Model Daycare For Children With Disability
Sigomre's small home that serves children with disabilities has received a multi-million shilling facelift to enable it to roll out community outreach services.
The facelift, courtesy of The Way We Care Kenya program and Catholic Relief Services has seen the home which was established in 1972 by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph rehabilitate most of its facilities and install new equipment to be used for rehabilitation of children with a disability.
According to the programme director of The Way We Care Kenya, Timon Mainga, Sigomre home, also known as Place of Hope has also been equipped with therapeutic equipment to enable it to offer physiotherapy services to both the children and members of the community.
He said that his organization has also entered a partnership that will see the Catholic nuns running the home carry out community outreach to train parents and caregivers of children with disabilities on better caregiving skills and income-generation activities.
Siaya County executive committee member for education, youth affairs, gender, and social services, Dr. Edgar Otumba who was the chief guest during the occasion said the county government was committed to improving the lives of the people, including those living with challenges.
Otumba said that as part of the commitment, the county government has set aside 30% of employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
“For those with hearing challenges, we have incorporated sign language translators, especially during the public participation forums so that they are not left behind,” said Otumba.
Sigomre small home manager, Sister Mary Monica Amollo Owuor lamented over the high cost of health care services for children with disabilities.
Sr. Mary appealed to the government to consider providing all children living with disability with free healthcare through Universal healthcare coverage.
“Most of these children are from humble backgrounds and their parents cannot afford the National Hospital Insurance Fund fees,” said sister Mary.
Siaya county coordinator for children services, Mr. Jamine K’onyango hailed the home, saying it was the first of its kind to provide daycare for such children in the region.
K’onyango said the initiative was in line with the government’s care reform agenda that aims at doing away with the use of orphanages and charitable child institutions as a model of care.
He said that an eight-year research finding has proved that the use of orphanages and charitable child institutions was causing more harm to children, especially those under three years.
“From the research, children who live in CCIs for years lose societal connectedness and are not given the opportunity to participate in community development,” said K’onyango.
SOURCE: Kenya News Agency(KNA)'S PHILIP ONYANGO
Tags: Pwds Signstv Model Daycare The Way We Care Kenya Catholic Relief Services
