HIV MANAGEMENT AND AWARENESS AMONG DISABLED RURAL YOUTHS

It aims at educating and creating awareness among the disabled youths on matters of HIV/AIDS in many rural areas in Kenya.

Since the report of the first HIV/AIDS case in Kenya in 1985. The number of new cases reported yearly in the country have been on the rise, data collected by 2021 indicate that around 1.4 Million people in Kenya have been infected by HIV/AIDS pandemic. 

People living with disabilities have also been affected by HIV/AIDS since it was first reported in the country. A study conducted by UNAIDS in 2020 indicate that 7% of the deaf population in Kenya were living with HIV/AIDS. 

The Kenyan government rarely mentions people living with with disabilities as a vulnerable populations thus putting less interventions and strategies for prevention and care among the disabled population.The disabled are easily abused sexually because they are less defenceless. Lack of knowledge on HIV among the deaf and the blind as also contributed to the to rise of infection case among persons in this group. The discrimination in healthcare settings as been a barrier on the disabled to seek medical intervention due to bad treatment during visits.

HIV as significantly affected people living with disabilities health and some have even lost their lives due to the pandemic. Also the discrimination that comes with social stigma as affected them emotional and psychologically leading them to isolate themselves from other people. 

In order to manage and create awareness among disabled youths living with Hiv. I intend to conduct social forums, house to house sensitisation and peer education Baraza's in rural areas to educate the masses on how to protect the disabled from getting infected with HIV and on how to manage those infected. 

My target population are the disabled boys and girls who are in the youth bracket because a good number of them are at the adolescent phases and are sexually active.

I come from a family where my father is disabled thus have a clear picture on what  disabled people undergo in their daily lives. Personally I am a undertaking a course in secondary school teaching and I have worked with both boys and girls and I have a good understanding of different personalities among people. I have also worked with Volunteer group as a peer educate to adolescent living with HIV(ALWH) which handled both the disabled and abled adolescents. I am also trained on Gender Based Violence matters.

During my one year volunteer service with Daraja Mbili Vision Volunteers I worked with disabled youths living with HIV and was able to understand the many challenges they face from poverty, lack of education, discrimination and many other. I tried to engage the volunteer group by due to their insufficient budget they where unable to fund project.

I term my solution as the best bet in the market because it focus on the disabled person living with HIV in rural areas who have been left marginalized by the government and many instructions for years. 

*Ending discrimination in healthcare system on people living with disabilities and HIV.

*Reducing the number of people living with disabilities contracting HIV among adolescents and youths.

*Encourage family and social support for people living with HIV and are disabled.

The use of videos.

The project will rely on social media platforms such as WhatsApp groups and Facebook to help in spreading more awareness to the public.

Currently we are serving none. But we hope to serve 1000 in 2023.

Lack of funds to facilitate movement from household to household and the lack of support from relevant authorities.

Not partnering with any organisation.

My project aims at providing education to the disabled and helping them to start small business.

My model will depend on grants and well wishers.