PS Oluga Calls for Support for Persons Living with Disabilities

By Dorothy Musyoka

Principal Secretary for Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has urged greater national commitment to ensuring dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunities for persons living with disabilities.

Speaking during a side event at the Devolution Conference 2025, Dr. Oluga expressed concern over the current registration figures attributing the gap to stigmatization that discourages some families from registering relatives with disabilities.

“He noted that current registration figures are lower than the actual numbers, partly because some families are hesitant to present relatives for listing due to the stigma surrounding disability,” stated MOH.

Dr. Oluga called for sustained investment in understanding the diverse needs of persons living with disabilities and mobilising the resources required to meet them.

“While appreciating the progress made in training healthcare workers and distributing assistive devices, Dr. Oluga encouraged continued investment in understanding the full range of needs and securing the resources required to meet them,” added MOH.

He further cautioned that changes in global health financing  including the withdrawal of some donor support should inspire innovative funding models to bolster government initiatives.

Dr. Oluga also underscored the importance of enhanced training and capacity building for healthcare professionals to ensure they can effectively serve persons living with disabilities and recommend the most appropriate assistive technologies.