Trans Nzoia County has pledged to boost the production of prosthetic and assistive devices at the Kitale County Hospital. Governor George Natembeya made the commitment during a visit to the facility, where he announced a Sh5 million donation to support the production of prosthetic devices. The governor also donated Sh2 million for the purchase of materials to sustain production. Natembeya emphasized the importance of supporting persons with disabilities to access equipment that improves their quality of life.
The governor stated that the county will help acquire modern equipment to upgrade the existing machines, which will enable the production of devices for leg, waist, and arm disabilities. The additional Sh5 million will be used to expand the capacity of the facility. Natembeya envisions the facility becoming a regional centre, providing services to people from neighboring counties, including Turkana, West Pokot, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Eldoret.
Kenneth Meli, an orthopaedic technologist and National Chairperson of the Association of Orthopaedic Technology Prosthetics and Orthotics, commended the Trans Nzoia outreach for recording the highest number of beneficiaries among 17 outreaches conducted countrywide. The team had targeted 50 people but ended up with over 150 on the first day, with 100 fittings taking place during the outreach. Meli attributed the success to the use of lightweight, affordable Swiss technology for below-the-knee prostheses.
The outreach was a collaborative effort between the Trans Nzoia County Government, Swiss Ability, and the Catholic Church. Meli expressed his gratitude to the partners and emphasized that they will continue working together to reach more beneficiaries. The partnership has enabled many people to receive artificial legs, improving their quality of life.
Luck Masheti, Chairperson of the Trans Nzoia Disability Caucus, welcomed the initiative and called on the national and county governments to make such services available in all hospitals. Masheti acknowledged the positive impact of the partnership with Swiss Ability, which has enabled many people to receive artificial legs.
Other stakeholders, including Bernard Masioge from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and Carolyne Nalyanya, representing the Catholic Church, expressed their gratitude to the partners for their support. They emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to improve services for persons with disabilities.
The Trans Nzoia County Government's initiative to boost the production of prosthetic devices is a significant step towards improving the lives of persons with disabilities. With the support of partners, including Swiss Ability and the Catholic Church, the county aims to provide accessible and affordable services to those in need.
Key points
- Trans Nzoia County Government pledges Sh5 million to support production of prosthetic devices.
- The county aims to make the Kitale County Hospital a regional centre for prosthetic services.
- The outreach recorded the highest number of beneficiaries among 17 outreaches conducted countrywide.
