Visually impaired (blind) persons in Mombasa county are the most challenged by the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic making their lives miserable.

The sentiments were made on their behalf by Emliy Likhodito after receiving food, face masks and sanitizers at Hodi Hodi village which hosts them in Kisauni constituency.

The donation was handed over to them by Coast Association for Persons with Disability (CPWD) Chief Executive Officer Hamisa Maalim Zaja at Shanzu ward in the constituency.

Likhodito said they have been hustling for their daily bread in the county but they are now hard hit after their businesses were closed due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

She appealed to the government to assist them arguing that their lives have become miserable compared to others in the society.

“Our lives have become miserable because we cannot move around to do our work without being assisted,” she pointed out.

On her part, Zaja said there are almost 9,000 visually impaired persons in the coast region majority of them being women.

She said the number is like that of persons with cerebral palsy who face challenges to access funds meant for vulnerable families since the outbreak of the pandemic.

 “To make matters worse they have been neglected during the distribution of government relief food after the outbreak of the virus,” she added.

The CPWD Chief Executive Officer reminded the forum both the national and the county governments have not included them in their programs.

Zaja said she is happy to note that the visually impaired persons have not been among those who have tested positive for the virus in the ongoing tests.

She acknowledged those physically challenged face the risk of being infected by the virus which is a global concern.

“Almost 100 families have benefited from the donation of the commodities to allay fears of transmission of the virus,” she said.