{"id":96173,"date":"2023-12-18T13:45:22","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T12:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/edhe-ne-jemi-si-grate-tjera\/"},"modified":"2024-11-11T11:37:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T10:37:54","slug":"we-are-like-other-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/we-are-like-other-women\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We are like other women\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"96173\" class=\"elementor elementor-96173 elementor-95784\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7c8eca1 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7c8eca1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Kalterine-Misini_5-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Kalterine-Misini_5-326x183.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3c0a2eb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3c0a2eb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-59909b8\" data-id=\"59909b8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afcfa79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"afcfa79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u2018We are like other women\u2019<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-94f150a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"94f150a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-942fded\" data-id=\"942fded\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37001e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"37001e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Women with physical disabilities fight invisibility in hospitals and society.\n<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e0abb04 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e0abb04\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-10e0c00\" data-id=\"10e0c00\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d308be4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d308be4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-divider__text elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t18\/12\/2023\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6929815 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6929815\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/author\/kalterinamisini\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"text-decoration:  underline; text-decoration-color: yellow\">Kalt\u00ebrina Misini <\/a> <br>\nEditors: <a href=\"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/author\/aulonek\/\" style=\"text-decoration:  underline; text-decoration-color: yellow\" target=\"_blank\">Aulon\u00eb Kadriu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/author\/besa\/\" style=\"text-decoration:  underline; text-decoration-color: yellow\" target=\"_blank\">Besa Luci <\/a><\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e51bfcb elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e51bfcb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c7d7c59 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c7d7c59\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1dcd5d\" data-id=\"c1dcd5d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d4e2ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d4e2ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When medical staff set a date for her Pap smear, 51-year-old Bukurije Shatri told them &#8220;Don&#8217;t wait for me.&#8221; It wasn\u2019t due to scheduling conflicts or the examination itself, which serves to identify potential cervical diseases. Rather, Shatri, who relies on crutches for mobility, did not want to return to the hospital where she had experienced more pain than healing.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Ma&#8217;am, undress and get up there,&#8221; the health workers had told her last time, but the high bed made her realize that a difficult task awaited her. &#8220;The Gynecologist is on the third floor, with those beds and without an elevator,&#8221; said Shatri. &#8220;I told them, I can&#8217;t. Not only because it hurts physically, but we cannot get onto these high beds. And I didn&#8217;t do it. I didn\u2019t do the Pap smear.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She has reduced her hospital visits, attending only when absolutely necessary. This change occurred because others have to carry her since she cannot climb the stairs. &#8220;I cannot stand it. Someone else is carrying you. This is already difficult, in itself. Even when my husband helps me with something, I say &#8216;I have become a burden,&#8221; she said. Now, she treats her health concerns with herbal teas and antibiotics.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The difficult experiences at hospitals has also left 43-year-old Resmije Rrahmani from Prizren afraid, leading her to avoid regular gynecological check-ups at the hospital. Her fears are unrelated to the typical tales about fearing needles or stories she has heard from others. &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hesitate because I know how those beds are, they are terrible and old. How can I go there, when the examination table is two meters high,&#8221; said Rrahmani.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rrahmani has been living with muscular dystrophy since the age of seven and uses a wheelchair to move. She had to point this out to a radiologist during a cyst radiography procedure. &#8220;When the doctor came, he shouted at me: &#8216;Do you wear those shoes at your home?&#8217; Do you lie in your bed with those shoes on? Take off your shoes,&#8221; Rrahmani recalls from her encounter with the radiologist. &#8220;&#8216;Doctor,&#8217; I said, \u2018my shoes are cleaner than yours, because I cannot walk, I&#8217;m in a wheelchair.