Children with disabilities get new centre in Busii Island

WAKISO-Children with special needs have got a new centre at Busii Island in Wakiso district that will help them access medical and education services.

According to the LC1 chairman of Jjali village Livingstone Musisi the centre will enable parents with children with special needs to take their children to the centre for health care and education services.

He said some parents who have been stigmatised will find it easy to access the centre instead of carrying disabled children to 10km health facility.

"Some parents have been avoiding bringing out their children in public due to stigma but since centre is near their residence this will help them take children there," Musisi said.

He said this is the first centre to be constructed in Busii Island to cater for children with special needs.

 The Germany deputy ambassador Hans Schoeder (centre) talks to Mukisa Foundation executive director Florence Namaganda (right) and Peter Kabuga during the launch of the new child centre for children with disabilities at Busii Island in Wakiso district. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

Joyce Nayiga who accompanied her grandson Elvis Kizito said she will save transport costs to Busii Health Centre III since the centre is near her home.

Consolata Nabuuma who has a disabled child said she will be able to walk to the  centre with her son instead of using a boda boda to transport him to Busii Health Centre III.

The LC5 chairman of Wakiso district, Matia Lwanga urged parents with children with disabilities to take them to the centre to access health care and education services.

He commended Mukisa Foundation for supplementing government efforts in taking care of children with disabilities.

According to Florence Namaganda the executive director, of Mukisa Foundation, a baseline survey was carried out in Busii Island and the study found that 180 children with disabilities had never accessed any medical services.

This prompted the Foundation with support from Crane and Viva child organizations to construct a centre that would benefit over 200 children with special needs in Busii Island.

Namaganda said out of 3 million children with disabilities in Uganda only 5,000 are being taken care of and this needs to be addressed. 

She said the centre will also be used to provide vocational skills for the youth and urged government to implement inclusive education policy and not to remain on paper.

During the commissioning of the centre the Germany deputy ambassador, Hans Schroeder emphasized the importance of taking care of children with special needs in society.

He said Germany support to the centre emanates from strong relations between the two countries since 1964.