HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to ravage most of Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya being no exception. The country has made progress in bringing the rate of new infections down and the prevalence rate is also down. However, the situation is far from this scenario when it comes to the persons with intellectual disabilities. Due to the misconception that the intellectually disabled are unable to understand the sexual act, they are extremely badly sexually abused. There have been cases where one PWID was regularly raped by as many as 16 people. This person, unknown to the rapists, is HIV positive and hence all the acts of sexual violations would have spread the virus. It is quite common to find such people with intellectual disabilities carrying two or three different strains of HIV/AIDS virus.

The mild and moderate cases of persons with intellectual disabilities urgently need the awareness and education for prevention of HIV/AIDS. They are a very special case and special techniques, materials and programmes are needed for them. KSMH have identified these areas where you can partner with us to prevent the distress of those who cannot understand for themselves what is being done to them.

Developing of special programmes in response to emerging issues among them HIV/AIDS, PRSP, safe motherhood, and sexuality & reproduction health

Supported Access to HIV/AIDS Services by Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Enhanced Access to Free Primary Education by Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Kenya.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic affects the intellectually disabled just as much or more than the normal population. This fact is not realized by the general public and since the intellectually disabled cannot speak for themselves, they continue to be sexually abused and violated in many inhumane ways. This maltreatment exposes them to a very high risk of STI and HIV infections. The sexual abuse also leads to unwanted pregnancies and children. The general belief that the intellectually disabled cannot get HIV/AIDS makes them centres of transmission.

KSMH works in this area of prevention. Primarily, it informs and educates parents and caregivers about dangers of the spread of HIV/AIDS through the intellectually disabled and gives them strategies for better protection of PWIDs. Secondly, KSMH also educates the mild and moderate cases of intellectual disabilities on prevention methods.

KSMH fills a major gap in provision of services to PWIDs by the government through its work of identifying cases of HIV infections through its helpline. The suspected cases are then assisted in getting the right services for diagnosis and access to ARTs.

Kabete Orthopeadic Workshops, Next to Kabete Army Barracks, Opp ABC Place, Waiyaki Way, Westlands. | +254 20 445 0853/4 Mobile: +254 729476101/736476101 | infor@ksmh.org

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