PWDs living with HIV/AIDs request for special support

HEALTH | COVID-19 | HIV/AIDS

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

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

Kwagaala 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 who lack basic needs and yet they are still stigmatised because they depend on caretakers all the time.

Kwagaala said that  PWDs lack access to basic information, the blind cannot read the COVID-19 messages and the deaf cannot hear it either.  She therefore called upon the Ministry of Health to design means that suits them.

She also requested the government to provide economic support to the PWDs since they depend on small businesses which do not earn them enough.

With support from UNAIDS they have been able to provide 200 people with soap, masks, food items in areas of Kyebando and Katwe, Kampala suburbs.  

They are also looking at PWDS in Peri-urban areas since they rent and are not working.

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

Safia Juuko Nalule the National female representative of People with Disabilities 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.

The UNAIDS country director, Dr Karusa Kiragu pledged that the organisations will continue to support to PHWAS and PWDs.  

What PWDs say

George Okech, a resident of Kyebando in Kawempe division and chairperson of the PWDs used to roast maize and cassava along the street to earn a living.

However, the little he had saved was untilised during the lockdown leaving him with nothing. He lately beggars to get what to eat.

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