Sodomy Exploitation of a Mentally Disabled Boy
Impact:
12-year old Jackson Mwangi was sodomised in numerous incidents by villagers. Reported to PWID HIV/AIDS Desk, Jackson was rescued, treated and placed in a home for better care and protection.
Challenge:
Jackson was born to a street mother with mental disabilities in Athena village. He lacked basic care and protection. Villagers said the mother disappeared from the village and nobody knew her whereabouts. Drunkards among other idlers in Athena village exploited Jackson’s vulnerability, through indecent sexual assault. The nature of mental disability of Jackson made him unable to seek help or run to safety. The local administration could not help, since orphaned children with mental disabilities are not accepted in government orphanages in Kenya. Without any known relatives and surrounded by poor and illiterate members of the immediate community, Jackson underwent lots of suffering until his case was reported to KSMH by a sensitized well wisher.
Initiative:
To be able to identify a PWID like Jackson, exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS infections, KSMH undertook community education and sensitization forum in Kiandutu village. This covered subjects aimed at sensitizing the community on the importance of reporting any known cases of PWID sexual abuse, exploitations and indecent assaults.
Jackson’s abuse report was received by an independent PWID HIV/AIDS desk. His inability to independently access help in HIV/AIDS prevention methods, information among other services, demanded the intervention of a sensitized third party.
The local administration was notified of Jackson’s intended rescue and needs assessment activities. Jackson’s condition was extremely vulnerable and exposed him to lots of abuse and human rights violations. Stigma associated with Jackson’s mental disability made it difficult for any community member to take care of him.
KSMH provided medical support services and placed Jackson in a private home for basic care and protection. He was later discovered to be epileptic and HIV/AIDS positive.
Results:
Jackson is currently living out of abuse in a private home and his HIV/AIDS condition well managed. The home is empowered with skills and information needed to cope with the HIV/AIDS special needs of individuals with mental disabilities.
Unlike before, it is now possible to provide HIV/AIDS information and services to stigmatized orphans and vulnerable PWID in Kenya.
KSMH interventions have now made it possible for HIV treatment in orphaned PWID.
Pullout Quote:
“KSMH has brought hope and humanity in lives of the mentally disabled and empowered them to get HIV care and treatment.” - Pastor Njogu of Kiandutu Village
Sexual Abuse of Mentally Disabled Woman
Overview:
A last born, Cecilia, a PWID lost her elderly parents when she was 29yrs old. Despite being an adult, she lacks basic and social skills needed for her care and protection. Her inability to be self-reliant led to all relatives avoiding the responsibility of caring and providing for her. Cecilia was left to live alone in her late parents’ house with some help from passers by and neighbors.
It is in this lonely environment, that some passersby and immediate neighbors got opportunity to sexually exploit Cecilia. Neighbors did not know what to do with the situation as there is no care center or home in Kenya where fully dependant adults with mental disabilities can be placed. Immediate family members relocated far away from home to avoid the responsibility of caring for Cecilia because of her mental disabilities.
After a radio talk show in Kameme FM, informed members of the immediate community reported this case to PWID HIV/AIDS Desk. KSMH intervened, undertook needs assessment, and developed for her an intervention program. By this time, Cecilia already had two miscarriages caused by syphilis. Part of the intervention activities included treatment, searching for her immediate family members and recruiting one of them for the role of a human reader. Most of the family members were traced, sensitized and educated on the importance of providing care and protection for her. Finally Cecilia has been found to be HIV/AIDS positive and is living under the care of her sensitized and trained elder sister.
Impact:
PWID are vulnerable to all forms of abuse, the most reported being incest, rape and sodomy. This greatly exposes them to HIV/AIDS infections, due to their inability to independently access HIV/AIDS information and services.
PWID Males and Females Exposed to HIV/AIDS Infections through Sodomy and Sexual Exploitations
Challenge:
Many PWID are exposed to HIV/AIDS infections through sodomy and sexual exploitations. However, they are not easily identified, as families continue to cover-up on cases of incest and rape. To identify 483 PWID in need of HIV/AIDS interventions in Thika district, KSMH undertook continuous activities in community sensitization on PWID HIV/AIDS special needs.
The impact of radio talk shows, going far beyond Thika District, has resulted in identification of 977 other cases outside Thika district. This emphasizes the importance of public sensitization activities aimed at helping identify PWID exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS infections in Kenya.
Such support services are not provided by the Government and as a result denies PWID access to HIV/AIDS services. PWID who are living with HIV/AIDS, have also been denied access to government HIV/AIDS services as emphasized in government’s HIV/AIDS policy guidelines. The guidelines states that “persons of unsound mind should not access VCT services”.
