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By Kiundu Waweru
Lisa Inyanje grunts and sometimes cries out as a therapist massages her muscles and joints. Her guardian, Margaret Mwasiangi, lovingly looks on and comforts her.
Lisa, a beautiful 13-year-old is the size of a six-year-old. She has not had a chance to attend school although her therapist, Francis Richu, says they are scouting for a school that will accept her with her condition.
Lisa has cerebral palsy (CP), a group of disorders affecting body movement, balance and posture. It is related to a brain injury or to problems with brain growth. CP is one of the most common causes of lasting disability in children.
There is no cure for the condition, and apart from rehabilitative therapy, CP children need round the clock love and care.
Lisa’s mother died last year, leaving her and two other children.
"I now live with them," says Margaret, cousin to Lisa’s mother.
"When Lisa’s mother died, I felt I needed to care for her since I knew her condition and needs," she says.
They get support from other relatives, as Margaret does not have an income.
"I am a trained hairdresser but I do not work because Lisa needs round the clock care. She uses diapers and she also needs help in dressing, feeding and other things."
Margaret says it is challenging caring for a child with CP. But she is not alone. When Panorama visited Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya (CPSK) clinic in Donholm, Nairobi, we met ten women — mothers and caregivers — watching their children undergo therapy.
Christine Mwende’s 18-month-old son, Darius Mutiso, looks as healthy as a baby his age should be. But his mother says eight months ago, she noticed Darius was late in reaching expected milestones.
Pregnancy history
"At 10 months, he ought to have been able to sit without support, but he couldn’t. He also couldn’t clutch objects. Worried, I went to Kenyatta National Hospital for help," she says.
At KNH, Christine was asked about her pregnancy history.
" I had had prolonged labour and the doctors said that my child lacked enough oxygen that might have damaged part of his brain. I was advised to take him for occupational therapy," she says.
Darius has turned Christine’s life upside down.
"I bring him here for therapy twice a week. It is tough caring for him for I am on call every minute. But I am thankful for I can see some improvement. He now holds objects," she says proudly.
It is hard to care for a child with CP, but medics say the more one knows about the condition, the better-placed one will be to deal with it.
"Occupational therapy, cognitive development and teaching guardians how to care for CP children at home are essential. But more important, we help guardians cope by offering them psychological counselling," says Richu, chief occupational therapist at CPSK.
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