February 13th is marked annually as International Condom Day, taking place just before Valentine’s Day, to remind people to take precautions and protect themselves as they celebrate love.
While stakeholders advocate for condom use, persons with disabilities (PWDs) often feel overlooked, facing significant obstacles in accessing essential health services and commodities such as condoms.
Don Ochieng Oywa, a visually impaired teacher, acknowledges the numerous challenges PWDs encounter when seeking healthcare services. He points out that health information is predominantly presented in visual formats, leaving those with visual impairments—who rely on braille—at a disadvantage. Don emphasises that PWDs miss out on vital health messages that would empower them to make informed decisions about their wellbeing.
“‘Kuna uhaba wa mafundisho ya magonjwa tofauti tofauti. Serikali inafanya juhudi kutoa habari kuhusu magonjwa tofauti lakini habari hizi zinatolewa kwa njia ya picha au michoro na wenye hawaoni hawawezi elewa maana ya hizo picha au habari kwa sababu wanasoma kutumia ‘braille’,” he says.
The junior teacher at Kiganjo School in Thika also notes the stigma PWDs face when diagnosed with certain conditions, such as HIV, leading many to shy away from seeking treatment. He observes that society does not expect visually impaired individuals to be affected by such diseases, yet they are human beings with feelings.
“People often question, “Hata wewe pia unapakinana na ugonjwa kama huu?” implying disbelief that even a blind person could contract HIV, he said .
Oywa explains that communication poses another significant challenge when seeking treatment, as many healthcare workers are not trained in how to interact with PWDs effectively. He describes experiences where some health workers either harass or ignore them.
“‘Unajua ukiwa mlemavu umepitia changamoto nyingi, kutengwa na jamii, watu wanakukataa. Unapoenda hospitali, unataka upate mtu ambaye atakusikiliza na kukuelewa. Lakini pale hospitalini, wahudumu wengine watakupita ama kuku-harass.’” he says
This means PWDs face numerous challenges, including stigma; however, instead of receiving support, they are often ignored or mistreated when seeking help.
As the world observes Condom Day, the young teacher stresses the ongoing challenge of accessing information about condoms for the visually impaired. He highlights the difficulty of understanding how different types of condoms look and how to use them correctly. Oywa urges relevant parties to ensure condom dispensers are situated in locations that are easily accessible to PWDs.
Mlemavu ana mahitaji kama binadamu wengine; anataka kushiriki katika tendo la ndoa, lakini hatajua jinsi ya kupata mipira ya kujikinga. Hivyo, hatakuwa na ulinzi dhidi ya magonjwa. Hata unapokwenda kununua kondomu, kuna ubaguzi—maswali yanaulizwa kama vile, “wewe mlemavu unanunua hizi?” he decried
The teacher explains that society assumes people with disabilities (PWDs) do not fall in love and are expected to be isolated. When they attempt to buy condoms, they are often questioned about whether they also use them. This questioning leads to feelings of shame, causing them to forgo purchasing condoms. As a result, they may engage in unprotected sex and risk contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV.
He adds that mobility is a challenge for the visually impaired; for instance, they must be accompanied by a sighted guide when visiting health facilities. He confesses that individuals may be suffering from a condition they do not want anyone to know about, but because they require guidance, they fear that the accompanying person might disclose their situation.
“Mtu ambaye haoni, lazima atafute msaidizi ambaye atamshika mkono akimpeleka hospitalini. Labda mtu anaweza kuwa na magonjwa ya siri, hataki yajulikane, lakini kwa sababu lazima msaidizi ampeleke hospitalini, anaogopa kwamba siri yake itajulikana,” narrates Oywa
He highlighted research showing that most people with disabilities (PWDs) live in impoverished conditions. As a result, they tend to prioritise essential needs like food over products such as condoms.
As the world observes International Day under the theme ‘Vybe ni safe, Just use It’, the teacher encourages fellow young people to either abstain from sex before marriage or to use condoms to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
Oywa, who was not born blind, lost his eyesight while in primary school, specifically in grade four. Despite the challenges he has faced, he is pleased with the milestones he has achieved. He expresses gratitude to organizations such as the Kenya Union for the Blind, which have united individuals with visual impairments to share experiences and advocate for their rights.
