Women in Kenya face certain challenges that can be attributed
to cultural constructions held by the majority of tribes in Kenya. Kenyans will
concur that these cultural constructions dictate that a woman should come
second to a man in sexual relationships as well as the family. This renders
women especially those that are not empowered with information, powerless to
make any decisions that pertain to their lives. This incapacity to make
decisions extend even to their own reproductive health where in extreme cases
they have to ask for permission to go to clinics and cannot negotiate safe sex
as the man is in charge.
Globally, HIV/AIDS is the leading
cause of death among women of reproductive age. Women are twice at risk of getting infected with HIV and AIDS.
Research by Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008-2009 indicates that the
adult prevalence of HIV and AIDS among women stands at 8% while adult
prevalence of HIV and AIDS among men stands at 4.3%.
It is against such alarming figures that Action Network for the Disabled with the financial support of Positive Action for Children Fund is
bringing together women with disabilities to mainstream them into the fight
against HIV and AIDS.
Fighting HIV and AIDS without including women with disabilities
is like going to war without finding out where all your enemies are hiding.
Many people are not aware that persons with disabilities also have sexual urges
and are sexually active. This means that persons with disabilities are not
considered and included in HIV and AIDS campaigns and policies. In addition to
that, women with disabilities are vulnerable to rape; a factor which exposes
them to being infected by rapists and defilers and in turn infects anyone whom
they have sexual contact with. Due to stigma and lack of knowledge on the needs
of persons with disabilities, health care facilities do not adequately respond
to the health concerns of persons with disabilities by giving them specialized
care.
Under the project; Prevention
of HIV and AIDS among women with disabilities in Kenya, ANDY will be
holding a series of talk forums with women with disabilities starting Tuesday 1st
November, 2011. The women will be advised by health care experts on sexual
reproductive choices and prevention of HIV and AIDS. Expectant disabled women
will be encouraged to attend clinics to prevent transmission of HIV and AIDS
from mother to child. Professional health care workers will also be invited to
workshops to be informed on how to best accommodate the needs of women with
disabilities while delivering health care services.
This project is supported by;
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