The Cerebral Palsy Coast Province Medical Camp

Since 2004 CPSK has held medical camps in Nairobi and one in Thika in 2010 in conjunction with pediatric doctors, orthopedics, ophthalmologists, neurologists, and dentists, ENT specialists and Nutritionists.

The medical camps are hosted to meet the following objectives

• To provide a forum for doctors to see children with CP condition and to offer specialized advice.
• To determine the most common diseases among CP children and their most pressing needs.
• To spread awareness among parents and public and fight stigma associated with the condition.

Through sponsorship from the Insurance Regulatory Authority CPSK was able to meet two of its core objectives. This was possible through the charity walk held on the 30^th of June 2012 and the objectives were;   

•   To strengthen the outreach program and to embark on an aggressive expansion outreach program
• To continue with the awareness creation and publicity to reduce stigma and to mainstream disability.
• The medical camp was organized with help of the following Institutions;

1. ·         Coast general Hospital
2. ·         Cerebral Palsy Foundation Tudor
3. ·         APDK Mbombolulu and PortReiz
4. ·         Muncipal Council through PHD
5. ·         Kizurini Special school
6. ·         Tom Mboya School for Cerebral and Tudor Unit (MH) collaborated.

The Camp

The camp was held on 20^th and 21^st at the Mombasa Women’s Association Hall which is situated on the southern side of the Island on your way to Likoni Ferry.

The medical personnel were able to attend to180 children on the two days. After consultations, the parents went away with prescriptions and referrals.

FINDINGS

The most common ailments included: - Upper and lower respiratory infections, convulsions, ear/throat infections, dental problems, malnutrition, skin infections, severe contractures and deformities of the spine.

It was clear that most of the children screened were not getting proper medical care and therapy. This was mainly attributed to the poverty levels encountered in most areas of the coast region. Some parents expressed fear as to whether they would be able to buy the prescribed drugs and assistive devices prescribed.

According to observations many people in Coast province still associated cerebral palsy with witchcraft thus more sensitization was needed.

Children from Kizurini School had more complications than the rest; hence the need to empower parents, the school required a nutritionist and a clinical officer to monitor their progress.

KIZURINI SPECIAL SCHOOL

Cerebral Palsy society of Kenya in efforts to strengthening and expanding its outreach program to the counties visited the school and found the condition of the children and their parents wanting.  

The Kizurini Special School CP is situated in Kizurini Memorial Primary School in Kaloleni. Among the 17 special schools in kaloleni District, Kizurini special school is the only one dealing with cases of cerebral palsy. The school was started in 2007 and currently admits 35 children who are on a boarding or residential programme meaning they learn and also live in the school premises.

The aim of the school is to train children with cerebral palsy with daily living skills and general rehabilitation. Among other objectives of the school is to create awareness about special needs education in the communities in Kaloleni and to make the school suitable institution that gives quality education. Kizurini primary was picked due to its central location and easily accessible by parents. The schools proximity to St.Lukes hospital also makes it ideal for children with Cerebral Palsy.

The Facility is faced with a myriad of challenges, starting with the land scape of the school; the school has a slope and stones which is a hindrance to children’s movement due to their disability. The facility lacks ramps which makes it disability unfriendly.

• The school lacks therapists in the rehabilitation of these children leading to contractures or secondary disabilities.
  

• Lack of enough facilities, the school has one room which serves as a class, dormitory, feeding area and also playing area. The school lacks teacher Aids. The mothers to these children have to come and take care of the children’s welfare. This arrangement poses a challenge in that these mothers have other family members to take care of back at home.

•  The school also lacks furniture; such as beds, chairs/desks and beddings. The children have to make do with worn out mattresses and blankets that also serve as the curtains.

• The state of the toilets and the bathrooms is appalling. They are not the type to be used by children with disabilities. The children use makeshift bathrooms which do not have roofs.

• There is no a kitchen and so parents have to prepare meals outside, which is very cumbersome especially when it rains.

• The store that they have is small and congested, and the food is not properly stored thus posing a health risk.

• There is also lack of supportive devices such as; wheelchairs, standing and sitting aids among others.

• The school also lacks electricity and water. Due to this they have to use lamps that pose a danger to the pupils due to their disability.

• The institution has heavily relied on well wishers for food to feed the children since their annual budget cannot cater for all the needs.