Disability is not Inability

:: AMREF Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Project

Creating a social model of rehabilitation, targeting disabled people and their families

Location: Makueni District (Divisions: Kibwezi, Makindu, Mtito Andei, Wote, Kathonzueni), Kenya Background:

In the developing world, poverty is a frequent attendant of those who are mentally or physically impaired.

All too often their affliction is the result of allowing malnutrition and diseases such as measles, malaria, polio and meningitis to go untreated. One out of every six very poor Kenyans suffers from visual, hearing or speech difficulties, physical impairment, learning or behavioural disabilities or a combination of more than one.

Cultural beliefs and social attitudes exacerbate these disadvantages. The disabled have been relegated to a life of exclusion from mainstream society, dependent on the charity of others.

A Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) project was started in Makueni district. According to an AMREF report in 1998, the 5 divisions of Makueni have a total population of 300,000 and the disabled people account for 7% of that population.

The project targets over 9,000 people with disabilities in Makueni district.

Donor(s):

Australian Embassy, AMREF Netherlands and ODF

Objective:

This project started as a childhood disability project focusing on children from 0-15 years. The project has progressively expanded to cater for other disabled people regardless of age. The project has gradually shifted its focus from medical rehabilitation to a social model of rehabilitation, targeting disabled people and their families.

Project Activities:

AMREF works with the Ministry of Health, Education, and Social Services, United Disabled People of Kenya (UDPK), Kenya Disability Caucus, Comic Relief and SIDA to:

Increase income for people with disabilities and their families.

Increase community awareness and activities in the care of those with mental illness and learning disabilities.

Strengthen the capacity of pre-primary and primary schools to integrate children with disabilities.

Provide a base for practical training in Community Based Rehabilitation.

Strengthen capacities of institutions of parents and disabled people to lobby for increased support and appropriate policies at district and national levels.

Conduct operations research on selected Community Based Rehabilitation issues.

Build capacity of district rehabilitation committees.

Facilitate linkages and collaborations among agencies involved in Community Based Rehabilitation in East Africa.

Achievements:

Increased community awareness on the needs of disabled persons in Makueni.

Increased enrolment of disabled children and youths in regular schools and local polytechnics.

Facilitated the formation of community support groups in Makueni: 17 disabled people organisations and 15 parents and friends of disabled children.

Disabled people have taken up positions in the local District Development Committees at location, division and district levels.

Increased access to services for disabled people- eye care services by KSB; Ear assessments by the Kenya Ear Foundation.

There is increased awareness on the sexuality of disabled persons and the community is taking deterrent measures against abusers of disabled persons.

More disabled persons and families are involved in income and livelihood improvement activities.

Health workers at the dispensaries in Wote and Kathonzweni effectively managing cases of epilepsy.

Training centre operational and receiving trainees from Kenya Medical Training College and other projects.

Disabled persons have access to safe water and generating income from sale of water due to the water project (pipe extension) in Masongaleni.

House improvements in Muuni have made it possible for the disabled persons to live in brick-walled and iron-roofed houses with access to roof water catchments.

With the seed banking establishments in Wote and Kathonzweni, there is increased access to seeds during planting seasons.

Referral systems regularised with Kijabe Mission Hospital.

Disability thematic team established for the poverty strategy consultation (AMREF as a key member).

National Disability Caucus functional (involving major disability stakeholders).

AMREF discussion paper developed on disability and rehabilitation.

Networking expanded to include Uganda and Tanzania Mainland – joint training curricula development, sharing of information and exchange programmes.

Source: Amref Website

AMREF Headquarters, Langata Road, P.O. Box 27691 - 00506, Nairobi, Kenya; Telephone: +254 20 6993000 Fax: +254 20 609518

Category: Projects

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