AAU Inaugurates Resource Center for Students with Disabilities

Acknowledging the support of the UNFPA and AAII, Dr. Admasu Tsegaye said the University will extend its activities to set examples for other universities and become center of excellence in Africa in such fields.

By Fasica Berhane |

The African AIDS Initiative International (AAII) in collaboration with the Addis Ababa University launched the newly established resource center for students with disability here yesterday.

The Center, consisting of a computer pool of 42 computers with internet connections and a reading room, would enable students with disability to get information access and protect themselves from HIV and AIDS .

The University’s President, Dr. Admasu Tsegaye, said at the event having over 400 students with disability the University is expanding its activities to benefit female and students with disabilities by creating such access to assist them in performing a wide range of activities independently.

“The Center will have a vital role in building the capacity of the University apart from fulfilling the information needs of disadvantaged students especially those with disabilities,” Dr. Admasu added

Acknowledging the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and AAII, the President said the University will extend its activities to set examples for other universities and become center of excellence in Africa in such fields.

UNFPA Country Representative Faustin Yao on his part said, “The establishment of the resource center is reflective of the fact that students with disabilities are disadvantaged and are facing quite a number of challenges related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and the associated gender based violence. These challenges justify the decision to set up this center to increase their access to information and related services to empower them.”

He further highlighted that improving access of students to context specific and gender sensitive reproductive health (RH) information and services was critical to enable them overcome the challenges related particularly to HIV and AIDS as well as SRH issues.

AAII President Elleni Gebreamlak said as students with disabilities face many challenges to get information about HIV and AIDS, SRH issues, and gender violence, the resource center plays a significant role in addressing the challenges. The Center is part of the HIV and AIDS prevention and reproductive health information and service for communities of higher institutions project run by the AAII jointly with the Addis Ababa University and funded by the Norwegian government.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald
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