\u2019&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-11e5d7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"11e5d7f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4bc7e3b\" data-id=\"4bc7e3b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2aca854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2aca854\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\"I couldn't [get on my feet] and so I had to go with my daughter, my niece and a neighbor, because the nurses didn't know how to hold me or what to do,\" said Rulani, remembering when she had to do a mammogram. \n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9e4ce9a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9e4ce9a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3c514ef\" data-id=\"3c514ef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65b9c58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65b9c58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of monitoring her condition and seeking advice from health professionals, Rrahmani also chooses to treat infections with herbal teas. For her, this is easier than enduring the pain and bruises she gets from being passed from hand to hand, from wheelchair to car and then back again, floor after floor.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, 50-year-old Lumnije Rulani from Kamenica, who has lived in Gjilan for the last few years, has refused to set foot in the gynecology ward since she became a mother 17 years ago. However, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and uterine cancer in 2022. These diagnoses have made it impossible for her to avoid hospitals, especially private ones, which she chooses because of easier physical access.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The diagnosis of these illnesses was overwhelming for her, and it also led to more frequent medical checks and encounters with inaccessible hospitals. A routine mammogram, typically a quick check-up recommended for women of Rulani&#8217;s age, and now a necessary check-up for her, turned into an odyssey.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, accessing the mobile clinic used to encourage early testing for women was difficult due to the lack of a ramp. After overcoming this challenge, she faced the next obstacle \u2014 the mammogram could only be conducted while standing. Rulani uses a wheelchair. &#8220;I couldn&#8217;t [get on my feet] and so I had to go with my daughter, my niece and a neighbor, because the nurses didn&#8217;t know how to hold me or what to do,&#8221; she said. Even today, she cannot do the essential mammograms for monitoring her condition.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rulani has to go to hospitals often in order to treat her breast and uterine cancer. These visits include the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) \u2014 where she hesitates to go. This reluctance is not only due to the inadequate infrastructure, such as high beds, but also by the health care professionals\u2019 approach. &#8220;You can&#8217;t even imagine their facial expressions, every time you go, you experience two forms of pain: one from your illness and one from their faces, a spiritual pain,&#8221; said Rulani.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even the nearest hospital in the city of Gjilan is far away and inaccessible. &#8220;When I went for my first checkup, the bed was very high and it took two people to lift me onto it,&#8221; said Rulani. &#8220;It made me feel bad. Because whenever we come across these problems, it is very difficult emotionally as we are always dependent on someone. This hurts.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women with physical disabilities encounter a daily uphill battle, facing physical and emotional pain further exacerbated by infrastructural obstacles and undignified treatment. These challenges are nurtured by institutional neglect and social inequality, creating a mountain of difficulties that can feel insurmountable \u2014 especially when seeking healing and support.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Rejected by society<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before they even arrive at the hospital, women with disabilities face prejudice and double oppression when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health. This discrimination comes from their family, social circle and society as a whole. The three women K2.0 spoke to mentioned the strong resistance from their social circle they experienced when they tried to talk about reproductive and sexual health and their plans to have children, a relationship or marriage.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rrahmani, who is single, said that when she was younger she thought about her reproductive and sexual health, having a sex life, marriage and children. However, she abandoned these thoughts due to her condition and the societal mindset that surrounded her. &#8220;We have never spoken about it in the family, and I never freely expressed that I want to get married or something, except as a joke, which is how we treated these things. Whenever we spoke, it was only as a joke. &#8216;You, getting married?&#8221;&#8221; she said. On the other hand, Shatri said that when she made the decision to get married, her family told her boyfriend, now her husband, &#8220;Why did you take this invalid, only to feed her? Because she is not going to give you children.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women, and people with disabilities in general, face stigma regarding their romantic relationships, emotional fulfillment and sexuality. Research <\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/monitor\/2017\/12\/seeking-intimacy\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has widely shown<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that questions like &#8220;What, you?&#8221; are common and that there is a widespread social prejudice that women with disabilities do not have the same sensitivity as other women, which is<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8607733\/\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not true<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These attitudes can affect the lives of people with disabilities, not only when it comes to their self-perception, but can also affect more limited access when it comes to medical information and sexual health care, and can also make it harder to find partners or to start a family.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Rulani, these prejudices caused her romantic relationship to end. She added that she even held such negative views against herself. She said that whenever a man not in a wheelchair would approach her, she would say to him, \u201c\u2018So, is this some kind of fantasy for you?