- The process involves teams from the Department of Social Services and the medical personnel going to the community to conduct an assessment to determine the various forms of disabilities and register those who qualify.
- The possession of a disability card qualifies one to benefit from services, rights and privileges as stipulated by law such as tax exemption and education assistance.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
Marsabit County government in collaboration with partners will conduct a mass registration exercise for persons with disability in two months.
The registration will ensure all disabled people are captured in the database.
The process involves teams from the Department of Social Services and the medical personnel going to the community to conduct an assessment to determine the various forms of disabilities and register those who qualify.
The possession of a disability card qualifies one to benefit from services, rights and privileges as stipulated by law such as tax exemption and education assistance.
Speaking during the International Day of Persons Living with Disabilities held in Loglogo on Sunday, the deputy governor stressed the need to mainstream and address the plight of people living with disability.
"We are committed to ensuring that we capture the concerns of people living with disability in our development agenda to cater for their interests," said the Deputy Governor.
He noted that the administration of Governor Mohamud Ali has factored in the budget the plight of disabled people to enable them to benefit from an all-inclusive development.
He cautioned families that are hiding persons with disability that the law will take its cause, assuring the persons with special interest that their grievances will be looked into by Governor Mohamud's administration.
He said many parents remain the stumbling blocks towards their children getting a better future as they hide them from the public.
"Parents feel embarrassed and shamed because their child's condition worsens their situation," he said
He noted that disability is not inability and parents should provide opportunities for such children to enable them to realize their potential.
"Both Government and Non-governmental organisations are willing to help children with disabilities. I appeal to parents not to hide their disabled children and instead expose them to the World where they can get help," he added.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
He commended parents' efforts in raising disabled children and noted that it is no mean feat because many of those children are restless and require patience and specialized care.
The deputy governor urged parents with disabled children to register them so that they can get assistance saying it is important for the governor to get statistics for easy funding.
"If someone has been assessed and confirmed as a person living with disability, it is important for them to be registered as there is some amount of money waivered for disabled people.
"Children are not items for concealment. Disabled children were as good as their abled counterparts and also wanted to see and enjoy the world for themselves," he said
The Deputy Governor encouraged parents and guardians living with children with disability not to assume they are disabled as they still live normal and productive lives in their communities.
"Stigmatisation and discrimination have widely contributed to the unproductiveness of persons living with disabilities. I call upon parents of disabled children to stop hiding them from the communities and instead enrol such children in special schools for a brighter future. These children should not be perceived as a curse since they have the potential to turn into very useful persons in society," he said
While encouraging parents to send children with disabilities to school, the deputy governor said there are many institutions tailored towards the entrepreneurial and skills development of persons living with disabilities.
"There are many well-equipped educational centres for persons with disability. Parents should help educate persons with disabilities," he said
The Deputy Governor advised residents to accept and not discriminate against people living with disabilities and assured them that the government is committed to their welfare, noting that although they might be physically challenged, they were not mentally disabled.
"We must not discriminate against people merely because of their challenges. Those who are not challenged today may be challenged tomorrow," said the Deputy Governor.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
The CECM Culture, Gender and Social Services Jeremy Ledaany said the commemoration of disability day provides a platform for the Government and private sector to reflect on the efforts made to address the concerns of the persons living with disabilities.
He encouraged people with disability to form groups so that they could benefit from government and non-governmental organizations.
He applauded the organizations operating in the county for their support to the most vulnerable persons and urged them to continue collaborating with the government in delivering services to disabled people.
The county executive revealed that his department has plans to support persons living with disability to take part in sporting activities, noting that the county government has already supported several of them to participate in inter-county games.
" The county government fully supports people living with disability to participate in sporting activities. We selected a few of them to participate in the wheelchair race in Isiolo." Said Jeremy
Ahmed Mohamed, a representative of the National Council for Disability urged parents not to expose children living with disability to learning environments to equip them with skills to be self-reliant and productive in their communities.
"I encourage disabled children to go to school. Once you are educated no one sees you as a person with disability," he advised
Habiba Abdi, a woman living with a disability, is grateful that she can now pursue her education despite her disability and thanks the county government for its support.
" I am grateful for the assistance the government has given me. Life has not been easy for me but I am keen on leading a normal life despite my disability." She said
Grace Hargura, mother of a child living with disability urged parents with special children to help them realise their potential and give them hope as they too can be productive members of society