Geri Jewell who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just 18 months old, became the first American actor with a visible disability to land a recurring, prime-time role on Network TV. To top it off, she is a trailblazer and a multi award-winning actress, writer and comedian.
Similarly, Christy Brown who was born with severe cerebral palsy, achieved international acclaim for his bestselling autobiography “My Left Foot” and his literary masterpieces. Despite having control over only his left foot, he became a renowned Irish author, painter and poet.
However, this is not the case in Kasungu District, where many children with cerebral palsy are reportedly denied access to education and are often rejected, isolated, and viewed as a curse by members of society.
Adding insult to injury, some husbands abandon their wives after giving birth to a child with cerebral palsy.
Unbeknownst to them that the child is a product of the dual, they shift the blame and point fingers at their wives. They claim that she is the cause of the disability. Thus, they flee their homes and sought other places to settle with another woman. Conversely, others even tell their once cherished wives to pack their bags and find another roof.
Harriet Mandala who is 40 years old and stays in Kaning’a village, has a 11 years old child who has cerebral palsy. Despite being the age of a primary school pupil, the child has never seen the shape of a blackboard or a dust of chalk. Mandala fights the battle of taking care of the child alone even though she has a husband.
“Of course the child’s father is around, but I am the only person who provides and takes care for the child. The father sells firewood but the money that he makes cannot provide for the basic needs that are required for the child.” Narrates Mandala.
Having realized of the cross that she carries, she sought help from Uhuru Child Care (UCC). Initially, UCC is a Non-Governmental Organization which is a community-based rehabilitation organization supporting children living with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and other neurological conditions in rural communities of Kasungu District, Malawi.
“UCC has helped me with basic needs and physiotherapy where twice a month I come with my child and get assisted so that he lives a normal life like the others. Thus, I am pleading with the authorities that they should intervene on this matter and treat it with seriousness. I want my child in school and I believe that can only happen if the authorities or well-wishers help me with transportation for the child and the basic necessities.” Pleaded Mandala.
Along the same lines, Jessy Moyo has a 21-year-old child who also has CP accompanied by aphasia, seizures and gait disorder. Academically, she used to learn at Chankhanga SOS but due to transportation problems, she dropped out.
“It pains me that my child used to go to school but now she can’t. All she needs is a wheelchair and with that, I will make sure that she goes back to school.” Broke down Moyo.
Moyo also attributed UCC for the support that it has provided to her daughter citing that her child could neither sit properly nor craw and only her could attend to the child. However, with the intervention of UCC, her child can now sit properly and attended to by anyone.
UCC, established on 2 August 2018, was founded after witnessing the severe suffering, stigma and isolation faced by children with disabilities in rural areas where rehabilitation services are extremely limited.
Maulidi Kelvin Kijangwa, founder and Project Director of UCC realized to bridge the gap of isolation by bringing meaning of life to children with CP.
“During my childhood, I grew up in a community where several children were living with Cerebral Palsy. These children were hidden inside homes, rejected, isolated, and treated as a curse by society. I visited them almost every day. I played with them, laughed with them, and many times cried for them. Some of those children later passed away due to lack of care and support.
Their deaths deeply affected me and became the beginning of my life mission. As a young boy, I made a promise to God that if one day I was blessed with an opportunity, I would dedicate my life to helping children with disabilities.” Encounters Kijangwa.
At UCC, they provide these children with physiotherapy, counselling, basic needs, transportation to and from school and hospital, and medical support. Currently, UCC supports more than 328 registered children across rural communities in Kasungu District.
In 2025 alone, UCC achieved over 650 physiotherapy sessions, distribution of 39 mobility aids, and community outreach in 12 villages, caregiver training sessions, and home-based rehabilitation follow-ups.
Therefore, UCC is fundraising finances and resources to sustain and expand rehabilitation services for children living with Cerebral Palsy and neurological disorders. Funds raised will support physiotherapy treatment, outreach transport, assistive devices, caregiver support, therapy materials, and community rehabilitation activities.
Reacting to this, Member of Parliament for Kasungu Municipal, Noel Mkubwi visited UCC and donated clothes for 150 children, soap and soya pieces.
He emphasized that children with disabilities also have rights and he expressed concern over the rising cases of stigmatisation from women taking care of the children. Further to that, he also criticized the tendency of men who leave their wives because they have given birth to children with CP.
Thus, he called out to men to stop this malpractice and advised them to support their families, rather than abandoning their wives in dire time of need.
“We should not discriminate children with disabilities. They are the future of our nation and each one of us has a role to take care of them so as they grow up into future leaders.” Mkubwi highlighted.
He also committed that women who are taking care of children with cerebral palsy should be a priority in the disbursement of the 100 million kwacha Constituency Development Fund (CDF) loans.
In his remarks, Kijangwa appreciated the support rendered by Mkubwi stating that it will help the organization fill the gaps. He therefore, called upon other well-wishers to help the organisation where they want to reach more than 5,000 children with CP in Kasungu.
Chief Kasalika also commended the move Noel Mkubwi took by visiting UCC in her area and provided the children with different items. Therefore, she called upon other well-wishers to extend a hand in helping the children with the little that they have. On the other hand, she also criticized the barbaric act of men abandoning their wives just because they have given birth to a disabled child.
“This behaviour of men leaving their wives after delivering a child with CP is uncalled for. Biologically, for a woman to conceive a baby, it takes the effort of a man and a woman. Hence, it doesn’t make any sense if a man vanishes soon after realizing that the child is disabled. As a chief, I summon these men, sit down with them and highlight clearly on how they can manoeuvre their effort and show it on their children and their wives.” She concluded.
By Baxton Chipeta
#KCRnews
