Nakuru County through the Ministry of Health has launched a Sh30 million global pilot project of delivering wheelchairs to disabled people across the world.
The project, dubbed ACCESS (Accelerating Core Competencies for Effective Wheelchair Services and Support) is supported by the Wold Vision, Motivation and USaid in partnership with Association for Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) and the Kenya government.
Speaking during the launch, Nakuru County health chief officer Dr Samuel Mwaura lauded the initiative saying that it will help the physically challenged from becoming beggars.
Six physically challenged persons benefited from the wheelchairs while the county ministry received a motorbike to facilitate movement of health workers offering services to the physically challenged.
“Though the four years will reach more than 1,000 physically challenged people with wheelchairs, the deficit is still high as the annual demand stands at 10,000 wheelchairs countrywide,” said Mwaura.
Other counties to benefit in Kenya will be Machakos, Kajiado, Nairobi and Kisumu.
APDK national vice chairman Fredrick Owako challenged the government to review the bill aimed at capping the funding of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
He added: “NGOs have been very critical in supporting the health sector. People living with disability are among the beneficiaries and therefore capping their funding will paralyse the different projects.”
Kenya is the only project beneficiary country in Africa.