Gasabo: Love With Actions expands disability interventions to Nduba sector

By Elias Hakizimana.

Love with Actions Organizations that currently caters for children with disabilities and their families in Bumbogo Sector, Gasabo District has on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 inaugurated a new and second branch of its kind in Nduba sector as continuous efforts to help more beneficiaries.

Parents of children with various disabilities from Gasanze and Gatunda cells in Nduba sector have a reason to smile as they have been worrying about the future of their children who are vulnerable in terms of healthcare and access to education.

Apart from healing the children with disabilities, LWA has established a school for these children at its main Headquarters in Bumbogo sector to complement the government’s inclusive policy where they promote the welfare of these children and families through Education and healthcare facilities (Physiotherapy and Occupation Therapy), vegetable garden farming and growing milk cows that contribute to nutrition and growth of these children.

Most of parents of these children who are going to benefit from a new inaugurated facility told The Inspirer that they used to experience challenges in helping their children get access to healthcare as current disability institutions are far from their locations apart from being expensive.

Justine Nyirabatsinda has a child who has physical disability and said that she was stigmatized and discriminated by the community around her since she gave birth to this child.

“I became a story and everyone could discriminate me after giving birth to this child, I suffered a lot and my husband could not support me, so, I do not have financial capacity to treat the child. It was my pleasure meeting with LWA because I used to go far to look for his healthcare, which is also expensive.” Nyirabatsinda said.

It was a huge burden for her to take her child who is now 8 years old to Kicukiro-Nyanza from Gasanze sector for health treatment and sometimes she could be referred to Rilima in Bugesera District, costing her much money for transport and motorcyclists could deny to drive them off.

“Love With Actions Organization comes on time to respond to these challenges and meeting other parents will help us to feel comfortable and strong.” Nyirabatsinda added.

She requested some people who still have negative mindset that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) have not value to stop thinking in that scenario.

Marie Claire Nikuze, another parent from Murengero village, Gatunga cell in Nduba sector has a three-year old child who was born with legs’ disability. She tried to take him to Gatagara disability healthcare institution but later stopped it due to lack of financial capacity.

Gilbert Kubwimana, Founder and Executive Director of LWA Organization said that 20 most needy families from three cells of Nduba sector were selected from the 56 families who wished to get support. He said that it is a long journey that requires joint efforts with other institutions.

“This is not something we can achieve tomorrow, it is of course a long-term initiative and I hope we will manage to support the remaining families. We started with only two cells from the existing seven cells of Nduba sector but we expect to reach out others for support.” Kubwimana said.

Simon Pierre Muhire, the representative of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (MCPD) in Nduba sector welcomed the move and proved that there are still various challenges in supporting PWDs.

“Challenges are still around especially in regard to education and healthcare. Policies and activities that support PWDs that have been established and ongoing efforts can give us a clear image of the future interventions and it requires efforts from both government and other stakeholders.” Muhire said.

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