Rwanda | Musanze: 37 trained to help disabled access health care

37 health workers in charge of Aids prevention in health centres and hospitals of Northern Province and Kigali city have been trained on efficient service delivery towards the disabled. 

This came to life after health workers faced challenges in sensitizing the disabled on HIV prevention and other health programs.

Organized by UPHLS, the training was held on January 8^th 2013.

The coordinator of UPHLS Francois Xavier Karangwa, gives an example of how challenging it was for a blind person to discuss AIDS issues with the concerned party as it necessitated a third party to coordinate them.

Karangwa explains: “A deaf person needed a sign language person to communicate with the other, which deprived the disabled a right to privacy of some issues.”

These teachings will be useful in availing health services to the people living with disabilities.

“Mentally disturbed people have been facing neglection at health centres or hospitals yet they go their feeling pain,” he narrates.

In his opening remark, the president of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and Administrator at Rwanda Biomedical Center, Gaston Rusiha asked the participants to put to use the knowledge they will draw from the training.

He called on the disabled to protect themselves against AIDS by embracing all health programs available at all health centres and hospitals.

UPHLS is the Umbrella of People with Disabilities in the Fight against HIV and AIDS in Rwanda.

UPHLS was started in Kigali, Rwanda in 2006 to fight for the rights of people with impairments whether they are physical, sensory, mental or intellectual.

UPHLS works in a number of ways. Firstly through advocacy, informing government and people with disabilities (PWDs) about their rights and lobbying the government and institutions to mainstream the needs of disabled people.