HomeThe world just came from the most precarious moment in modern history. Covid-19 has shaped the world in every single way and the financial implications have hit African homes. However, the group that was hit most by the pandemic were People living with disability (PWDs).
On top of their inherent challenge, these differently abled people still had to grapple with the challenges everybody else was going through. Their caregivers and families also had to experience these challenges in momentous proportions.
PWDs need special care and attention. They need to be medically attended to in a specialized way and therefore medical treatment needs to be available. But in this part of the world where poverty levels are high, this special group suffers the most.
The following NGOs have made it their mission to take care of PWDs.
The National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD)
Formed in 2004 after the Persons with Disability Act was enacted, the NCPWD has been a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency that works under the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Culture and Social Protection.
NCPWD coordinates services meant for PWDs with government ministries, departments, agencies, schools, and NGOs that specialize in disabled persons. Their mission is to promote and protect equalization of opportunities and realization of human rights for PWDs to live decent livelihoods.
United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK)
It was established in 1989 and is headquartered in Nairobi. UDPK acts as an umbrella for all the organizations that deal with PWDs. They have over 200 organizations that have joined their network. Their mission, therefore, is to reach PWDs nationwide and touch the whole population comprehensively.
The Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK)
Established in 1958, APDK works in 37 counties in Kenya and has a network of four hubs spread across those counties. They benefit 500,000 children and adult PWDs directly by aiming to reduce poverty, economic empowerment and championing the rights of this group.
They use the WHO Community Based Rehabilitation Strategy (CBR) which focuses on the following components: Education, Empowerment, Health, Livelihood and Social.
Cheshire Disability Services Kenya (CDSK)
CDSK focuses on empowering PWDs by implementing livelihood interventions through partnering with different organizations. They have two Cheshire Homes in Limuru and Makueni.
Motivated by their passion to empower PWDs to live a quality and dignified life, they train young people in skills development so that they can secure jobs and decent work. Others receive loans for economic empowerment and they become members of development saving groups.
