Double the stigma, double the challenge
Living with HIV as well as a disability is an uphill task for persons with disabilities. Thousands of people with disabilities often fear discrimination and stigma from family members, the community, and the general public, which prevents them from disclosing their status which means that they may be left behind in HIV prevention efforts and treatment.
Studies have shown that individuals with disabilities are equally or more likely to acquire HIV compared to the general population. This is due to many factors that include a higher incidence of sexual violence, and a lack of access to vital information on prevention measures and treatment services.
"Most people, including PWDs, don't contract HIV by choice. They are exposed due to complex factors, with poverty playing a major role," he said."Most sex workers are women who are jobless or poorly empowered economically that in the struggle for survival, they turn to sex work to earn a living." "For PWDs," Edgar said,"disclosing their HIV status can be especially difficult due to the fear of stigma and discrimination. Deaf individuals, in particular, struggle with spoken or written communication, creating a significant gap in their interactions with health workers." While sign language interpreters can bridge this gap,"including a third party raises confidentiality concerns," said Bwire.
Even at this current conference, I requested a sign language interpreter but was told that all presentations would have live captions ... "The conference should establish a dedicated hub with presentations and resources specifically focused on disability and HIV/AIDS," he said."PWDs have a right to choose the accessibility options they need. This includes access to sign language interpreters and assistants, not as a burden, but as a fundamental right.
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