Disabled persons demand accessible health services

The Disability, HIV and Aids Trust (Dhat) has expressed concern that people with disabilities are not accessing health services due to lack of disability-friendly systems.
Dhat said this is worrisome considering there are several policies aimed at easing health service accessibility by people with disabilities in the country.

In the wake of this development, Dhat executive board chairperson David Njaidi has appealed to government and other stakeholders in the health and disability sectors to sensitise the public and health workers on the instruments that can help people with disabilities access health services.
Dhat is an organisation that looks into the health and welfare of people living with disabilities.
During a media workshop on disability issues on Tuesday, Njaidi said: “Policies and Acts are not being implemented because of lack of awareness.”
He said the lack of awareness is also the reason hospital buildings are not designed to accommodate people with physical disabilities.
He also deplored the bad attitude by some health personnel who abuse disabled women seeking gynaecological services.
Ministry of Health head of rehabilitation services Rex Cheonga said the ministry is aware of the problems and it has put programmes in place to assist people with disabilities.