Pupils living with cerebral palsy and autism at Likii Special School in the outskirts of Nanyuki town have benefited with orthopedic beds and mackintosh mattresses from well-wishers.
The items worth over Sh 5 million from donors from Canada were delivered at the institution over the weekend, with the chairman of development and mobilization of resources Joseph Kilai and the School Head teacher Irene Mbijiwe saying they will ease the children’s lives a lot.
Kilai noted that the 148 pupils, 84 boys and 64 girls cannot use ordinary beds owing to their physical challenges.
In addition, the school received electric beds, books and workshop tools to be used by the learners drawn from around the country.
“These items are extremely expensive such that parents and the institution cannot afford to buy. We urge other well-wishers to chip in to assist these children,” said Kilai.
The head teacher of the mentally challenged institution noted that the beds will greatly help the pupils who are not yet toilet-trained.
“The beds and mattresses will save the children from bed sores. They will also help in maintaining proper hygiene,” said Mbijiwe.
She noted that initially, house mothers at the school had a hard time washing the normal mattresses or taking them out to dry because the children wet the beds.
“These metallic beds are also strong and stable therefore good for the autism children who are always active, jumping up and down even at night, thereby destroying the ordinary beds very fast,” she noted.
Kilai also noted that in the near future they would need a library, a store, an extra dormitory, dining hall and additional classrooms considering that the number of learners continue to increase.
“These children need a lot of care and that is why we are seeking more assistance from well-wishers and the government especially this time Covid-19 has hit the country and the world at large. We also need a borehole that would cost about Sh. 3million,” said Kilai.
He also appealed for construction of an ablution block for teachers and other workers at the institution adding that they sacrifice a lot to assist the needy children.
By Martin Munyi
