The government should support children living with Cerebral Palsy so as to improve their living standards, says Doors of Hope NGO project director Jacqueline Shibalira.
Shibalira said both the national and Machakos governments should be at fore front in advocating for the rights of a child without discrimination.
She said the numbers of children living with Cerebral Palsy in Machakos County is overwhelming hence need for the county government’s speedy intervention.
Shibalira addressed the press at her office in Athi River, Machakos County on Thursday.
“There is need for the Machakos Government to support these children especially now that the world is marking the International Cerebral Palsy awareness month,” Shibalira said.
She said the NGO’s centre for children living with Cerebral Palsy is committed to ensuring that the children’s lives improve and they attain their best abilities.
“In our centre, children lives have improved. We conduct three therapies on the children each week including speech therapy, how to walk and eat,” she added.
Shibalira said most families hide their children living with the conditions in houses due to stigmatization.
“We need to educate parents that children cannot be permanently disabled. Cerebral Palsy is not a myth, children’s lives can improve,” Shibalira said.
She said the Machakos government should support in assessing children living with CP and ensuring they are placed in centres where they can get therapies and learn to be independent.
Shibalira said the children should not be seen as baggage.
“We need to work hand in hand with hospitals and relevant institutions to make the children independent and their parents to find jobs for livelihoods,” Shibalira added.
She said the level of poverty among families with children living with the disability was high since their parents stay indoors with them hence jobless.
Shibalira said Governor Mutua’s administration should help the NGO acquire land for the centre since the numbers of the children under its care was speedily increasing.She said the number had risen from 13 children to 120 over a period of one month.
Shibalira said their attempts to reach Governor Mutua had been futile.
“We have been trying to seek audience with the governor and the first lady but it has proven to be difficult,”
She said the Machakos Level Five Hospital was lying idle since children with disabilities were hidden in homes.
“What is the need of having the facility idle while children with special needs are not supported,” Shibalira said.