Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has pledged Sh5 million to support production of prosthetic and other assistive devices at the Kitale County Hospital.

Natembeya also donated Sh2 million for the purchase of materials to sustain production of the devices.

Speaking during a visit to the facility, the governor said the county will support persons with disabilities to access equipment that improves their quality of life.

“Sometimes as a government we look for bigger things outside, but most of the time people just want to be assisted so that they can live a better life,” he said.

Natembeya said the county will help acquire modern equipment to upgrade the existing machines, noting that the additional Sh5 million will be used to expand capacity to produce devices for leg, waist and arm disabilities.

“I want this place to be a regional centre, so that people from Turkana, West Pokot, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet and Eldoret can come here. This work begins immediately,” Natembeya said.

Kenneth Meli, an orthopaedic technologist and National Chairperson of the Association of Orthopaedic Technology Prosthetics and Orthotics, said the Trans Nzoia outreach recorded the highest number of beneficiaries among 17 outreaches conducted countrywide.

“We came targeting 50 people, but the numbers on day one were above 150. We are fitting 100 here, making Trans Nzoia the largest outreach so far,” Meli said, adding that the team was using lightweight, affordable Swiss technology for below-the-knee prostheses.

He said they will continue working with the county and the Catholic Church to reach more beneficiaries.

Luck Masheti, Chairperson of the Trans Nzoia Disability Caucus, welcomed the initiative, noting that partnership with Swiss Ability had enabled many to receive artificial legs.

“We want the national and county governments to help make such services available in all our hospitals,” Masheti said.

Bernard Masioge from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities thanked the partners, while Carolyne Nalyanya, representing the Catholic Church, said the collaboration with the county and Swiss Ability had improved services for persons with disabilities.

The outreach was sponsored by Swiss Ability and the Catholic Church in partnership with the Trans Nzoia County Government.

By Oscar Nalyanya