A Global Mission and Internships for International Disability Ministry called Joni and Friends, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A.) and AIC Children Centre in Kajiado, have donated 200 wheelchairs, canes, crutches, specialised cushions, and walkers to people with disabilities in Kajiado.
The Director of Internships, Joni, and Friends Kimi Archer revealed that the ministry consists of a team of 39 people, including physiotherapists, students in the doctorate programme, volunteers, and professors who have come to initiate the programme. The mobility equipment donated has been customised to suit every type of mobility disability, especially children.
“Wheelchairs are not given out just as they are; they are customised for each person. We have 200 wheelchairs, which were donated from used equipment that was refurbished. We have 20 brand new paediatric chairs out of the 200 wheelchairs,” said Archer.
Archer added that they also do an assessment of every person, where the therapists provide the guardians, family members, and parents with exercises, positioning ideas, and nutrition guidelines, and they also ensure the AIC Child Care Centre is able to do a follow-up for the maintenance of their devices.
Director of AIC Kajiado Child Care Centre, Mr. Duncan Sakimpa, said that they have been able to issue 89 wheelchairs and 20 walkers and crutches since Monday, even as they encourage People with Disabilities to go for the assessment exercise that will end on Friday.
“We are looking forward to more people who require these devices to come and get a professional assessment from top-notch professors from Hardin Simmons University together with their students and get mobility devices customised for use,” said Sakimpa.
A PWD Representative in Kajiado, Ms. Betty Taani, expressed appreciation to Joni and Friends Ministry, PCEA, and AIC Child Centre for the initiative.
“We, as the members of the county assembly, came to initiate the programme, and we are so happy. Disability is not inability; when you help someone to another level, it’s a great blessing. I was raised in this AIC Centre, and I still visit it for check-ups,” added Taani.
A beneficiary of the programme, Ms. Eunice Nyaguthie, said that she used to carry her daughter to school every day before receiving the wheelchair and is grateful to have acquired it from the programme.
“My daughter has never walked since birth; she is now seven years old. I thank God because I received a wheelchair from this programme. I normally carry her to school, but now I have acquired a wheelchair,” Nyaguthie said.
Joni and Friends Ministry is based in California; they work with 26 countries to help people with disabilities, and this is their first initiative in Kenya.
AIC Kajiado Child Care Centre is a rehabilitation centre that offers three pillars of support to People with disabilities: long-term inclusive education, short-term and long-term rehabilitation, and medical care, which includes corrective surgeries and post-operative care.
By Seline Nyangere and Kiiru Mwaniki
