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Disabled discuss reproductive health
The need to remove barriers to information and services on sexual reproductive health for persons with disabilities has been highlighted globally.
Thus, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has embarked on providing crucial information and service on the topic to persons with disabilities across the regions of Guyana.
On Friday, members of special needs advocate body, Young Voices Guyana, (YVG) participated in a workshop at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre on sexual reproductive health hosted by the UNFPA.
At least 22 persons from Berbice, Linden and Georgetown participated in the activity. Head of the Visually Challenged Unit in Linden, Shellon Swaving, explained that physically challenged persons are among the most vulnerable groups in relation to the topic.
“It is common for people to believe that persons with disability do not have the need to engage in sexual activity, but this is so far from the truth… Actually research has shown that persons with certain types of mental disorders have a higher sex drive than others.
“It is however important to note, that people with disability have these needs because they are also human.”
In addition to a discussion on the subject, condoms were distributed to those who took part in the seminar.
Teshawn Rodney and Rosemarie Ramitt, of Young Voices Guyana, explained that participating in the workshop taught them how to be comfortable with their sexuality.
“We learned how to communicate and express our emotions with persons that are not only our relatives and friends, how to set boundaries and how to know if our values are being abused, to respect other people’s feelings and to have them respect ours.”
They explained that increasingly, persons with disabilities are engaging in sexual activities.
“People may want to say we don’t have that right but having a disability does not make us less human. Every human has sexual desires and needs; engaging in a sexual act for physically challenged person comes as naturally as putting on your clothes.”
Members of the group are advocating for the implementation of legislation which protects them in this instance.
“We have been calling for the implementation of the legislation that protects and safeguards our rights in this regard. We should not be devalued because we are differently able.
“A lot of the 2010 legislation needs to be enforced for us to be able to function as equal citizens in society.”
According to information provided by the global organization, educating persons with disabilities on the importance of living healthy sexual reproductive plays a major role in the development of any country as an estimated 10 percent of the world‘s population lives with a disability.
One in every three people who have special needs will become sexually involved at one point or another.
Among the topics widely discussed at last Friday’s Forum were Sexually Transmitted Infections, (STIs) HIV and AIDS, the use of contraceptives, and the sexuality of persons with disabilities.
According to UNFPA, the issue of sexual and reproductive health in persons with disabilities particularly deserves attention because their needs have been so widely and so deeply neglected.
Generally, the approach does not address specific protocols for the sexual and reproductive health care and treatment of persons with disabilities, it applies broadly to all aspects of health programming for persons with disabilities.
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