Current status of HIV/AIDS Current status of HIV/AIDS and Deafness in and Deafness in EthiopiaEthiopia

By Habtamu KebebeBy Habtamu KebebeEthiopia national Association of the Deaf Ethiopia national Association of the Deaf

(ENAD)(ENAD)

Executive directorExecutive director

habtish7@gmail.com

Ethiopia National Association of the Ethiopia National Association of the Deaf (ENAD)Deaf (ENAD)

Established in 1970s by the Deaf people Established in 1970s by the Deaf people with encouragement and support of some with encouragement and support of some hearing friends hearing friends

Currently have 17 regional branchesCurrently have 17 regional branches Have one Pre-school for the Deaf children in Have one Pre-school for the Deaf children in

Addis AbabaAddis Ababa

Vision Vision

To see an information and To see an information and communications barriers free Ethiopia communications barriers free Ethiopia with full participation for all deaf citizens.with full participation for all deaf citizens.

Mission Mission Our mission is to reduce and gradually Our mission is to reduce and gradually

eradicate the stigma attached to eradicate the stigma attached to deafness in Ethiopia as well as to enable deafness in Ethiopia as well as to enable the deaf to become productive and self-the deaf to become productive and self-reliant citizens through awareness reliant citizens through awareness creation, education, health, self-creation, education, health, self-employment opportunities, sign employment opportunities, sign language research and development.language research and development.

GoalGoal

To make ENAD a sustainable and credible To make ENAD a sustainable and credible development association that contributes to development association that contributes to the creation of a society, which gives equal the creation of a society, which gives equal opportunities to deaf persons and persons opportunities to deaf persons and persons with disabilities in general.with disabilities in general.

Deaf people in Ethiopia Deaf people in Ethiopia

according to WHO and World bank report from according to WHO and World bank report from the total population of Ethiopia 17.6% (about 14 the total population of Ethiopia 17.6% (about 14 million) are PwDs. Among these 3.5%(2.8 million) million) are PwDs. Among these 3.5%(2.8 million) belongs to Deaf.belongs to Deaf.

Approximately more than 10,000 live in Addis Approximately more than 10,000 live in Addis Ababa.Ababa.

The rest live other towns and in rural areas which The rest live other towns and in rural areas which are most vulnerable population.are most vulnerable population.

The challenges also multiple on Deaf women's The challenges also multiple on Deaf women's

opportunities to the prevention and opportunities to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS at ENADcontrol of HIV/AIDS at ENAD

16 Deaf and 9 Interpreters got training of 16 Deaf and 9 Interpreters got training of VCT. Among these 1 Deaf and 2 VCT. Among these 1 Deaf and 2 Interpreters are serving the Deaf as VCT Interpreters are serving the Deaf as VCT counselors at zewuditu Hospitalcounselors at zewuditu Hospital

13 peer to peer training providers took 13 peer to peer training providers took relevant courses and they are now ready to relevant courses and they are now ready to teach their peersteach their peers

Materials were distributed to different Materials were distributed to different branches in collaboration with Handicap branches in collaboration with Handicap InternationalInternational

Cont…..Cont…..

One film was prepared by Deaf artists which One film was prepared by Deaf artists which focused on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted focused on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. The film is called “mintamir” and this film diseases. The film is called “mintamir” and this film is accessible for all in CD format using sign is accessible for all in CD format using sign language, voice, and sub titlelanguage, voice, and sub title

From the 17 branches six regional branches From the 17 branches six regional branches implemented a project on HIV/Aids prevention and implemented a project on HIV/Aids prevention and control mainly focusing on Deaf women in control mainly focusing on Deaf women in collaboration with Finnish Association of the Deaf. collaboration with Finnish Association of the Deaf.

Cont…….Cont……. This project will be implemented in the future other This project will be implemented in the future other

8 branches that means totally 14 branches will be 8 branches that means totally 14 branches will be covered by the program. covered by the program.

ENAD already prepared 5 years SPM and this ENAD already prepared 5 years SPM and this SPM contains over 20 project ideas. Most of them SPM contains over 20 project ideas. Most of them are focused on HIV/AIDS, education of Deaf are focused on HIV/AIDS, education of Deaf children, women's empowerment and sign children, women's empowerment and sign language and researchlanguage and research

Cont…..Cont…..

