2013 CALENDER OF EVENTS

2012 ended on a note for us:- More families joined the society hence the number of children coming to the clinic and being seen on the Out-Reach Project increased significantly.

One of the therapist attended an APT workshop at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation in Tudor, Chuda which equipped us with the techniques of making our own standing and sitting aids out of carton boxes. We intend to start this project this year.
  
 Calender of Events

Date                                         Event

9nd February                           Painting of the Clinic 

16th February                           Special Annual General Meeting

16th June                                CPSK - IRA CEREBRAL PALSY CHARITY WALK/FAMILY FUN DAY
12th October                          Medical Camp

7th December                         Christmas Party

Seminar on Disability at the Nairobi Baptist Church

Report by Namatsi Lukoye

The Nairobi Baptist church held a seminar for parents entitled  'Parenting and Supporting children with Special Needs' on the 27th and the 28th of November. The event revolving around spreading awareness and proving parents with as much information on what services are currently available was attended by the Public Relations Officer and Mrs. Mwangeka (C.E.O).

Among organisations present were, the Autism Awareness Kenya, Dyslexia Organization, Therapies for Kids, Sarakasi hospital Project, among many others.

The main objective for the seminar was to create awareness, sensitize our community and empower the parents for the betterment of the children with special needs.

Avoiding and Managing Cerebral Palsy

There is no prevention for cerebral palsy but the condition can be lowered by;

·         Women should avoid under age pregnancy and stressful conditions during pregnancy

·         Expectant mothers should attend pre-natal clinics 

·         Expectant mothers should ensure that they give birth in a certified hospital or that  they are attended to by a qualified doctor or midwife

·       The condition can be managed and improved on through occupational therapy through occupational therapy

The benefits of Occupational Therapy 

CPSK therapists at the clinic

•         It offers help to people with mental health disorders and plays a key role in treating them to regain their mental abilities
•              It helps people with physical disabilities in pediatric and physical dysfunction return to ordinary tasks around home and at work by maximizing physical potential through lifestyle adaptations and possible use of assistive devices.
•          It offers training to maximize independence in activities of daily living (such as grooming, bathing, toileting, feeding and dressing).
•          The use of adaptive work and play activities increase independent function, enhance development, and prevents disability
•          Occupational therapy offers services in designing and fabrication of static and dynamic splints to prevent and correct deformities

Childhood Signs and Difficulties

A mother who succumbs to an illness or a stressful situation especially in the first three months of pregnancy is likely to give birth to a child with a developmental problem and hence follow up is important.

Be keen when the following things happen:-

Prolonged labor
Difficult deliveries
lack of or a delay cry

Signs in early childhood include:

• Early feeding difficulties 
• Delayed development 
• Poor muscle control 
• Muscle spasms 
• Lack of coordination 

Although the damage to the brain will not become worse, the effect on the body can become more obvious with age, and physical deformities can develop. Early detection and management can reduce the severity of the effects of the disability. 

The CPSK – IRA Cerebral Palsy Charity Walk/Family Fun Day

Report by Namatsi Lukoye

The CPSK – IRA Cerebral Palsy Charity Walk/Family Fun Day was fun-filled and energy packed event. The much hyped event had finally come to be on the 30^th of June 2012.  Despite the morning cold, participants including Hon Peter Kenneth, Commissioner Sammy Makove (CEO, IRA), and Mrs. Jardine Mwangeka (CEO, CPSK) had arrived at Nyayo Stadium Kuche Kuche grounds as early as 7.00am. 

CPSK families also reported early and headed straight to the set up clinics for therapy by the CPSK therapists in collaboration with Dr. Elizabeth Kruger of Nairobi hospital.

The event greatly supported by celebrities such as the Red Acapella, Fred Omondi, DJ Pinye, Daddy Owen, Mbuvi, Ng’ang’alito, Ambasada, among others; attracted approximately around 800 participants.

The 9.3 Km walk was flagged off at 8:30 after a warm up session by Mr. Waswa and the participants set off led by the Langata Brass Bad.  

As the participants made their way back to the stadium tired, they were welcomed back by the fun spearheaded by Fred Omondi, DJ Spaxx and Tangi (of Duero Agencies). Mbuvi kept the audience dancing and singing with his ‘Nikilemewa nishike mkono baba’ song.  The Vioja Mahakamani team, Sawala dancers, Bone breakers, made the fun day a success among other entertainers.

The beauty of the day shone even brighter as Daddy Owen and Dennis sang ‘Mbona,’ a song composed to fight stigma for the disabled of Kenya. This fell perfectly with the theme of the event which was, ‘Partnering to Create a Stigma Free Environment’. The Walk was aimed at creating awareness, fighting stigma and raising funds for cerebral palsy (CP) and the required occupational therapy.

Indeed we make a living by what we get, but a life by what we give. 

THE CPSK CLINIC IN DONHOLM OUR CHILDREN OUR STORIES

Diana getting her therapy

The CPSK clinic in Donholm

A child is put on a standing for around for 30mins  used in standing and midlife orientation, for strength and endurance

                                               
                                                   Parents wait for their turn with the therapist

                                                   
                  The Swing Vestibular stimulation also known as a balance center used to help a child fight fright

Roller used to train head control, rolling over and trunk strength and alignment

A letter from a dear friend

Hi guys,

My love story of children with cerebral palsy started in April 2010, while on a Jigger Campaign in Githunguri, with a team of 18 volunteers. In one of the homes, I met Steve, an 8 year old child with severe CP complications, he weighed 10kgs and was painfully breathing through a trachectomy tube in his neck. I sought the assistance of Jardine Mwangeka – the chairperson of Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya and she visited the home with us. Unfortunately while we were seeking urgent medical intervention for Steve, he succumbed to the complications of CP.

Since then, I have come across several children with CP who are highly stigmatised and in desperate need of therapy. I would like us to support CPSK, to go beyond the borders of Nairobi. For this reason I am a friend of CPSK and have been involved in assisting them in networking and publicity. We request you to join with us by purchasing a t-shirt at Ksh1,000. I also encourage you to buy a t-shirt on behalf of a mother of a child with cerebral palsy, I have several who would like to go cannot afford a t-shirt. 

Yours faithfully

Charity Muturi