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For several years, Eunice Shikoto has been facing the stigma of her friends and family.
His seven year old son was diagnosed with a rare disease – autism.
His story is that of an answered prayer that has been subjected to many temptations.
While she is about to tell her story, she catches her son, whom she does not let down from her sight.
SEE ALSO:I wonder if the world will let my baby prosper
Shikoto says that after years of trying to have a baby, she had Caleb Okoth.
During this period, filled with joy of having a baby, she said that everything was fine, even getting a catering job at a popular restaurant to offer her son the best possible life.
But the problems started when Caleb was two years old.
She realized that Caleb could not say a word, like his fellow-age.
"I remember my friends telling me that my son was hyper, but I never really understood what they meant," Shikoto said.
SEE ALSO:Autism will not stop it
It lasted a very long time until the day she took her son to the hospital for a checkup. He was told that he was suffering from a disorder called autism.
"I was so devastated that I quit my job to take care of my son. And I realized that he was like other normal children, but that he understood slowly and easily lost his concentration, "said Eunice.
She added that she had to move him from one school to another by looking somewhere that his state of health would not be a burden to teachers and other students.
Caleb has been transferred to more than seven schools.
Once, he was fired from school because he was fighting with another student. When he was admitted to his previous school, she said that he seemed to like the thieves to arrive and tie up the teachers before stealing their valuables.
Caleb saw everything that was going on and refused to go back there ever since. Parents are always looking for a new school for him.
Shikoto describes Caleb as a loving son who loves to play with his sister a year and a half each time.
"I love my son because he's smart in his own way. He knows when to change TV channels to choose his favorite cartoons and decide what he wants to eat, "Shikoti added.
Kinyanjui Muchai, a 40-year-old father of two, has a 9-year-old son who is living with a similar illness.
He says the disease is an expensive affair because patients have a specialized diet and need someone to look after them at all times.
He added that schools offering specialized care for this type of children are also very expensive.
"I urge fathers with such children to kiss, not to hide, to give them the best and support their mothers. This is not witchcraft, it's just a condition, I love my son a lot and I walk with him wherever I go, "said Muchai.
Parents and teachers gathered at Buruburu Primary School where they received training on how to treat children and adults with autism.
The training was led by Autism Lights, a non-governmental organization based in Boston and focused on Kenya.
It aims to reduce stigma based on inaccurate cultural myths and fear of the unknown and to ensure access to education in public schools in an inclusive environment for all children with HIV / AIDS. 39; autism.
"We firmly believe that free primary education is a right for all children in Kenya. It should also be a right accessible to all children with autism, "said Dr. Lincoln Kamau, a Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctoral Council and Director of Clinical Research. Autism Lights Inc, Boston, USA.
According to Dr. Kamau, current statistics on autism are globally higher than HIV, cancer and diabetes combined in children.
"In the United States, 1 in 65 schoolchildren has autism," Kamau said.
Statistics clearly show that autism is a public health crisis that urgently needs to be addressed
The team, made up of Autism Consultant Jessica Heller and Autism Lights' Dr. Lincoln Kamau, provides free consultations to parents of children with autism in Kenya.
They also participated in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training for professionals, special education teachers and parents of autistic children, so that they have the necessary skills to work effectively with the autistic population.
"We also support the use of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in the management of autism in schools, homes and community settings," Kamau said.
ABA has been hailed as the most effective, evidence-based, research-based methodology for the treatment of autism. It uses a set of powerful techniques used to teach new skills, improve communication, promote independence and reduce difficult behaviors.
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Related Topics
AutismEunice ShikotoKinyanjui MuchaiAutism Lights
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