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{
    "id": 1193995,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1193995/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 342,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Motion on Mental Health Facilities for pregnant women. Along with other Senators, I thank Sen. Kibwana for bringing this to the House. I stand as well to articulate the perspectives of women and girls with disabilities in the same matter. I hope that Sen. Kibwana and other Senators, will consider this when she articulates the resolutions that will come about in this Motion. Women and girls with disabilities commonly experience mental health disorders, high levels of stress, anxiety and depression when giving birth. We also experience cruel levels of inaccessibility and discrimination by the facilities and health workers who are put in place to assist us during this time. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, unfortunately, we do not have many women with disabilities in Parliament. However, I know of many women who have given birth to children with disabilities across the Senate and the National Assembly. I also voice their issues on this matter. It is extremely important that we have mental health facilities afforded to women who are going through still births, miscarriages and also those who give birth to children with disabilities. There is no handbook, leaflet or course that helps a woman to understand how to raise this young child with a disability. Compounded with all the other issues that have been spoken about here on this Motion, imagine if that child has a disability. First of all, you have no idea what it might be while the medical practitioners themselves try to figure out. You are left with or without a partner, to handle this news of your child, whom you were hoping would be healthy and happy for the rest of their lives but now having to start off with a disability. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that is a mental health issue that is not discussed. I hope that this Motion will have resolutions that also address these women. These women across the Senate, the National Assembly and across Kenya, mostly do not come out to admit that they have children with disabilities. They do not admit that they are struggling or that they honestly need a lot of help, far more support and mental help as well in raising these children. This is not only because of accepting the shock that comes about; but also having to mitigate and manage the community around them. The community stigmatizes them and throws them and their baby away. The same community convinces them that because their first child has a disability, they should not have another one because the second and the third will also have a disability. This is the kind of mentality and conditioning that we are experiencing in the country. They are egregious, cruel and inhumane."
}