project is to reduce stigma, discrimination, and gender-related barriers that limit access to health services for Key and Vulnerable Populations (KVP) by implementing community-led advocacy, legal literacy, and accountability mechanisms across all implementation sites. We also want to strengthen the capacity of community-based organisations and peer-led, rights-based HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights services tailored to the needs of KVPs,” she said.
Keoagile said they are going to expand access to comprehensive condom and lubricant programming in line with national guidelines by ensuring consistent availability in all outreach points in target districts, being Gaborone, Palapye, Mahalapye, Mogoditshane, Tlokweng, and Ramotswa. She said they are also expecting a P200,000 grant from the Office of the President to provide disability rights empowerment for the deaf community, and the grant will only be for implementation. “The grant will go a long way in pushing our mandate, especially during this period of financial difficulties,” she added. BoAD project officer, Phemelo Sebula, said the Vulnerable Population Project is going well, despite starting a bit late. There was a lot of work to be done in terms of recruiting and training community mobilisers, who are 'foot soldiers'.
“Whilst there is resistance from some community members as well as stakeholders, we appreciate the efforts that NAHPA, through BONELA, and we are making towards ensuring that Persons with Disabilities are not left behind in terms of accessing services and information. We are not only providing awareness and education, but we are also providing referrals and linkages to healthcare services, and just services too,” she said. Sebula said they have managed to successfully link and refer two people with disabilities, one of them being a young woman with Down syndrome who was being abused at her previous school by other students, some teachers, and the school bus driver.
“The abuse got to a point where the mother felt it was better to withdraw her from the school, and we have managed to refer her to Thuso Rehabilitation Centre, where she has been registered to start school in January 2026,” Sebula said.