adminMost women with disabilities who contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs) do not seek medical care due to stigma, resulting in many of them giving birth to children with visual impairments, an official has said.
Director of Disability Affairs in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Dr Christine Peta said this during an interview with New Ziana on the sidelines of a workshop on persons with disabilities access to health services held in the capital recently.
The workshop, organised by the Poverty Reduction Forum Trust, brought together legislators from both the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament, senior Government officials, civil society and people with disabilities.
Dr Peta said persons with disabilities, especially in Zimbabwe, were regarded as asexual beings who do not experience sexual feelings or desires, or who are not sexually attractive to anyone.
“So what happens is, if these women engage in sexual activities and get STIs and pregnancy, because of the stigma number one of disability, stigma that surrounds sexuality and disability, you find out they will be hesitant to go to the local clinic to access health care,” she said.
Dr Peta said her department had embarked on outreach programmes mainly in hard to reach areas of the country where such cases were prevalent. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter