Disabled Need Access To HIV/AIDS Information - Keoagile

By Baboki Kayawe
Staff Writer | Monday February 22, 2010 00:00

 

Currently communications about the disease are tailored in a way that is user friendly for one sector of the population - the able-bodied. In an interview Disability HIV and AIDS Trust (DHAT) programmes officer Shirley Keoagile said as a result, people with disability are subject to the triple burden of disability, poverty and HIV and AIDS.

Keoagile said the most prevalent causes are lack of access to service provision, lack of awareness about the disease and the stigma that comes with being disabled.

'It is even made worse by having contracted HIV/AIDS,' Keoagile said.

Moreover, lack of access to vital information, as a result of being excluded from many communication production on HIV and AIDS, may lead to reluctance by the disabled to learn more about the disease. Keoagile stated that in the circumstances disabled people often fear issues like breach of confidentiality as they often require a third party if they are to know their HIV status.

'Counsellors do not know sign language, blind people need guides but because our HIV/AIDS intervention facilities are not tailored to accommodate them, they can be reluctant to get tested knowing well that a third party will get to know about their status,' she said.   Keoagile further said high levels of illiteracy and lack of access to formal education also reduce the likelihood of persons with disabilities to access HIV and AIDS information.

'There has been no effort made to package and adapt communication approaches that could improve access and awareness by the disabled community,' she said.

Despite Botswana's global rating in the fight again the scourge, she said by all indications people with disabilities have been forgotten. Their needs have not been given due and appropriate attention in the battle. She further said a remarkable number of people with disability have died in silence - from HIV/AIDS related diseases.

Keoagile said as the DHAT, their role in trying to change the status quo is advocating for the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS intervention programmes for the benefit of people with disabilities.

'A lot has to be done, there has to be documentation in Braille, for instance, on how condoms should be used,' she said.

Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) also admitted that lack of integrating people with disability the in HIV and AIDS communications is a great challenge. BONELA media and advocacy officer, Doris Kumbawa said they have been lobbying for the production of HIV and AIDS educational material that are inclusive.

Though it is expensive to produce such material, she said there is a need to avail user friendly communication means that will help people with disability to be part of the war against the epidemic.

'It is a great challenge, people with disability have been left behind,' she said.

Kumbabwa said they are working with various stakeholders like the DHAT, and the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) and policymakers to take the needs of the disabled on board.

However, the HIV and AIDS national umbrella body NACA was not cooperative in discussing with Monitor what it has on the table for tackling the issue of exclusion of people with disability in HIV/AIDS messages and intervention programmes.