Summary of findings of the Uganda Disability Review Part 2 of 2

Continuing the summary of finding about disability in Uganda, see Summary of findings of the Uganda Disability Review Part 1 of 2, there were further important findings in the area of mental health. With 1 in 5 Ugandans having a major depressive disorder (MDD) it is necessary to understand depression is a common event, perhaps more so for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Support for the depressed person is essential. These are the issues that came out of the study of mental health:

The study of Depression highlighted some major risk factors for PWDs. The major risk factors for developing MDD are all socioeconomic. They are:
· Low socioeconomic status.
· No formal education.
· No employment.
· Broken family.
· Poverty.
Importantly, PWDs score significantly less across the board on all socioeconomic indicators and are at greater risk than the general population of developing a MDD.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health issue that has ramifications for the whole community. Prompt identification of symptoms and treatment are of vital importance. It is not only people from war torn areas that may suffer the effects of PTSD. We should never lose sight of those that have had traumatic experiences in all walks of life.
Bipolar Disorder: Uganda had a population 34,900,000 in 2014, with only 30 psychiatrists. Lack of access to treatment, poverty, stigma, discrimination and human rights abuses become significant constraints to the rehabilitation of people with mental disorders. Further more, workers in Uganda do not wish to specialize in mental health areas because of the associated stigma.
Schizophrenia: Has a profound impact on carers, often leading to depression and chronic sorrow. It is therefore important that carers be advised and offered coping strategies for their feelings about schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a disease that affects the person diagnosed and their principle carer. As such schizophrenia carries a burden of the risk of getting a MDD.

The Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD) has identified many issues that affect the deaf. It is worth having a look at these to see how much work is required for the deaf in Uganda

(see Hearing Loss). Far from being applicable to only the deaf these issues affect all disabled people:

Social Issues.
· Social rights of the Deaf and the Deaf community e.g. right to Marriage, communication, participation etc.
· Right to access hearing Aids and special attention.
· Right to use Sign Language Interpreting services in courts,hospitals, etc
· Support for families with Deaf children e.g. counseling and career guidance.
· Support for Deaf parents with Hearing children.
· Economic support to Deaf people.
· Support for Deaf people with multiple handicaps and special needs like Deaf blind, Deaf women, Orphaned Deaf children.
· Right to access information on Reproductive health, AIDS etc
· Right to access driving permits
Working Life.
· Equality in the labour and employment sector.
· General support and legal services for working Deaf people.
· Projects for unemployed Deaf people.
· Needs for Sign Language interpretation services at the work place, Educational institutions and training centres.
Sign Language.
· Support to research and development of Sign Language
· Publications of books and video in Sign Language.
· Create awareness on Sign Language to the Hearing public.
· Accessing Sign Language education for the Deaf children and adults.
· Ensure the awareness, usage and preservation of Sign Language as an independent language.
Accessing Education.
· Having qualified teachers and skilled in Sign Language
· Establishment of appropriate special schools for Deaf children
· Good training opportunities for young Deaf people
· The right to access Sign Language interpretation services in all forms of educational settings
· Support the establishment of special secondaryand Primary schools for Deaf and for total communication studies.
· Securing opportunities for Deaf Teachers in schools for the Deaf
Culture and Recreation.
· Establish festivals and exhibition centres for Deaf persons.
· Formation and sustenance of deaf choirs /dramas of Deaf people.
· Support of games and sporting activities of the Deaf people.
· Right to integrate in socio and cultural festivals.
Information Dissemination.
· Advocate and lobby for more Sign Language programmes on Television, radio and newspapers.
· Support for the Deaf film Production.
· Right to use modern technology like the web cam.
Public Relations.
· To ensure a high degree of awareness of Deaf people’s needs and rights amongst decision makers, opinion leaders, families, the media and general public.
· To ensure that Deaf people have excellent access to information about the society in and out of their community

Perhaps the most shocking findings for me were those associated with HIV/AIDS:

• There is a high correlation between sexually transmitted diseases and the incidence of HIV/AIDS. This makes a strong case for believing that HIV/AIDS incidence is under reported for PWDs.
• The number of people with Bipolar Disorder is disproportionately represent by those with HIV/AIDS because of risk taking behaviour in the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
• Dementia is not a disease of old age, it is estimated that 64.4% of HIV positive people have signs of dementia, and there maybe as many as 4% of the world's population of dementia patients are in Uganda.

Far from being a rare lifetime event it is likely that most people will have some form of disability in their life. It becomes essential to remove the barriers that create disability. Education and knowledge are the way to overcome stigma and prejudice. This blog will focus on the issues highlighted in these summary of findings. It will address ways to remove the barriers that create disability.