BY ELIZABETH MWIBANDA
Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka has announced free medical assessment for Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) in the entire county.
He spoke at Bungoma airstrip on Tuesday during the International day of persons with disability.
Further, Lusaka stated that all persons with disabilities should get free medical services in public facilities.
“Persons With Disabilities in Bungoma are going to enjoy free medical assessments in all public facilities which is in line with this year’s theme ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future’,” he said.
The Ford Kenya governor revealed that he is set to sign the disability and mainstreaming policy that will give guidance and regulations,” he noted.
“My administration is working hard to support persons with disabilities even in my cabinet I have included the CEC who is disabled,” he said, adding that in the county committees PWDs have been well distributed.
To support PWDs, the county boss stated that Bungoma has partnered with Walkabout Foundation where 220 wheelchairs have been distributed.
“In 2023 November, we distributed 100 wheelchairs, in March this year we did 120 and today together with CS Mutua I will distribute 100,” he said.
Prof. Julia Ojiambo, a Trustee of the Board the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) in her remarks indicated that, “On International day of persons with disability the NFDK presented both assistive devices and working equipment to 12 PWDs drawn from Bungoma South Sub-county as part of our empowerment exercise to Persons with Disabilities.
From tomorrow we shall have a similar exercise in Cheptais, Kimilili, Bungoma North and Bumula Sub-counties. All the devices and equipment to be presented in the Sub-counties mentioned are valued at Sh2.3 million.”
She called upon stakeholders to adhere to this year’s IDPWD theme to amplify the leadership of persons with disabilities and create a world where all individuals have an equal opportunity to contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future.
The National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) is mandated to enhance the social and economic empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Kenya.
This is achieved through support to individuals with assistive devices and tools of trade to enable increased self-reliance of PWDs and promote inclusive education in institutions for learners with disabilities.
Through its Advocacy and Collaborations Program, NFDK partnered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to realize the International Day for Persons with Disabilities which was held in Bungoma Airstrip.