ENAD distributes Condoms to its members ENAD distributes Condoms to its members in various confidential ways.in various confidential ways.

There is improvement of members There is improvement of members arwareness towards HIV/AIDS due to arwareness towards HIV/AIDS due to different training opportunities organized by different training opportunities organized by ENAD and its partners. ENAD and its partners.

There is Coffee programme that enlightens There is Coffee programme that enlightens members on HIV/AIDS. members on HIV/AIDS.

Cont…Cont…

The establishment of Pre-school for the The establishment of Pre-school for the Deaf in the association also opened door for Deaf in the association also opened door for the Deaf Education from early childhood.the Deaf Education from early childhood.

AAU launched BA program in Eth.SL and AAU launched BA program in Eth.SL and Deaf culture Deaf culture

Sign language training is given to Nurses, Sign language training is given to Nurses, Police, Governmental officials and to various Police, Governmental officials and to various service providers.service providers.

Challenges to the prevention and Challenges to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS at ENADcontrol of HIV/AIDS at ENAD

Limited VCT Service provider institute for Limited VCT Service provider institute for the Deaf People.the Deaf People.

Lack of information/media/ accessibility on Lack of information/media/ accessibility on HIV/AIDS.HIV/AIDS.

Lack of suitable office.Lack of suitable office. Most of the training focuses on theory rather Most of the training focuses on theory rather

than practice than practice

Cont….Cont….

Lack of policy on the field of HIV/AIDS Lack of policy on the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and control concerning the Deaf.prevention and control concerning the Deaf.

Lack of youth center for the Deaf. We only Lack of youth center for the Deaf. We only have an old meeting hall.have an old meeting hall.

Lack of Deaf family involvement on Lack of Deaf family involvement on HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities

Lack of trained human power.Lack of trained human power.

Cont…..Cont….. Deaf people themselves have Lack of Deaf people themselves have Lack of

awareness towards HIV/AIDS.awareness towards HIV/AIDS.

Training is mainly focused only in Addis Training is mainly focused only in Addis Ababa and few branches due to lack of Ababa and few branches due to lack of financial resources. financial resources.

Rural Deaf people are the most vulnerable Rural Deaf people are the most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and nothing was done for them.to HIV/AIDS and nothing was done for them.

Cont…Cont…

Lack of awareness of health personnel Lack of awareness of health personnel towards Deaf people. Some health officers towards Deaf people. Some health officers are not willing to serve Deaf people claiming are not willing to serve Deaf people claiming that they do not know sign language. that they do not know sign language.

Lack of teaching materials /visualized Lack of teaching materials /visualized materials/ Manuals etc.materials/ Manuals etc.

Lack of data on the HIV +ve Deaf people. Lack of data on the HIV +ve Deaf people. Lack of care for the HIV +ve Deaf people.Lack of care for the HIV +ve Deaf people.

Planed activities and Suggestion to Planed activities and Suggestion to over come the barriers over come the barriers

ENAD have to work with government and NGOs to ENAD have to work with government and NGOs to decrease the barriers. decrease the barriers.

ENAD have to establish a strong relationship with ENAD have to establish a strong relationship with the family of the Deaf.the family of the Deaf.

ENAD on hopes to Build suitable office and youth ENAD on hopes to Build suitable office and youth center. center.

advocating for the media accessibility especially advocating for the media accessibility especially on HIV/AIDS.on HIV/AIDS.

Collecting statistical data on the HIV +ve deaf Collecting statistical data on the HIV +ve deaf people and providing care to them.people and providing care to them.

Beneficiaries Beneficiaries

Deaf people and their family.Deaf people and their family. Government and NGOs.Government and NGOs. Teachers of Deaf students/ Deaf children. Teachers of Deaf students/ Deaf children. Regional Branches and their local Regional Branches and their local

government administrations.government administrations. Staffs and the executive committee of Staffs and the executive committee of

ENAD. ENAD.

Thank youThank you

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