Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - September 13, 2009
Dear Doctor,
Are there any special programmes by AIDS service organisations to help people with disabilities who have HIV? I have a sister who has HIV on top of being deaf and dumb. Finding ways to help her is no easy task. The situation is aggrevated because the few clinics we have visited have no doctors who understand sign language.
Margaret
HIV among people with disabilities (PwDs) is a challenge to both the health care providers and the PwDs themselves. Because of their disabilities, many PwDs often experience double stigma: i.e. stigma related to their disabilities and that related to HIV/AIDS.
Some disabilities make PwDs more prone to the infection because often they do not have skills to negotiate for safer sex or even access care in confidence since they are often if not always accompanied with someone to assist them.
HIV/AIDS service organisations and indeed all health care facilities should have some of their staff trained in communicating with PwDs especially the deaf and dumb.
At the moment, I am not aware of any HIV/AIDS service organisation which runs these clinics but may be it is high time organiations like TASO and Mildmay Uganda get programmes to run courses for health care providers to equip them with skills to help people with disabilities.
Write to health@newvision.co.ug
090913
NV090907
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