Hundreds of amputees from Meru and the neighbouring counties were upbeat after they received artificial limbs courtesy of a medical camp organised by the Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood in conjunction with Hindu Samaj Meru and Narayan Seva Sansthan from India.
During the artificial limb measurement and distribution camp held in North Imenti, the beneficiaries thanked the MP and the stakeholders for reviving their hopes in life, especially by making them active again in their daily activities.
Godfrey Kinegeni, a motorcycle and tire repairer, said he was pleased that he will henceforth walk to his workplace with ease, which he could not do earlier after his leg was amputated.
“I am very grateful to the MP for making it possible for me to receive this limb. I will now be able to get food for my family as well as money to educate my children,” said Kinegeni.
James Kimathi, who benefitted from a limb, also heaped praise to Dawood, saying that he was a true representation of people who had people’s problems at his heart.
“What the MP has done to us today is a clear indication that he is not only interested with the able people but also those living with various forms of disabilities,” said Kimathi.
He called on other elected leaders to borrow a leaf from Dawood in order to make life comfortable for all.
Anselimina Muthoni from Mitheru in Tharaka Nithi County lacked words to thank the MP and his stakeholders in this programme, describing them as big-hearted people who will only receive blessings from God.
“I am happy to walk again, and I pray God to bless the MP and give him more to give to others who deserve it,” said Muthoni.
The idea behind helping people get the assistive devices, according to Dawood, was birthed in 2019, and about 38 people from the constituency benefitted after they were taken to a medical camp that was held in Nairobi.
After facing the challenges of ferrying people to Nairobi, the MP and other stakeholders sat with Hindu Samaj Meru and decided to have such camps held in the constituency, though they were later interrupted by Covid-19.
The MP added that they were also consulting widely to look into the possibility of establishing a factory for processing limbs in Meru, which will serve the needs of the entire country, where he promised to donate Sh1 million to aid the establishment.
Hindu Samaj Meru Chairman, Milan Shah, said the move from the Indian NGO was beneficial to the residents and especially the beneficiaries, as they will be able to carry out their normal activities just as they used to, calling on them to use the limbs productively since this is the sole purpose of the entire programme.
He said they have realised there is a high demand for the limbs in this region, and this is the reason we are holding these camps.
Once the amputee gets the limb, with some of them being breadwinners in their families, they will be able to run their daily chores to earn a living and relieve other family members who they depend on for mobility, added Shah.
The camps are normally not restricted to anyone, where they receive people from as far as Moyale and Mandera.
For priority purposes, amputees are usually urged to register with the camp organisers so they can be contacted once such camps are held.
By Dickson Mwiti
