Sigomere Small Home for Children with Disability has received a multi-million-shilling facelift to enable it roll out quality services to the disabled children so that they are kept in school to study.
The centre which hosts over 130 disabled learners also established the special learning unit at the adjacent Sigomere Primary School to ensure their education plight is addressed.
The facelift, courtesy of The Way We Care Kenya programme and Catholic Relief Services has seen the home which was established in 1972 by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph rehabilitated with new and modern equipment to serve the children with disability.
Timon Mainga, programmes Director at The Way We Care Kenya says that the home, also known as Place of Hope has also been equipped with therapeutic equipment to enable it offer physiotherapy services to both the children at the institution and members of the community.
“CRS has purchased and installed rehabilitation equipment at the disabled children home and provided assistive devices for the children including provision and improvement of play therapy equipment in their school,” said Mainga.
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 living with disabilities on better care giving skills and income generating 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 quality of people’s lives.
Otumba said that as part of the commitment, the county government has set aside 30% of employment opportunities to the people living with disability.
“For those with hearing challenges, we have incorporated sign language translators especially during 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 the children living with disability.
Mary appealed to the government to consider providing all children livi ng with disability with free health care through the Universal health care coverage.
“Most of these children are from poor 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 day care 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 for the young in the society.
He said that an eight-year research finding has proved that use of orphanages and charitable children institutions was causing more harm to children, especially those under three years.
By Erick Nyayiera
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