In partnership with the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya, Plan International, Homa Bay County has donated assistive devices for 36 children with disabilities to help with mobility.
Devices valued at Sh1.3 million included special seats (wheelchairs), standing aids (for kids who are unable to stand on their own), orthotic shoes and boots, AFOS (elbow conformer), lumbar corsets, cork upsplints, back slabs, and a walking frame with wheels.
Joseph Mwita was the Integrated Project Officer Plan International and spoke at the Sero Vocational Training College donation exercise. He said that APDK provided assessment services to the children as well as assistive equipment to help them access their basic right to education through mobility.
“We have given them a number of devices as recommended by specialists some of which are for corrective purposes and others will provide support in terms of mobility. We realized that these children are often left behind and are not provided with the necessary support to allow them to enjoy their basic rights, such as accessing education and medical care. It is because of this that we decided to intervene,” he said.
“So far, we have been able to distribute these devices to a total of 75 children in this financial year. Earlier, we had donated the devices to 39 children and today we have given out to a number of 36,” he added.
Mwita stated that Plan International is raising awareness in the community and among parents to change the perception of children with disabilities.
“These interventions are directed towards changing the attitude of parents to ensure they bring the children in for assessments,” said Mwita.
Mwita stated that the program is carried out in three areas: Mbita, Rangwe, and Asego within Homa Bay County.
He urged all parties, including the national and county governments, to come together and support these children.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital doctor Kenneth Ambuchaba stated that the children have cerebral palsy. This was confirmed by their assessments. He also said that the disorder is caused fetal infection, gene mutation and a lack in oxygen supply to the brain.
Children who have CP may experience problems with their balance, posture, and muscle tone.
He stated again that the devices were not sufficient to completely cure the disorder in children. “These devices cannot fully correct the disability. What we are doing is to prevent the children from developing permanent disability,” said Odhiambo.
He advised parents to take their children to therapy and added that cerebral paralysis presents challenges that they don’t know how.
“This is a challenge to the parents because they do not know how to deal with these children as most of them cannot talk, walk or sit independently and so they need support,” he stated.
The parents expressed their gratitude to the organization for their support, pointing out that the devices are costly and they couldn’t afford to purchase them on their own.
Nancy Akoth is a mother to a child suffering from CP. She said it was not easy to move with her son of two years, who can’t stand or sit without support.
She explained that she came to know of her son’s condition when he was five months old and could not sit on his own without support.
“I took him to the hospital where I came to know that he had cerebral palsy. He was later undertaken through an assessment by Plan International, and today we have received these devices which are very important to us,” she praised.
By Sitna Omar
Source: kenyanews
