PWDs living with HIV/AIDS request for special support

Women with disabilities, living with HIV/AIDS under their umbrella organisation Positive Women with Disabilities Uganda (POWODU) have asked the government to give them special consideration when distributing COVID-19 items.

Betty Kwagala the executive director of POWODU explained that the members who are mainly women besides being disabled are mothers and are living with HIV/AIDS which she said is a tragedy for them and cannot afford basic needs during this period.

Kwagala requested supporting agencies to condition COVID-19 support given to the vulnerable people, adding that on every grant or support given the PWDs and PHAS should be considered.

She said they are vulnerable and lack basic needs and yet they are still stigmatised because they depend on caretakers all the time.

Kwagaala said that as PWDs, they lack access to basic information, saying that those who do not see cannot read the COVID-19 messages yet they also move around town.

She said that for the deaf, they cannot hear the messages which are sent out, she said that the ministry of health should design means of COVID-19 which suits them.

Kwagala noted that they have challenges in access to health care and other services since some of the health facilities do not need crowds around. She said requested the government to provide economic support to the PWDs since they depend on small businesses that earn them enough.

With support from UNAIDS, they have been able to support 200 people with Dettol soap, masks, food items in areas of Kyebando Ghetto, District of Kampala Katwe, Wakiso and we are looking at PWDS in peri-urban areas since they rent and are not earning.

"The vulnerable group of people need support from government to boost their incomes, since they are lack capital, and have no starter package," she added.

Safia Juuko Nalule the national female representative of PWDs requested for more economic support from other UN agencies saying that PWDs have not been working in the last three months.

She added that once supported economically, they will stop depending on hands outs.

Nalule also called on the UN agencies to condition their COVID-19 support with special support to the PWDs.

The UNAIDS country director, Dr Karusa Kiragu, pledged her organisation's continued support to PHWAS and PWDs. 

What PWDs say

George Okech, a resident of Kyebando in Kawempe division, is a person with disabilities, and also a person living with HIV/AIDS.

Okech who is a chairperson of the PWDs is among 39 residents of Kyebando who depends on daily earnings, he used to roast maize and cassava along the streets, but when the nationwide lockdown began, he used up all his savings and now depends on handouts.

Collin Amune a mother of two children says that they depend on handouts and currently they do not have capital to restart their businesses.