&#8217; It means I have always had prejudices against myself,&#8221; she said. But despite her doubts, she and a man she met built a relationship and planned to have children together. Rulani said that her partner\u2019s family strongly opposed the relationship, but her ex-partner was always sure that this would not affect their relationship.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;But here you&#8217;re not allowed to by your [social] circle, the prejudices don&#8217;t leave you, and then in the end it happened,&#8221; she said. The relationship ended as soon as she was pregnant. &#8220;He came and told me, &#8216;you either keep the child or abort it, I don&#8217;t take responsibility, I can&#8217;t, because of my family,'&#8221; said Rulani, adding that it shattered her world.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ce7377 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ce7377\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-443d713\" data-id=\"443d713\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2793bad elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2793bad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1489\" height=\"976\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-95816\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext1.png 1489w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext1-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext1-1024x671.png 1024w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext1-768x503.png 768w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext1-326x214.png 326w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1489px) 100vw, 1489px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Bukurije Shatri and Lumturije Rulani are just two of the many women with disabilities who face discrimination every day. Photos: Kalt\u00ebrina Misini \/ K2.0<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-13ed72b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"13ed72b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c2355af\" data-id=\"c2355af\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca58e63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ca58e63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After that, she was not even accepted by the family she grew up in. \u201c\u2018If you don\u2019t abort the child, you have no reason to come here,'&#8221; she was told after the breakup. Having decided to keep the baby, Rulani, without a roof over her head, slept for weeks in her tailor shop and then in a shelter until she managed to collect some money to rent a home for her and her daughter. &#8220;I had an income of 75 euros. I sewed sweaters and secured the rent. I worked from home because I didn&#8217;t have anyone to look after my daughter,&#8221; said Rulani.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a context where the exclusion of women remains<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/violence-against-women-is-everywhere\/\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">omnipresent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, women with disabilities face double oppression. They are not recognized as having the same questions and challenges as other women, while also contending with discrimination as people with disabilities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luljeta Demolli, from the Kosovar Gender Studies Center, said that visibility of women with disabilities is notably low. &#8220;We have visited women before, where even the family hides them and the state&#8217;s obligation is to go door to door and to know every address,&#8221; said Demolli, adding that Kosovo\u2019s movement for women&#8217;s rights is not sufficiently open to disabled women because of a lack of expertise. &#8220;There are few specialized organizations for this issue and it is not enough to deal with it. They do not even have the capacities and expertise to deal with their problems.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discrimination against women with disabilities in the context of sexual and reproductive health extends beyond private spaces to public spaces such as hospitals.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three women K2.0 spoke to shared how the medical staff deemed them unworthy of having relationships, giving birth and failed to communicate directly with them. Instead, healthcare professionals interacted solely with their caregivers, ignoring their presence and agency.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shatri said that she had her first two daughters while she still used a wheelchair. Since an operation she had at the age of 24 she has been using crutches. When she went to deliver her third daughter, she said the medical staff attempted to position her on her back in the bed. Lying on her back is impossible due to her condition and the surgery she had. When she tried to tell the medical staff, she said that they told her, &#8220;Come on, if you only had taken into account your condition, you wouldn&#8217;t have gotten pregnant with your third daughter.&#8221; Although she delivered her daughter many years ago, she said that the approach of health care professionals is still the same. &#8220;They look at the documents and are surprised, &#8216;You? Starting a family?'&#8221; she said, recalling a repeated experience.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, at her first birth, Lumnije Rulani was greeted with disbelief at the Gjilan hospital. &#8220;Oh, my god, you, pregnant? How are you going to deliver the baby, and how are you going to raise it?&#8221; This was how they welcomed her to the hospital.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for Rrahmani from Prizren, speaking for herself about her pain has turned into a battle. &#8220;I go there for my pain, they turn to my sister. \u2019What&#8217;s her name, what kind of pain is she in?&#8217;&#8230; I say \u2018hello, I&#8217;m here,\u2019 I always let them know that I can speak and it&#8217;s me who is in pain,&#8221; said Rrahmani.