JAE Executive Director, Benardetter Vaz said this in Machinga on Thursday as her organization was training people with disabilities on human rights and HIV issues.

Vaz says her organization wants to reach out to people with disabilities who have faced discrimination and stigma at facility.

"We are training these people to realize their rights and that they should know that HIV is real. The only challenge we have realized so far is that some health workers and other service providers discriminate these people which is very unfortunate," said Vaz.

Senior Nurse Midwife Technician at Machinga District Hospital, Saul Kalanda, has encouraged people with disabilities to report any case of stigma and discrimination they face to relevant authorities.

"Let me remind people with disabilities to always report any case of stigma they encounter at any health facility. For example, at Machinga District Hospital we have set a team, where people can lodge their complaints at," said Kalanda.

Kalanda says his facility serves about ten people with disabilities at their Kondanani Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic daily.