LOBBY CALLS FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS FOR INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED.

Written by Eric Akasa.

The United Nations resolution on the protection of persons with mental illness provides that: “All persons with mental illness have the right to protection from economic, sexual and other forms of exploitation, physical or other abuse and degrading treatment.”

With Kenya’s population estimated to be 40 million’ the World Health organization (WHO) estimates that there are 3.6 million people living with intellectual disabilities in the country of which one per cent are able to access care and rehabilitation services.

“Sex education for the intellectually disabled is critical since it has to be communicated to them in a way they could understand probably by their support persons.”  Points out Fatma Wangare Haji National Co-ordinator Kenya Association for the Intellectually Handicapped. (KAIH)

“When sex education was introduced in my organization (KAIH), some parents were against it because they were afraid for the children to be taught about condoms and all whatever surrounds reproductive health.”  Wangare adds.

“Children with intellectual disabilities are growing and with time their bodies start to respond to sexual urges and without reproductive health education, they are given sweets, chips among other cheap things for sex which they fall for since they don’t know..” remarks Wangare.

Wangare who has 25 year old intellectually disabled daughter remembers how she came to terms with her daughter’s condition. “My daughter had not been performing in school and when the teachers called me, they told me to take her to a special school since she could not comprehend anything at school. It was stigmatizing for us.” She says.

Her daughter had to stay at home for two years since she had no knowledge about special schools until when she met a friend who was a teacher who then advised her.

“Special school education is meaningless, for instance my daughter has nothing to show like a certificate which amounts to violation of human rights (right to education)” wangare laments.

According to Margaret Makayengo of Division of family health Kenyatta National Hospital, Intellectual disability is commonly caused by prolonged labor sometimes may be due to lack of enough staff to attend to the Women during childbirth.

“Other causes for Intellectual disabilities include: Infections, sexual abuse, Gender based violence among others” says Dr. Makayengo. “Israel is far much ahead where they can detect Intellectual disabilities in children as early as six months; I hope Kenya reach there one day.” She adds

Dr. Makayengo says that for now what can be done in Kenya is Ministries of Health and education to work in conjunction with the community to intervene and give specialized services to the affected children.