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{
"id": 1547708,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547708/?format=api",
"text_counter": 242,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
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"content": "between her and Sen. Crystal, as her insights deeply enriched my understanding of the challenges faced by PWDs, particularly those who are visually impaired. Would you know that when a visually impaired person visits a doctor, they require someone else to accompany them to read and interpret the doctor's findings regarding their condition? This presents a significant constitutional concern as medical information about one's health is highly private and not something one may wish to share with others. It is a private affair. Imagine asking Members of this House to have their spouses read their medical test results—they would not allow it. Now, consider the predicament of visually impaired individuals who must rely on a third-party stranger, simply because they are helpers, to read and relay these private medical results. Of course, that person is also consuming that information, in proper violation of the rights to medical privacy. When prescription drugs are given, the standard practice in our hospitals does not cater to special needs. You see the small envelopes in which they put the drugs—there must be a way for a visually impaired person living independently to identify that this is medicine for their headache or this is medicine for another condition. Even the instructions written on those envelopes, such as 'take one times one' or 'one times three,' are inaccessible. Without someone to assist, it becomes nearly impossible for visually impaired persons to follow the prescription properly. She challenged me, as a legislator, to ensure that the right of access to information, as prescribed here, is fully upheld. This means we must expect compliance from our hospitals by finding ways to guarantee that medical results or prescriptions are provided in a language and format that can be accessed by all individuals. Whether this involves incorporating Braille into medical reports and prescriptions or other innovative measures, the goal should be to make information accessible to everyone. I remain hopeful that Sen. Crystal Asige will not give up and provide me with the opportunity to have that important conversation with Angela. As the Senate Majority Leader rightly pointed out, the role of legislation is to solve real problems faced by real people rather than merely passing laws for the sake of it. Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is New Clause, 66A, addressing individuals who procure, causes, encourages, or solicit a child or an adult with disabilities to engage in begging. This is very serious phenomenon, particularly in Nairobi. Due to the economic challenges often faced by PWDs, the society has conditioned many of us to automatically assume that they require our financial support whenever we encounter them. However, many of these PWDs possess the ability to fend for themselves and thrive independently. In Nairobi, efforts were made to ensure that PWDs were given opportunities to conduct business within the Central Business District (CBD). Unfortunately, a recent incident involving the County Government of Nairobi City led to PWDS being evicted from their business premises within the CBD. This action caused significant consternation among the county leadership. Those familiar with the streets of Nairobi will recognize a phenomenon where a specific person with a disability often walks alongside an able-bodied person, soliciting alms. This arrangement has persisted for years, and you can observe a kind of territorial system in place. Each person seems to have their designated square, akin to how drug The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}