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Tuesday, 15 July 2014
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  • ZAMBIA: PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LEFT BEHIND IN HIV RESPONSE

    (Lusaka, July 15, 2014) – The nearly two million people with disabilities in Zambia face significant barriers to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. While the Zambian government has made considerable progress scaling up its response to HIV generally, few programs are accessible to people with disabilities and social stigma prevents their access to HIV services on an equal basis with others.
    The 80-page report, “‘We Are Also Dying of AIDS’: Barriers to HIV Services and Treatment for Persons with Disabilities in Zambia,” documents the obstacles faced by people with disabilities in both the community and healthcare settings. These include pervasive stigma and discrimination, lack of access to inclusive HIV prevention education, obstacles to accessing voluntary testing and HIV treatment, and lack of appropriate support for adherence to antiretroviral treatment. The report also describes the sexual and intimate partner violence women and girls with disabilities face, and the need for the government and international donors to do more to ensure inclusive and accessible HIV services.
    (The alternative Featured Video is the American Sign Language Version).
     
    Videos (2)
    Zambia: People With Disabilities Left Behind on HIV Response (ASL)
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    1. Zambia: People with Disabilities Left Behind in HIV Response
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    5m 53s