Toll-Free Service Introduced to Help Women With Disabilities Fight GBV

Women with disabilities have a reason to smile after an introduction of a toll-free service that will give them access to essential services and information on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and confidential support from service operators.

Officially launched in April 2021, the service has been rolled out in 8 counties including Mombasa, Kisumu, Uasin-Gishu, Kilifi, Kakamega, Kwale, Kajiado, and Nairobi.

Moreover, the service has processed over 5,000 calls from women with disabilities seeking information on gender-based violence and SHR.

“By dialing 0800-000-300, it prompts you to either press 1 for Nairobi County or 2 for Mombasa County. It allows a woman to reach out to another with a disability in her locality so that the referrals that are provided meet her needs,” This Ability Trust Managing Director, Lizzie Kiama said.

Kiama further explained the reason behind the launch of Mama Siri technology as a way to maintain proximity and create safe spaces for the women that they work with.

“We have designed the project such that the toll-free number is managed by women with disabilities in the eight counties. They need to know that this is a safe space and that the person they’ll be calling understands her experience and has lived her reality,” she added.

All too often, the Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) of persons with disabilities has been overlooked by both the disability community and those working on SRH.

This leaves persons with disabilities among the most marginalized groups when it comes to SRH services yet they have the same needs for SRH services as persons without disabilities.

ALSO READ: Tea Farmers to Be Paid 1st Week of the Month Instead of 3rd

According to Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Campaigner Linah Jebii, people with disabilities face a lot of challenges when they go to medical institutions. Lack of enough medical personnel trained on the various forms of disability and have the ability to use sign language, for example, makes it difficult for these women to explain how they feel.

She noted that the ignorance and attitudes of society and individuals, including healthcare providers, raise most of these barriers – not the disabilities themselves.

Furthermore, she adds that this is a big challenge when it comes to their Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). They have complained that they are not given the choice to choose partners for example; they are forced by their families or just neglected altogether.

Rape, defilement’s during a pandemic, yet they face the challenges of explaining to someone who cannot understand.

A Person with a disability can register on this service by dialing the *548#USDD line.

Currently, plans are underway to expand the Mama Siri service to eight more counties.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, we have received over 100 applications from women with disabilities. We are going to ensure that it is not only a competitive process but a fair process so that we have a wider representation in terms of the disabilities and also the counties are applying.” Said Kiama.