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amid the difficult circumstances that try to restrict their daily lives, these women again find opportunities to cultivate the courage and boldness they need to overcome these obstacles. &#8220;Women, raise your voice, don&#8217;t suffer for nothing, raise your voice and ask for your rights,&#8221; said Shatri.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rrahmani, who said the state is not offering them support, continues to call for social solidarity.\u00a0 &#8220;We are like other women, we have needs, desires and feelings, like other women. We need other women to support us and the whole society,&#8221; she said, with the hope that others will see and treat them for what they are and as equal women.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Exclusionary hospitals<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another form of discrimination against women with disabilities when it comes to equal access to care for sexual and reproductive health is the lack of accessible infrastructure in Kosovo&#8217;s hospitals.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although disability is one of the categories protected by the<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/gzk.rks-gov.net\/ActDocumentDetail.aspx?ActID=3702\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitution<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/gzk.rks-gov.net\/ActDetail.aspx?ActID=10924\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law on Protection from Discrimination<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and full and easy access for persons with disabilities is one of the principles on which the<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/gzk.rks-gov.net\/ActDocumentDetail.aspx?ActID=8666\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law on Health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was written, the realities and experiences of these women in hospitals are different \u2014 they are denied their rights.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One day in September, K2.0 stayed with Rulani the whole time she was trying to get in and lay down on the examination bed in the Gynecology Department at the Regional General Hospital in Gjilan. Rulani got out of the taxi only with the help of the taxi driver, who pushed her up a ramp without any side protection.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After successfully overcoming the initial challenge of entering the hospital, Rulani found herself in the examination room. She waited, preparing to ascend to the height of the outdated bed, which was covered in a green blanket riddled with holes. Gynecologist Hamide Pireci, together with a nurse, grabbed her by both arms \u2014 the only way to get her onto the bed. Rulani&#8217;s surprised face said it all. The bed in the examination room was not<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/handi-kos.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/03\/KALENDARI-I-AKTIVITETEVE-SHQIP.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a hydraulic patient bed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can be adjusted to different heights depending on the needs of the patient.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rulani breathed rapidly to recover from the tiring mission, which had required the strength of three women. &#8220;We physically have to put them up, and physically we have to put them down,&#8221; said Pireci, who has been practicing her profession for more than 20 years.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having to rely on someone else to get her into bed further burdens Rulani emotionally and physically. &#8220;When someone carries you, they can unintentionally sprain you. There are instances when it is easier for me to do something on my own because I know how, than have someone grab me, they don&#8217;t know how, because there are no trained people. I felt discriminated against a lot,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-44f8fc4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"44f8fc4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b0f1f11\" data-id=\"b0f1f11\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aecd18c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aecd18c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1489\" height=\"976\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-95819\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext2.png 1489w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext2-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext2-1024x671.png 1024w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext2-768x503.png 768w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext2-326x214.png 326w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1489px) 100vw, 1489px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Hospitals have become places that women with disabilities fear because of the exclusionary infrastructure. Photos: Kalt\u00ebrina Misini \/ K2.0<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7441746 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7441746\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4dc4c3f\" data-id=\"4dc4c3f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c392c5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c392c5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Regional General Hospital of Gjilan is one of the regional hospitals of the Hospital and University Clinical Service of Kosovo (HUCSK), which have become spaces where women with disabilities do not find easily accessible services or treatment. There are a total of<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/shskuk.rks-gov.