Murang'a health workers trained to assess PWDs

Persons with disabilities during the international PWDs day organised by Murang'a county government last year at Gaichanjiru /ALICE WAITHERA

Murang’a has launched an intensive training programme for healthcare workers aimed at improving the assessment and classification of persons with disabilities.

Forty medical officers underwent a four-day training facilitated by the county government, Action Foundation and the Ministry of Health.

The initiative decentralises disability assessment services, previously concentrated at referral hospitals, to subcounties and rural communities.

Action Foundation said the training equips health workers with standardised skills to identify, assess and categorise disabilities, enabling PWDs to obtain certifications required for government support.

This includes assistance from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, which provides funding for small businesses, assistive devices and educational bursaries.

Victor Ligaya from Action Foundation described the programme as a major step towards bridging long-standing gaps in disability recognition and service delivery.

“Now they have gained skills that will enable them to carry out assessments in the subcounties and even deep in the villages,” he said.

The 2019 national census recorded about 1.3 million PWDs in Kenya, representing about 2.2 per cent of the population, with Murang’a accounting for roughly 102,527.

Officials believe the actual number is higher due to underreporting, particularly among children under five and individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Murang’a deputy county director of health Kairu Kimende said the training allows assessments in all eight subcounty health facilities, a major shift from when services were only available at Murang’a Level 5 Hospital.

Proper classification is key to unlocking opportunities, including tax exemptions and social protection benefits.

The programme also addresses persistent challenges for PWDs, such as stigma, limited mobility and poor infrastructure.

Many public buildings remain inaccessible and assistive devices like wheelchairs are often scarce.

The county currently holds about 300 specialised wheelchairs, distributed only after proper assessment and certification.

Josephine Kaburu, a physiotherapist from the Ministry of Health’s rehabilitation department, said the initiative is part of a broader rollout across seven counties aimed at standardising disability assessment nationwide.

The programme also engages community health promoters to identify hidden cases and encourage families to seek help, particularly for children.

Medics urged full implementation of the Disability Act, 2025, to strengthen protections and support for PWDs, emphasising that initiatives like this are critical to ensuring no one is left behind, particularly in rural areas.

 Health workers during a training session on PWDs assessment organised by Murang'a county government /ALICE WAITHERA