The National and County governments have been urged to address the plight of not only People Living with Disability (PWDs) but also their caregivers.
Led by Ms. Lincy Nasimiyu, a mother to a 10-year-old girl suffering from Cerebral Palsy said caregivers in most cases bear the brunt of stigma from society.
Nasimiyu a single mother of one said there is no greater love and sacrifice than that of a guardian saying you have to lay down everything, to be vulnerable enough and help a fellow human being.
She said disability is an expensive lifestyle and most caregivers do not engage in economic activity due to the nature of work
“The Government has focused so much on PWDs by even launching Inua Jamii Programme where a household is issued with a monthly stipend leaving out caretakers who make sure the disabled person looks smart, eats well, and go for therapy sessions. We need recognition for a job well done,” she said
Nasimiyu lamented that the cost of transporting their kin to nearby therapy centers is way higher than that of the service they seek.
“My life is complicated. The more my girl grows, the more things get tough. It is difficult to explain the struggle,” she said.
Her sentiments were shared by Violet Imbwaga, a mother to a 24-year-old boy who suffered meningitis after birth leaving him deformed.
Imbwaga said his child is fully dependent. He cannot do anything by himself. He can’t feed himself; he cannot walk or sit down.
“Being a special mum entails a lot of self-sacrifice. The job is demanding because you are always there. We need to be recognized because it’s not an easy task. You need to have a big heart,” she said.
Imbwaga a mother of three stated that there is need to offer economic empowerment packages to caregivers in order to fight stigma and illustrate that caring for a PWD is not a punishment
“Let us promote inclusivity and give a sense of belonging to these families and support their advocacy efforts,” she said adding that it requires concerted efforts across all stakeholders to improve the well-being of PWDs.
March being Cerebral Palsy (CP) Awareness month, parents and guardians living with children Abled Differently have called on society to embrace and love them. It sheds light on the need for increased awareness, understanding, and support for those living with the condition. It is estimated that over 7 million people globally are affected by this condition.
According to medical practitioners, CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles.
In this disorder, the person cannot walk or talk properly and has difficulty with normal daily tasks. Sometimes one has epilepsy and intellectual disability.
Already the County Government of Nandi is constructing a multimillion Empowerment Center for PWDs at Chemundu grounds in Emgwen Sub County
The center once complete is aimed at promoting disabled people financially, emotionally, and spiritually as well as empowering their caregivers with skills for financial independence.
According to records, the County has over 20,000 disabled people out of which only 5000 have come out to publicly speak about their condition.
By Linet Wafula
