Governments urged to invest in girls living with disabilities

Both County and National governments have been urged to ensure girls living with disabilities are given more priority in policies and empowerment activities.

Cradle pot, a group dealing with girls’ rights advocacy within Vihiga County urged the devolved unit and the central government to step in and help girls living with disabilities as they face additional barriers to accessing support and services.

Credle Pot group spoke while visiting Friends School for Deaf Givavei in Hamisi for a career talk on Friday Morning.

"Our message is simple, let the government and the world at large ensure that those girls living with disabilities are considered in budgetary allocations and in the policy-making," said Laura Kanyifa, one of the directors at Cradle pot advocacy group.

"Girls around the world continue to face unprecedented challenges to their education, their physical and mental wellness, and the protections needed for a life without violence. Girls living with disabilities face additional barriers to accessing support and services," said Kanyifa.

Cradle pot also gave sanitary towels to girls in selected schools within Vihiga County.

They urged all stakeholders in the education sector to come out louder in advocating for the main concern to be given to girls living with disabilities.

Kanyifa said it was essential for the government to ensure girls living with disabilities are incorporated in policy made within the ministry of education.

Largely, they called for a continuous program that can ensure that sanitary towels are made affordable for the girls.

"For our girls with disabilities, we call for more urgent recognition of their needs and welfare," said Kanyifa.

Hellen Asige, a teacher at Friends School for Deaf Givavei, said as an institution dealing with special needy girls, they need more help in terms of infrastructure and welfare.

"These girls come from poor families, we should have both the government and well-wishers come in and help them meet their basic needs and education," said Asige.