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">seven general regional hospitals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Kosovo, namely the hospitals of Peja, Gjilan, Gjakova, Prizren, Vushtrri, Ferizaj and Mitrovica. The University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) is in Prishtina. These seven hospitals are<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/shskuk.rks-gov.net\/SHSKUK\/ShskukStatus\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">secondary level health institutions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that make up HUCSK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among other infrastructural shortcomings, such as a lack of ramps, absence of elevators or outdated elevators, one of the most serious issues is the lack of hydraulic patient beds for gynecological and obstetric examinations. Even though this has been highlighted several times, it still has not been addressed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of 2021, the organization HANDIKOS, which aims to promote the rights and improve the living standards of people with disabilities in Kosovo, in cooperation with the Office for Good Governance in Kosovo, prepared a calendar of activities for 2022. This was the year that the Government of Kosovo declared <\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/handi-kos.org\/vendimi-i-qeverise\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the year of disability<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The calendar<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/handi-kos.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/03\/KALENDARI-I-AKTIVITETEVE-SHQIP.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contained activities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> expected to be carried out in 2022 by state institutions in cooperation with non-governmental organizations working to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. One of the activities was equipping hospitals with hydraulic patient beds. The institution charged to carry out this activity was the Ministry of Health (MH).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, HANDIKOS\u2019 <\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/handi-kos.org\/publikime\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">final report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tracking progress on these initiatives indicates that beyond identifying that 20 beds are needed, &#8220;In 2022, no further action has been taken by the MH.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanie Ki\u00e7mari, head of the Division for Citizens&#8217; Rights in Health Care, said that the issue has remained with <\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/shskuk.rks-gov.net\/SHSKUK\/ShskukStatus\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HUCSK<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. &#8220;We had a series of meetings with the director of HUCSK, now former director, who promised us that she will plan for the purchase of these beds in next year\u2019s HUCSK budget,&#8221; said Ki\u00e7mari. &#8220;I don&#8217;t dare to think that someone is not given health services.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd06222 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd06222\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3ad2869\" data-id=\"3ad2869\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2b718c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a2b718c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1489\" height=\"976\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext3.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-95822\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext3.png 1489w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext3-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext3-1024x671.png 1024w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext3-768x503.png 768w, https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/intext3-326x214.png 326w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1489px) 100vw, 1489px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Resmije Rrahmani calls the hospital\u2019s beds \u201cterrible.\u201d Photos: Kalt\u00ebrina Misini \/ K2.0<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4a0f19a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4a0f19a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3ab3418\" data-id=\"3ab3418\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a94f89b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a94f89b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2022, the Ombudsperson Institution of Kosovo issued<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/oik-rks.org\/2023\/01\/04\/raport-ex-officio-nr-5772021-lidhur-me-te-drejtat-ne-shendetin-seksual-dhe-riprodhues-qasja-ne-informata-dhe-sherbime-kontracepsioni-ne-abort-dhe-kujdes-pas-abortit-si-dhe-kujdesi-per-shendetin-e\/\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an ex-officio report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> addressed to the institutions responsible for providing Kosovo\u2019s citizens with access to sexual and reproductive health care. The report highlights that women with disabilities encounter a range of difficulties within health institutions and are often discriminated against because of their disability. The Ombudsperson recommends that HUCSK undertakes &#8220;immediate action for the purchase of adequate chairs, beds for gynecological checks and giving birth for persons with special needs in obstetric gynecological clinics and for all regional hospitals in the country.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When K2.0 contacted the Office of the General Director of HUCSK, Elvir Azizi, to inquire about the status of purchasing hydraulic patient beds, the office responded with &#8220;Contact the regional hospitals.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the regional hospitals still do not have hydraulic patient beds. Prizren Hospital Medical Director Hasan Arzaollxhiu said that in the hospital he runs &#8220;there is no difference between patients, those who do not have specific needs, or between those who have specific needs.&#8221; He also said that the elevators are outdated, but they still work. &#8220;We are in the phase of changing the two key elevators for accessing both the surgery and gynecology departments,&#8221; he said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, Resmije Rrahmani, who calls the beds &#8220;terrible and old,&#8221; said that whenever she was in pain, access to the hospital in Prizren was always difficult. &#8220;Either the elevator doesn&#8217;t work, or there is no equipment,&#8221; she said.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arzoallxhiu, despite saying that he is aware that the beds are static and the elevators are outdated, said that he has never received requests from the gynecology and obstetrics departments, or official complaints from women with disabilities who have not received the health services they requested.