People with Disabilities in Kakamega have been assured of support from the government and other partners for them to live decent lives.
The County Disability Officer Priscah Akoth advised PWDs during the celebrations to mark the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities to take advantage of the funds for their empowerment and the available scholarships to educate their children.
She said Kakamega County has about Sh. 670 000 for education scholarships for children with disabilities. A cheque of Sh.106 000 is ready to be sent to St. Angela Mumias to support 10 deaf girls to continue with their education.
“Our children with disabilities who we are supporting are excelling, let us embrace our children, let us show them love and take them to school. The council is supporting the children together with other partners,” she pointed out.
Speaking at the same function, the Director of Health Services Dr. Linet Alamenya said assessment of PWDs will be done at all Level 4 hospitals across the county and the forms signed at the county level.
“The Signature for medical services has been decentralized, this basically means that once the assessment for disability has been done, the forms shall be signed by the Director of Medical Services and forwarded to the National Council for People with Disabilities (NCPWD),” she said.
Alamenya said the county government has trained community health workers, community leaders, gate keepers and religious leaders to identify children with disabilities at the earliest time possible to ensure any form of disabilities is managed and the children are enabled to live a normal life.
“We encourage all PWDs to seek healthcare services in facilities of their choice that are near to them without staying at home and suffering in silence. Our healthcare workers are ready to provide services to them,” she noted.
County Physiotherapist Phylis Wawire said the county government has put in place measures to ensure all new buildings are disability friendly with ramps and disability friendly toilets.
“The disability-friendly toilets are designed differently because they are wide, and the doors are swing-through which can be opened from whichever direction. It should also have rails for people with disabilities to support themselves with enough space,” she added.
The chairperson of Kakamega County Disability Caucus Lucy Mulombi asked for inclusion of Persons with disabilities in the county leadership.
By Moses Wekesa and Anne Otieno
