Mombasa County plans to conduct a disability mapping to establish the number of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD), type, and severity of disabilities.Speaking at Tononoka Social Hall to mark World Autism Awareness Day, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir abolished the medical assessment fee for PLWD.
The Governor promised to have a meeting with County Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers, and Directors to outline his agenda on PLWDs.
“I want a mapping of all the children who are disabled in the whole county, let me know how many children are in each of your villages. The exercise will be done with the support of Ward Administrators and in the end, there will be Village Administrators and Community Health Workers,’’ said Governor Nassir.
The Governor said after the Holy month of Ramadhan he will launch the Mombasa Care Programme where 10,000 families will get medical coverage through National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“Priority will be given to orphaned children, single parents, the widowed, and PLWDs. This will be the first roll-out, among the many (projects) that we will be able to implement,’’ said Governor Nassir adding that he has been supporting and championing PWDs issues since he was a Member of Parliament.
The Governor assured PLWDs that they are in safe hands under his leadership. He thanked them for supporting his gubernatorial bid and promised to make Mombasa the County of choice where everyone would like to live.
Hon. Amina Noor nominated MCA said through the Office of the Governor that they are conducting registration and data collection on people with autism. She advised parents against hiding children with autism saying the County has plans to establish special institutions for them.
More than 150 Persons living with autism were issued identity cards from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) that will assist them when seeking medical attention.
“We have made strides; they were no schools for children born with autism. They were called names because of their conditions, others told us our children were bewitched that is why many parents are hiding them”, observed Irene Randu, mother of a child with autism.
She urged the County Government to establish a special institution for children with autism noting that they have talents that ought to be tapped.
By Sadik Hassan
