IDDC

Liverpool VCT, Care & Treatment (LVCT)

One of VSO’s partners in Kenya is Liverpool VCT, Care & Treatment (LVCT). This Kenyan NGO was established in 2001 working in the field of HIV&AIDS. LVCT provides technical assistance to the Government of Kenya and partners in strengthening responses to HIV prevention, care and treatment for HIV infected persons.

They have several programmes; one of their programme is the Disability Programme. This programme aims to address the HIV/AIDs and sexual health needs of persons with disabilities in Kenya. The Disabilities Programme at LVCT began with the provision of HIV services to the Deaf through the initiation of Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, staffed and managed by Deaf counsellors and providing targeted services to the Deaf community. These Deaf VCT Centres, were the first of their kind in Africa and were established in 2003. Now they have expanded their services also to people with other disabilities.

More information on LVCT

National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU)

DPOD (Disabled Peoples Organisations - Denmark) and NUDIPU (National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda) have since 2006 been cooperating on mainstreaming disability in the HIV/AIDS response in Uganda.  

NUDIPU is an indigenous umbrella NGO of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), formed in November 1987. It brings together all categories of disabilities including physically, sensory and mentally impaired people. NUDIPU provides a unified voice for PWDs, for the full realisation of their rights and an inclusive development.

The HIV/AIDS programme focuses on increasing access to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment of PWDs, with emphasis on providing information and assistance to HIV/AIDS service providers about disability issues. The programme aims to achieving the following:

• Advocating for equal opportunities and access to quality HIV/AIDS services by PWDs

• Increasing awareness on disability and HIV/AIDS amongst policy makers, HIV/AIDS service providers and PWDs themselves

• Strengthening the technical and institutional capacity of HIV/AIDS service providers and PWDs on disability and HIV/AIDS issues

The project has succeeded in getting disability on the agenda in the HIV/AIDS response in Uganda and has through advocacy efforts secured that disability is included in the national HIV/AIDS policy along with activities and strategic plans of some HIV/AIDS organisations. For the first time, disability issues and needs are part of the current National Strategic Plan of Uganda 2007-2012.

The above are good indications that Uganda as a country is finally beginning to address PWDs specifically on issues of HIV/AIDS.

For further information see: http://www.nudipu.org.ug/