Elgeyo-Marakwet County Government has offered to donate a piece of land for the establishment of a Sh60 million autism Center at the Iten County Referral Hospital targeting to host special children living with the condition.
Governor Alex Tolgos on Tuesday constituted a committee comprising two separate groups tasked to carry out feasibility study ahead of the commencement of the worthy project.
Speaking at his Iten town offices when he received a delegation of autism crusaders led by beauty queen Miss World Africa 2017 Magline Jeruto alongside officials from Health department and Max global organization, Governor Tolgos said his government will set aside the piece of land and facilitate infrastructural development for the facility.
“This is a noble idea and we shall give you the necessary support to realize this course. Remember there is no other autism center in Kenya and therefore this will be one of its kind,” said Tolgos.
Ms. Jeruto who was voted fifth in beauty pageant competition in Sanya, China in 2017 and crowned Miss World Africa, has vowed to sustain a meaningful autism campaign to have the facility put up in her home county, Elgeyo Marakwet.
The beauty queen challenged parents with children with detectable autism symptoms to take them for assessment in special schools instead of hiding them at home.
“I believe that there are children hidden in their homes and yet they need help. In fact, a serious awareness is needed to have these children helped,” she said.
Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and the interact.
According to Iten County Referal medical superintendent Castro Mugalla, establishing the unit would require a separate piece of land outside the referral hospital that would be suitable to accommodate other necessary facilities owing to the condition of the children with special needs.