Esnart’s story

Esnart Musonda is a physically disabled woman. Her legs have been non functional since birth. She is a widow aged 58 and has seven children. She has never been part of any HIV/AIDS awareness education conducted by local health service providers. This is because the communities perceive disabled women and men as not affected by HIV/AIDS. They don’t know anything about the rights of disabled people in the community. Sometimes venues and dates for HIV/AIDS meetings are not communicated. In instances where they are common venues are inaccessible. The disabled people do not have wheelchairs to use to get to the venues.

For disabled women in labor, the local health centers do not have special beds, wheelchairs etc for them to use. As a result, they end up not going to the hospital for delivery. They deliver at home with the assistance of untrained TBAs.

In order to achieve the MDG of improving maternal heath, as well as combating HIV/AIDS its vital that the needs of disabled people are considered.