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below Arzoallxhiu&#8217;s office, is the gynecological outpatient clinic in the Prizren hospital. On that Monday in September, Gresa Kastrati, a nurse, was on shift, who, similar to Dr. Pireci from Gjilan, showed that women with disabilities are helped to get in the beds. &#8220;A disabled woman cannot lie down in bed for examinations,&#8221; said Kastrati, adding that medical personnel help them.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same happens in the hospitals of Mitrovica and Ferizaj. &#8220;It is also very difficult for us, but we do not have better conditions and we got used to helping them. We help each other,&#8221; said Vjollca \u00c7itaku, gynecologist at the Mitrovica Regional Hospital.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gynecologist Minere Aliaj from the Regional Hospital of Ferizaj said that due to infrastructural difficulties, they choose not to force women with disabilities to put them to the high beds for the gynecological examination, but place them in ordinary hospital beds. &#8220;We absolutely do make them go up on the table [for a gynecological examination]. Of course it is difficult for the staff, but that way the patient is more comfortable,&#8221; said Aliaj.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the apparent challenges in accessibility at the regional hospitals, director of the Gynecology Clinic in Prishtina Zef Ndrejaj said that they have enough hydraulic beds. &#8220;There is no problem in their gynecological treatment,&#8221; said Ndrejaj in response to K2.0.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the examination rooms tell a different story. In the Admission and Specialist Outpatient Clinics in the Gynecology Hospital at UCCK, although the beds look like hydraulics, according to a visit to the examination room by one of the health workers, the beds did not lower enough for women with disabilities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Xhejlane Xhaka, head nurse of the Gynecology Department at UCCK also said that the last time a woman that moves with a wheelchair visited, the physical strength of the medical staff was needed to to get her on the examination table. &#8220;We had a case 10 days ago where a patient was in a wheelchair and couldn&#8217;t move, and it took about 10 people to carry her onto the table [for] gynecological examinations,&#8221; said Xhaka.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0e0ebff elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0e0ebff\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e82c8e1\" data-id=\"e82c8e1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6e2caa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b6e2caa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Bukurije Shatri said that when she was of two minds about whether to do the Pap test, due to the difficulties in getting into the bed, a health worker told her \"If you think you cannot, then go to a private hospital.\"<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b2de650 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b2de650\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-43b79a5\" data-id=\"43b79a5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e4e71f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0e4e71f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being picked up by staff, which seems to have become the only way disabled women can get onto the bed for examinations, is painful on many levels. &#8220;Being carried by other people is very painful and very hurtful,&#8221; said Resmije Rrahmani. &#8220;I avoid being carried too much, because every day they carry me from my wheelchair and each time I get injured. Now, just imagine being placed in a two-meter-high hospital bed and being touched or hurt, it&#8217;s very sensitive and scary for me, because the bruises remain for weeks.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These intimidating circumstances mean that these women avoid hospitals and consequently miss regular gynecological check-ups. While there are no specific figures, across all hospitals medical staff highlighted the infrequent gynecological visits by women with disabilities. Regular gynecological check-ups are recommended <\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/clinical\/clinical-guidance\/committee-opinion\/articles\/2018\/10\/the-utility-of-and-indications-for-routine-pelvic-examination\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at least once a year<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to maintain health and ensure the early diagnosis of potential diseases related to the pelvis, reproductive system and sexual health. Gynecological health services are limited for women in general, coupled with<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/21-12-2022-who-releases-new-family-planning-and-abortion-care-competency-standards-for-health-workers\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a general stigma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, both socially and within hospitals themselves. Women with disabilities face double discrimination, both due to their gender and disability.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All three women K2.0 spoke to have experienced this discrimination, either in the accessibility or in the approach of health personnel. Also, many similar experiences are evident in the Ombudsperson\u2019s report.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These obstacles have pushed women with no other options towards private hospitals, which, according to them, are more accessible in terms of infrastructure. Even the approach of health personnel in public hospitals has played a significant role in this. Bukurije Shatri said that when she was in two minds about whether to do the Pap test, due to the difficulties in getting into the bed, a health worker told her &#8220;If you think you cannot, then go to a private hospital.