Initiative:
The reports of sexual abuse of PWID were received through PWID HIV/AIDS Desk. Radio talk shows and community based forums sensitized members of the public to forward to the HIV/AIDS Desk any known information of PWID sexual violations.
The inability of 483 PWID to independently access help in HIV/AIDS prevention methods and information services, demanded the intervention of a sensitized third party.
Most abuse reports of PWID are of incest where implicated family members are violent and hostile. It took the intervention of local administration to rescue 23 PWID and undertake their needs assessments. Specialists were consulted to advice on individualized intervention programs suitable for each PWID and their families. Stigma associated with mental disabilities caused rejection of PWID in families. As a result, human readers were recruited, sensitized and empowered to support individual PWID access to HIV/AIDS information and services.
KSMH, in partnership with the private sector, gave various HIV/AIDS support services to 23 PWID. They have all been confirmed to be HIV/AIDS positive and have other conditions of epilepsy, emotional and behavioral disorders etc.
Results:
The PWID HIV/AIDS Desk has successfully identified previously unknown cases of 483 PWID, exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS infections in Thika District.
Out of the 483 PWID, 23 PWIDs are under the care of human readers empowered with skills and information needed to assist PWID access HIV/AIDS services.
Those who are orphans have been placed in private homes for special care and protection. Their HIV/AIDS conditions are now well managed by HIV/AIDS specialists. Families and immediate community members have also been empowered with skills and information needed to cope with the HIV/AIDS special needs of individuals with mental disabilities.
It is now possible to provide HIV/AIDS information and services to PWID in Kenya.
Pullout Quote:
“I did not know that the mentally disabled can also be infected by HIV/AIDS. KSMH has shown the way to provide services to these people.” - Patrick Ngunyi, local leader, Thika District
Severe Sexual Exploitation of a Mentally Disabled Girl
Impact:
Abandoned due to mental disabilities, 14-year old Caroline Wanjiku became a street girl in Gachagini village. In search of basic needs, she was subjected to numerous sexual exploitations.
Caroline clothed and rescued from abandoned house, in Gachagini Village photo on the left.Center Photo Caroline in the private children’s home in red sweater.Photo on the right Caroline during her routine medical check-ups.
Challenge:
Caroline was born to parents who abandoned her when they realized she had mental disabilities and epilepsy. Members of Gachagini village lacked information on how to help an abandoned and needy person with mental disabilities. The local children’s department rejected this case claiming lack of technical capacity. The local administration too could not help because abandoned and needy children with mental disabilities are not accepted in government children homes. Caroline was exposed to all forms of insecurity due to lack of shelter, caregivers and government protection.
The nature of mental disabilities and epilepsy in Caroline subjected her to lots of rejection and stigma. Villagers declined the responsibility of protecting Caroline’s vulnerability yet the whereabouts of her parents or relatives was unknown. She was continuously sexually exploited by members of the village who invited her to their shanties for shelter and food. Despite lots of exposure to STI and HIV infections, Caroline’s mental disability barred her from accessing any form of HIV/AIDS help in information and/or services. She underwent lots of suffering until a sensitized member of the village reported her case to PWID HIV/AIDS Desk.
Initiative:
KSMH undertook community education and sensitization forum in Makongeni market. This covered subjects that educated the community on the HIV/AIDS special needs of PWID such as Caroline. Emphasis was given to the importance of helping identify PWID exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS infections through reporting any known cases of PWID sexual abuse.
Caroline’s abuse report was received by the PWID HIV/AIDS desk. Her inability to independently access help in HIV/AIDS prevention methods and information, demanded the intervention of a sensitized third party.
The local administration was notified of Caroline’s intended rescue and needs assessment activities. She was found without clothes and her condition extremely vulnerable, which exposed her to lots of abuse and human rights violations. Stigma associated with Caroline’s disability made it difficult for any community member to take care of her.
KSMH rescued Caroline, provided medical support services and placed her in a private home for basic care and protection. Caroline was later discovered to have contracted HIV/AIDS through sexual exploitation.
Results:
Caroline is currently living out of abuse in a private home and her HIV/AIDS condition well managed. The home has been empowered with skills and information needed to cope with the HIV/AIDS special needs of individuals with mental disabilities.
Unlike before, it is now possible to provide HIV/AIDS information and services to stigmatized, abandoned and vulnerable PWID in Kenya.
KSMH interventions have made it possible for HIV treatment for abandoned and vulnerable PWID.
Pullout Quote:
“HIV/AIDS infections in the orphans and vulnerable children with mental disabilities can be managed. All it needs is the will and commitment of innovative projects like those of KSMH - Ms. Marion Karimi – Director, Handicapped Community Fellowship Children’s Home