Feature: New device offers new lease of life to Kenyan children with cerebral palsy

At the age of three, Esther Wamuyu's grandson could be running around with other children while learning a few things from the youngsters.

The little boy born in the central Kenyan town of Nyahururu has cerebral palsy, a condition that has paralyzed his right limb. He cannot stand without the aid of a device.

For his grandmother, a peasant farmer with a monthly income of less than 100 U.S. dollrs,the cost of a special or standing frame to help the boy walk is too prohibitive.

"How I am supposed to buy a wheelchair for 100 dollars? That is beyond my reach," noted Wamuyu who had been informed that a standard and durable wheelchair fitting her grandson could cost as much.

But existence of cheaper and innovative assistive devices for children with cerebral palsy in Central and Rift Valley parts of Kenya has relieved Wamuyu the stress of taking care of her son.

With a special standing frame made of heavy duty cartons and newspapers, her grandson can stand on his own.

She bought it at 3.5 dollars, 28 times less than the price of the imported standard wheelchair.

"It is therapeutic for children to use the assistive devices," said David Chege, an occupational therapist.

"It causes more damage to the children when they are left on their own or use inappropriate devices which do not meet their needs," he added.

Cerebral palsy normally affects a child's ability to walk. It also has devastating impact on a child's cognitive abilities.

Deficiency in calcium is a major trigger of this disorder and can be passed easily by a pregnant mother to her unborn child.

"Actually most of these cases (cerebral palsy) affects households living in poverty," says Josephine Mureithi, a social worker.

"It even becomes a burden when they have to look after a child who needs special attention. And even worse when they lack a means to buy them the necessary equipment to assist in their movement," she explained.

Mureithi`s charitable organization make the special devices for children with cerebral palsy and always reaches to families whose young ones have this condition.

"There is a problem of parents or guardians hiding their children (with the condition) because they feel cursed," she lamented.

"That attitude has to be changed because the children are human beings who only need special care," Mureithi remarked.

Access to information, therapy and devices to enable children with cerebral palsy cope with this disorder is a hiccup.

Currently, the Kenyan government offers a monthly stipend of 20 dollars to impoverished families taking care of children suffering from different forms of disability including cerebral palsy.

Thanks to the innovative wheel chair made by Mureithi's charity group using biodegradable material, the children with cerebral palsy can now walk.

She told Xinhua that unlike the imported steel wheelchair which comes in fixed sizes, the one made from carton can be customized to any size.

"The chair is made of three layers of carton based on the measurements of the child. It is finished with a cover of newspapers. The layers are fixed together with a baking flour paste and the pieces joined together with elastic bands," said Mureithi.

Wamuyu's grandson has benefited from this low cost technology and can walk without assistance.

"I am hopeful that soon he will be able to walk longer distances and perform light duties," said Wamuyu. Enditem