Disabled people: the forgotten group in the struggle to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS: the case of visually and hearing impaired people in Kinondoni municipality, Dar es Salaam

This study was an attempt to fill (he gap that had been left out in most of the efforts to fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania i.e. People with Disability (PWDs) and HIV/AIDS. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the experiences and needs of PWDs with focus on visually and hearing impaired persons in Tanzania on one hand, and on the other hand to examine coping strategies used by VI IIP to cope with HIV/AIDS pandemic. Both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were employed in this study. The population sample comprised of 60 respondents including 40 visually and hearing impaired respondents and 20 key officials working on HIV/AIDS programs. Furthermore, six institutions providing support and care to PWDs and dealing with HIV/AIDS were involved. Both primary and secondary data were collected. However, four major problems were encountered in the process of writing this dissertation namely, sensitivity of the study, communication related problems, lack of privacy and financial constraints. The study was conducted in Kinondoni Municipality in Dar es Salaam region. The study revealed that HIV/AIDS disease was a problem not very much recognized among PWDs and VHIP in particular despite that they were equally affected by this deadly disease. To date, most HIV/AIDS outreach programs including educational and information does not include packages for people with disabilities. Likewise, strategies for reaching PWDs are not clearly reflected in national efforts to fight against HIV/AIDS. The study recommended the following ways in order to help PWDs in the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic. There should be presence of sign language interpreters in health services facilities, inclusion of PWDs in HIV/AIDS outreach programs and formulation of national policies, translating HIV/AIDS materials from ink print to Braille and training individuals with disability to be AIDS peer educators for PWDs.