Month: January 2019

25 Jan
By: Walter Sicho 0

PLWDs TO GET PROSTHETICS

The county government through the department of Social Welfare in conjunction with National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) yesterday carried out an exercise of taking measurements of amputees who require artificial prostheses, an orthopedic procedure known as cast taking.

The exercise took place at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital’s orthopaedic section where over 30 clients were served.

Social Welfare Chief officer Philip Towett said getting artificial prostheses will enable persons living with disabilities to move with ease as they go about their daily activities.

Towett who was overseeing the exercise added that the county government of Nandi is coming up with a bill that seeks for funds to economically empower PWDs.

The Chief Officer said that the exercise was important because it offered an opportunity of getting a data of those who have been amputated across the county.

Social Welfare Chief Officer Philip Towett

Around 70 per cent of the amputees are those who live with lower limb amputations whereas those with upper limb amputations are lower in number, according to the County Director of Orthopaedic Services Kenneth Melly.

“Upper limb prosthetics is still a challenge because a majority of the upper limb prostheses found across the country are cosmetic (not functional),” Melly said.

Melly pointed out that though the upper limb prostheses can be imported, they are costly.

Yesterday’s exercise is part of the event which took place in December last year which saw a good number of PWDs benefit from assistive devices and mobility aids including wheelchairs, tricycles and special seats for children.

A beneficiary undergoes examination

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23 Jan
By: Stanley Magut 0

Governor Sang Encourages Residents To Focus On Coffee farming

Governor Sang inspecting coffee berries at Seiyot Farmers Cooperative Society in Tindiret Sub County.Photo/GPS

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has asked farmers in the county to take coffee farming seriously after President Uhuru Kenyatta signed deal with China last year.

Sang spoke  when he inspected several development projects in Tindiret Sub County.Tindiret in the county is well known for coffee growing.

However Sang said more need to be done in order to recruit more farmers to practice coffee farming through cooperative societies.

This, he said, will help in increasing their economies of scale hence more returns in the market.

“Last year I was part of the delegation that went with the president to China where he signed an agreement for our products to be sold in China. He signed a deal for coffee, tea, academia and other products,” Sang said at Seiyot Farmers Cooperative Society.

Already the county has distributed over 10,000 coffee seedlings and 200kg of coffee seeds to cooperative societies in the county.

“The county is focused on strengthening cooperative societies through availing to them necessary support for their growth. It is through such cooperative that we will be able to empower our farmers as we seek to fully venture into agri-business,” He added.

“We will distribute more seeds and seedlings to farmers through cooperative socities.My focus is to turn this region into one of the leading coffee producing areas in our country,” He said.

Many farmers growing coffee in the region are old but Sang want youth to be incorporated into the business for livelihood improvement.

“I want to also ask you parents to allow youth a portion on your land so that they can also plant coffee. This will ensure that they are economic independent and everybody at the end get income to pay schools fee and other expenses,” said sang.

According to Sang, he will work on the formulation of policy framework together with the county assembly to see to it that they consolidate the county’s market for the produce so that they can be able to export to overseas markets.

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