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shatri and other women with disabilities can hardly consider going to private hospitals in a context where people with disabilities are more exposed to poverty. This is due to<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/no-callback\/\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">discrimination<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in employment, the pension system and the poor financial compensation they receive. A visit to a private hospital costs around 20-40 euros and can be much higher depending on the examinations required. Women with disabilities receive between 100 and 150 euros, depending on their diagnosis, the evaluation group to which they belong and by which law determines their compensation. Two fundamental laws in this regard are the <\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/gzk.rks-gov.net\/ActDetail.aspx?ActID=12554\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law on the Status and Rights of Persons with Paraplegia and Tetraplegia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the<\/span><a style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid #FFDD39;\" href=\"https:\/\/gzk.rks-gov.net\/ActDetail.aspx?ActID=80425\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law on State-Funded Pension Schemes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fcc96bd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fcc96bd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e9e0237\" data-id=\"e9e0237\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fdb815 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7fdb815\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Compensation for people with disabilities is regulated through a number of laws.<\/h4><h4><span style=\"font-size: 1px; letter-spacing: -0.1px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on the Law on the Status and Rights of Persons with Paraplegia and Tetraplegia, people with disabilities receive a monthly payment of 150 euros, while their caretakers receive a payment of 150 euros and in certain cases 75 euros for other health equipment. This only applies to the first group according to the assessment made by the Medical Commission. Meanwhile, those who are categorized in the second group, only receive 150 euros.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on the Law on State-Funded Pension Schemes, people with disabilities received a disability pension of 75 euros until 2022, when this pension, which is the same as the basic pension, was increased to 100 euros in line with the Government&#8217;s decision. This law also provides for the invalidity pension.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, the rights of blind people in compensation are provided by the Law on Blind Persons.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2dd584a\" data-id=\"2dd584a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e895a27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e895a27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the fact that there is clear evidence and established inadequate conditions for women with disabilities through reports and conversations with these women. However, hospital representatives, including those from the MH, assert that they have not received any official complaints about a lack of access to services for this demographic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The MH, although it has its own online complaint system for citizens regarding general health services, Ki\u00e7mari said that they have never received anything specific from women with disabilities. However, the MH does not categorize complaints and gathers them all in one place. In addition, none of the interviewed women are aware of the very existence of such a system of complaints, nor have they complained formally. &#8220;And how can we complain, when we can&#8217;t even go to the doctor on our own, when we don&#8217;t have any other choice but to depend on others?&#8221; asked Rulani.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For her, even the expectations to complain are overwhelming, mirroring the institutional inaction and silence which strip her and other women with disabilities of their dignity, equal access and above all, their right to be visible.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Feature Image:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Kalt\u00ebrina Misini \/ K2.0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c685b69 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c685b69\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0197cdb\" data-id=\"0197cdb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9ad58d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a9ad58d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-size: 80%;\"><i>This article is part of the Human Rightivism project, which is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina, implemented by the Community Development Fund through its Human Rightivism Program. The views expressed in it do not necessarily reflect the views of the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina.<\/i><b style=\"font-style: italic;\"><br \/><\/b><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8b55924 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8b55924\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7baf27e\" data-id=\"7baf27e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab7c76b elementor-align-center elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"ab7c76b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"#\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Bursa 2023<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SHQ ENG B\/C\/S \u2018We are like other women\u2019 Women with physical disabilities fight invisibility in hospitals and society. 18\/12\/2023 By&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":886,"featured_media":95787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,1620],"tags":[1623],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96173"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/886"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96173"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96200,"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96173\/revisions\/96200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}