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Sharon Chigeza Mutare Correspondent
PEOPLE living with disabilities have expressed concern over communication barriers and social attitudes towards them regarding their sexual reproductive health rights. Speaking at a Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC)- organised forum on adolescent sexual reproductive health (ASRH), Freedom to the Disabled Persons in Zimbabwe secretary Tapiwa Dzepasi said people with disabilities were not accessing sexual reproductive health services.

“Most of the people with disabilities like the blind and the hearing-impaired do not have access to information on sexual reproductive issues due to the communication gap between the health service providers and the patient. The service providers are unable to communicate in sign language and this ends up in services being provided based on assumptions,” he said.

He said this remained a challenge in the fight against HIV and new infections as most of the people living with disabilities were victims of sexual abuse and failing to get medical assistance and support.
Dzepasi said people still believed in myths and misconceptions regarding people with disabilities.