Persons with disabilities have been urged register with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) during the ongoing mass assessment and registration exercise scheduled to take place this week in Kericho County.
The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has started the exercise to identify and register persons with disabilities and enable them to access various government services and support programmes.
National Council for Persons with Disabilities Officer Dorine Njoroge who spoke to KNA said the exercise will commence Tuesday at Fort Ternan Sub-County Hospital in Kipkelion West Sub-County from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.
The officer added that a second exercise will also be conducted on Thursday at Full Gospel Church, Kipsitet, in Soin Sub-County from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
“For those within Kericho town, the exercise will be ongoing at the Kericho Vocational and Rehabilitation Center, where the NCPWD offices are located and they will be attended to,” Njoroge said.
She said eligible persons should carry all the required documents, including a medical assessment form, a national identity card for adults, a birth certificate for minors, and a mobile phone SIM card.
“Persons with visual impairments should present an ophthalmology report, while those with hearing impairments should provide a Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA), an objective medical assessment used to diagnose hearing loss, auditory nerve damage or neurological issue during the registration process,” said Njoroge.
The officer noted that registered persons with disabilities stand to benefit from a range of services provided by NCPWD, including tax exemptions for employed persons, business owners, company directors and retirees receiving pensions.
Other benefits include assistive devices, scholarships for learners with disabilities in special primary and secondary schools, rehabilitation centres and vocational training institutions, as well as economic empowerment programmes and provision of tools of trade.
Njoroge further said that business owners living with disabilities can apply for business waivers upon presenting business registration certificates, disability certificates and national identity cards.
She also mentioned that the cash transfer programme for persons with severe disabilities has improved the welfare of vulnerable members of society.
“The council continues to work with partners, including Kenya Pipeline Company and KCB Bank to support programmes, aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities,” said Njoroge.
She called on persons with disabilities, their families and community leaders to mobilize eligible beneficiaries to participate in the exercise and take advantage of the available opportunities.
By Beatrice Chepkirui
