Community Based Rehabilitation (Cbr)

Promoting Inclusion through Awareness Raising

APDK comprehensive community based rehabilitation program aim at making the communities in its catch areas, aware that persons with disabilities have rights as everyone else.

The program works closely with persons with disabilities to create awareness on their potential. This is in line with UNCRPD Article 8 – Awareness Raising. The program was started in Coast Branch in the year 1992 targeting Mombasa district. Based on the experiences and outcome of the feasibility study, APDK Nairobi initiated Community Based Rehabilitation program in the year 2000 in the slums of Mukuru in the following Villages Mitumba,Marigu-ini,Fuata Nyayo, Kayaba, Lungalunga, Ruben and Kwa njenga. The programme was started with a joint funding from Kindernothilfe and Christoffel Blindenmission.

APDK has been implementing the CBR program for the last 18 years with the main purpose of providing quality rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. Since 2000, the CBR program has contributed to Quality Inclusive Health, social and economic wellbeing of children with disabilities and their families through comprehensive Community Based rehabilitation programmes. This has been with a bias to children with (physical, Visual, hearing, mental, epilepsy) disabilities in order to alleviate poverty, and integrate them in the community through the comprehensive rehabilitation program in the slums of Mukuru. The initial project objectives were centred on creating awareness on disability, Rehabilitation of CWDs, Provision of assistive and mobility devices, Formation of social groups, Education inclusion and mainstreaming, referrals to other service providers and livelihood empowerment as the last phase of rehabilitation. Networking and collaboration is also enhanced

The project has also modified its implementation model from running a standalone program to an integrated approach of focusing on the Rights of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the Kenya Constitution 2010

In adapting to the changing dynamics and trends APDK adopted the WHO- CBR Guidelines formulated in 2010 in Abuja, Nigeria as a strategy in implementing its CBR activities nationally. This involves addressing issues affecting children with disabilities as a Right while focusing on the 5 CBR matrix pillars which includes:

In 2011 the programme incorporated maternal child health programme aimed at early identification and appropriate referral through health talks, sensitization to CHWs and CHEWs, observation of calendar days that is malezi bora, immunization and breastfeeding week.